1307day.year
Külüg Khan is enthroned as Khagan of the Mongols and Wuzong of the Yuan.
In 1307, Külüg Khan was enthroned as Khagan of the Mongol Empire and took the temple name Wuzong as Emperor of the Yuan Dynasty.
Following the death of Temür Khan, Külüg Khan succeeded as supreme ruler of the vast Mongol realm. He took the regnal name Emperor Wuzong and moved the capital to Khanbalik. His reign focused on consolidating central power and promoting Tibetan Buddhism. He enacted policies to restore traditional Mongol privileges and reduce bureaucracy. Under his rule, fiscal reforms were introduced to stabilize the empire's finances. He also patronized the arts and supported construction projects. Despite his brief reign, Wuzong's leadership strengthened the imperial court and influenced later Yuan governance.
1307
Külüg Khan
Khagan
Mongols
Wuzong
Yuan
1749day.year
Halifax, Nova Scotia, is founded.
Halifax, Nova Scotia, was founded on June 21, 1749, as a strategic British naval settlement on Canada's Atlantic coast.
Commodore Edward Cornwallis established Halifax to secure British control over the vital harbors of Nova Scotia. The new town was laid out with military fortifications and a defensible harbor against French threats. Settlers included soldiers, artisans, and civilians drawn by promises of land and trade. Halifax grew rapidly as a naval base and commercial center for the North Atlantic. It played key roles in later conflicts such as the Seven Years' War and American Revolution. The settlement's planning influenced urban development patterns in British North America. Today, Halifax remains a major city and a living legacy of colonial strategic planning.
1749
Halifax, Nova Scotia
1768day.year
James Otis Jr. offends the King and Parliament in a speech to the Massachusetts General Court.
In 1768, colonial lawyer James Otis Jr. delivered a fiery speech in Massachusetts, condemning British writs of assistance and foreshadowing the American Revolution.
James Otis Jr., a prominent Massachusetts attorney, argued against general search warrants known as writs of assistance on June 21, 1768. In a passionate address to the Massachusetts General Court, he declared that such writs violated colonial rights and English law. His arguments laid intellectual groundwork for the concept of 'no taxation without representation.' Otis's speech rallied colonial opposition to British policies and influenced future revolutionary leaders, including John Adams. Though Otis later suffered mental health struggles, his early advocacy for liberty resonated throughout the colonies. Historians regard this moment as a seminal event in the ideological buildup to the American Revolution. Otis's legacy endures in discussions of civil liberties and government authority.
1768
James Otis Jr.
1788day.year
New Hampshire becomes the ninth state to ratify the Constitution of the United States.
On June 21, 1788, New Hampshire became the ninth state to ratify the United States Constitution, ensuring its implementation.
The ratification convention in Exeter, New Hampshire, debated the draft Constitution amid fierce arguments over federal power and individual rights. Delegates narrowly approved the document, making New Hampshire the pivotal ninth state needed to put the Constitution into effect. This ratification activated the new government framework and led to the first U.S. presidential election. Supporters celebrated the promise of a stronger union and clearer separation of powers. Critics feared centralized authority might trample liberties without a Bill of Rights. The momentum from New Hampshire's decision spurred calls for amendments, leading to the adoption of the first ten amendments in 1791. The event cemented the United States' transition from the Articles of Confederation to its enduring constitutional system.
1788
New Hampshire
Constitution of the United States
1791day.year
King Louis XVI of France and his immediate family begin the Flight to Varennes during the French Revolution.
King Louis XVI and his family began their ill-fated Flight to Varennes on June 21, 1791, attempting to escape revolutionary Paris.
Amid rising tensions in revolutionary France, King Louis XVI and Queen Marie Antoinette decided to flee Paris and rally loyal troops. Disguised in common dress, they departed the Tuileries Palace under cover of darkness. Their route aimed to reach Montmédy, near the Austrian frontier, but delays and poor planning led to their capture at Varennes. The royal family's arrest stunned Europe and shattered any remaining trust between the monarchy and the revolutionaries. News of their flight fueled radical factions and accelerated France's move toward a republic. The incident marked a turning point in the Revolution, leading to the king's trial and eventual execution. The Flight to Varennes remains a dramatic episode illustrating the collapse of royal authority.
1791
Louis XVI of France
Flight to Varennes
1848day.year
In the Wallachian Revolution, Ion Heliade Rădulescu and Christian Tell issue the Proclamation of Islaz and create a new republican government.
During the Wallachian Revolution of 1848, leaders Ion Heliade Rădulescu and Christian Tell issued the Proclamation of Islaz, establishing a provisional republican government with calls for reform.
On June 21, 1848, amid the European revolutions sweeping across the continent, Wallachian leaders gathered in the town of Islaz to proclaim a new political order. Ion Heliade Rădulescu and Christian Tell presented the Proclamation of Islaz, demanding constitutional reform, national sovereignty, and civil liberties. The document called for the abolition of feudal obligations and emphasized equality before the law. A provisional republican government was established to implement these reforms and represent the will of the people. Although the movement was soon suppressed by Ottoman and Russian forces, the proclamation laid the intellectual groundwork for modern Romanian statehood. Its ideals inspired future struggles for national unity and democratic governance in the region.
1848
Wallachian Revolution
Ion Heliade Rădulescu
Christian Tell
Proclamation of Islaz
1915day.year
The U.S. Supreme Court hands down its decision in Guinn v. United States 238 US 347 1915, striking down Oklahoma grandfather clause legislation which had the effect of denying the right to vote to blacks.
In Guinn v. United States (1915), the Supreme Court struck down Oklahoma’s grandfather clause, a key barrier to African American voting rights.
On June 21, 1915, the U.S. Supreme Court issued its landmark decision in Guinn v. United States, invalidating Oklahoma’s grandfather clause for voting registration. The clause had exempted voters whose ancestors could vote before 1866 from literacy tests, effectively disenfranchising African Americans. The Court ruled that the clause violated the Fifteenth Amendment’s guarantee against racial discrimination in voting. This decision marked an early judicial victory against Jim Crow laws and reinforced federal authority to protect civil rights. Although many southern states soon adopted alternative disenfranchisement methods, Guinn v. United States set an important precedent for future voting rights cases. The ruling remains a cornerstone in the history of American suffrage and equal protection jurisprudence.
1915
U.S. Supreme Court
Guinn v. United States
Oklahoma
grandfather clause
1929day.year
An agreement brokered by U.S. Ambassador Dwight Whitney Morrow ends the Cristero War in Mexico.
On June 21, 1929, U.S. Ambassador Dwight W. Morrow brokers a peace accord that ends Mexico's bloody Cristero War, restoring religious and civil order.
The Cristero War erupted in 1926 as Catholic rebels opposed Mexico's anti-clerical government policies, plunging central states into violence. Ambassador Morrow initiated talks between President Plutarco Calles and church leaders to prevent further bloodshed. On June 21, 1929, they signed an agreement granting rebel amnesty and easing restrictions on worship. The pact brought relief to war-ravaged communities and reestablished church-state dialogue. While sporadic skirmishes continued, organized rebellion largely ceased by autumn. The settlement reshaped Mexican politics and influenced future church-state relations.
1929
Dwight Whitney Morrow
Cristero War
1930day.year
One-year conscription comes into force in France.
France enacts a one-year mandatory military service on June 21, 1930, to enhance its defense preparedness amid rising European tensions.
In response to shifting power dynamics in interwar Europe, the French Parliament approved a national defense reform in early 1930. The law established one-year compulsory military service for all eligible young men, effective June 21. Conscripts underwent basic and specialized training before joining reserve formations, bolstering France's armed forces. Debates ensued over its social impact on education and industry, yet supporters highlighted its deterrent effect. The policy persisted until its suspension after World War II and influenced later discussions on civic duty. Its legacy endures in France's collective memory of national service.
1930
conscription
1957day.year
Ellen Fairclough is sworn in as Canada's first female Cabinet Minister.
Ellen Fairclough makes history as Canada's first female Cabinet Minister when she assumes her post on June 21, 1957, breaking political barriers.
Prime Minister John Diefenbaker appointed Ellen Fairclough as Minister responsible for the Department of Immigration on June 21, 1957, breaking political barriers in Canadian government. As the first woman in the federal Cabinet, she advocated for fair and merit-based immigration policies. Her appointment marked a significant shift towards gender inclusion in public office. Fairclough later served as Secretary of State and played a pivotal role in constitutional discussions. Her trailblazing career inspired future generations of women politicians. Today, she is celebrated as a pioneering figure in Canada's journey toward equality and representative governance.
1957
Ellen Fairclough
Cabinet Minister
1963day.year
Cardinal Giovanni Battista Montini is elected as Pope Paul VI.
Cardinal Giovanni Battista Montini is elected Pope Paul VI, becoming the spiritual and administrative leader of the Catholic Church during a period of significant reform.
On June 21, 1963, Cardinal Giovanni Battista Montini was chosen by the College of Cardinals to succeed the late Pope John XXIII, taking the name Paul VI. His election marked a commitment to continue the work of the Second Vatican Council and to modernize Church practices. Pope Paul VI guided the final sessions of the Council, implementing liturgical reforms and promoting ecumenical dialogue with other faiths. He issued landmark encyclicals such as Humanae Vitae, articulating the Church’s stance on moral issues. Paul VI also became the first pope to traverse six continents, strengthening the global presence of Catholicism. His leadership helped shape the Church’s approach to social justice and international diplomacy in a rapidly changing world.
1963
elected
Pope Paul VI
1973day.year
In its decision in Miller v. California, 413 U.S. 15, the Supreme Court of the United States establishes the Miller test for determining whether something is obscene and not protected speech under the U.S. constitution.
The U.S. Supreme Court announces the Miller decision, setting a three-part test to define legally obscene material beyond First Amendment protection.
On June 21, 1973, the Supreme Court delivered its ruling in Miller v. California, establishing a landmark standard for obscenity law in the United States. By a narrow majority, the Court defined obscene material as that which appeals to prurient interest, depicts sexual conduct in a patently offensive way, and lacks serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value. The three-pronged "Miller test" empowered communities to apply local standards when regulating adult content. The decision struck a balance between free speech rights and public morality concerns, influencing state and federal obscenity prosecutions. Publishers and artists closely monitored the ruling, which reshaped creative expression in film, literature, and media. Miller v. California remains a foundational precedent in First Amendment jurisprudence.
Miller v. California
Supreme Court of the United States
Miller test
obscene