Balloons, Battles, and Breaking Barriers!
Welcome to History's Not Boring! June 4th is a wild ride through time. We're talking about the day humanity first floated up into the sky in a giant cloth bubble! We'll also zoom forward to a massive naval clash that changed the course of a world war. Get ready for some seriously cool history!
Did you know that on this day, some of the biggest moments in aviation, naval warfare, and even the fight for basic rights all crashed (or soared!) into history? From a major turning point in the Pacific during WWII to a huge step for women's voting rights, June 4th is packed with game-changers!
What Happened on This Day
First Hot Air Balloon Takes Flight!
Imagine strapping yourself into a giant cloth bag filled with hot air! That’s what the Montgolfier brothers did on this day in 1783. They launched the very first unmanned hot air balloon in France. It floated about 1,500 feet in the air—that’s taller than most skyscrapers today! This amazing demonstration kicked off the age of flight, proving that humans could finally rise above the ground without wings or magic.
USA Congress Votes for Women's Vote!
It took a long, hard fight, but on June 4, 1919, the U.S. Congress voted to approve the 19th Amendment! This was the giant leap that said: 'Hey, no matter if you're a boy or a girl, you get to vote!' It was a huge win for fairness and democracy, making sure women finally had a say in their country. Now, it just needed the states to agree, which they finally did a year later!
The 'Miracle of Dunkirk' Ends
Imagine an entire army trapped on a beach with the enemy closing in! That was the situation for Allied soldiers at Dunkirk, France, during World War II. On June 4, 1940, the incredible evacuation, nicknamed the 'Miracle of Dunkirk,' ended. Hundreds of thousands of troops were ferried to safety by every kind of boat imaginable—from big navy ships to tiny fishing boats! This saved the army so they could fight another day.
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Battle of Midway: A Major Turning Point
Get ready for a massive naval battle in the Pacific Ocean during WWII! The Battle of Midway kicked off on June 4, 1942. It was a clash between the US Navy and the Japanese Navy, and it was a huge deal. The American forces managed to sink four Japanese aircraft carriers—a massive blow to their fleet. This battle is often called the turning point of the war in the Pacific because it stopped the Japanese advance!
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Tiananmen Square Protests Climax in Beijing
This is a serious, sad day in history. In Beijing, China, for weeks, students and citizens had been peacefully asking for more freedom and democracy in Tiananmen Square. Sadly, on June 4, 1989, the government sent in troops to end the protests. This action led to many people being hurt or killed. It’s an important reminder of the ongoing global struggle for people to have a voice in how their country is run.
Fun Facts About June 4
- The first people to ride in a hot air balloon were a sheep, a duck, and a rooster!
- Massachusetts became the first state to set a minimum wage in 1912, on this day!
- In 1411, King Charles VI gave the town of Roquefort the exclusive right to make Roquefort cheese.
- Henry Ford took his very first automobile, the 'Quadricycle,' for a test drive on June 4, 1896.
A Look Back in Time
June in general often hints at warmer weather, but history on June 4th shows us big changes can happen anytime! In the 18th century, inventors were just getting started on how to conquer the skies with the hot air balloon. By the 1940s, the world was deep in the drama of World War II, where the Battle of Midway shifted power in the Pacific and the Dunkirk rescue saved entire fighting forces. Later in the century, political movements, like the one for women's suffrage in the US, reached major milestones on this date.
Born on This Day
King George III
This British king ruled Great Britain and Ireland for a super long time, including during the American Revolution! While he’s famous for losing the colonies, he was also a big supporter of science and agriculture, trying to keep up with the new inventions of his era.
Rosalind Russell
Rosalind Russell was a super-talented American actress famous for playing strong, independent women in movies. She won a whopping five Academy Awards! From comedies to dramas, she knew how to light up the screen with her energetic acting style.
Bruce Dern
Bruce Dern is a famous American actor known for playing all sorts of characters, from villains to heroes, in movies like 'The Great Gatsby' and TV shows. He's been acting for decades and has an Academy Award nomination to his name!
Angelina Jolie
Angelina Jolie is an internationally famous actress you might recognize from movies like 'Maleficent' or 'Kung Fu Panda'! She’s also known worldwide for her important work helping people and children in need as a humanitarian.