1663day.year
Charles II of England grants John Clarke a Royal charter to Rhode Island.
Charles II issues a royal charter to John Clarke in 1663, officially founding the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations.
In 1663, King Charles II of England approved a written grant to John Clarke and other settlers, forming Rhode Island and Providence Plantations.
The charter guaranteed religious liberty and broad self-governance, distinguishing Rhode Island from other colonies.
It unified four settlements under a single government while protecting the rights of Quakers, Baptists, and other minorities.
Rhode Island became a refuge for persecuted religious groups and promoted ideas of separation of church and state.
The 1663 charter remained the colony’s guiding legal document until the American Revolution.
Its principles influenced later constitutional frameworks in the United States.
1663
Charles II of England
John Clarke
Royal charter
Rhode Island
1775day.year
The Olive Branch Petition is signed by the Continental Congress of the Thirteen Colonies of North America.
The Continental Congress makes a last attempt at peace, signing the Olive Branch Petition to King George III.
On July 8, 1775, delegates of the Continental Congress adopted the Olive Branch Petition as a final plea to King George III. Drafted chiefly by John Dickinson, the document professed continued loyalty while protesting parliamentary overreach. The Congress hoped the petition would avert full-scale war by seeking redress for colonial grievances. Carried by Richard Penn and Arthur Lee, it reached London but was ultimately ignored. The King's rejection helped push the colonies irreversibly toward independence.
1775
Olive Branch Petition
Continental Congress
Thirteen Colonies
1776day.year
Church bells (possibly including the Liberty Bell) are rung after John Nixon delivers the first public reading of the Declaration of Independence of the United States.
Church bells ring in celebration as John Nixon delivers the first public reading of the Declaration of Independence.
Shortly after midnight on July 8, 1776, John Nixon stood in front of the Pennsylvania State House in Philadelphia. He read the freshly printed Declaration of Independence aloud to a gathered crowd. At his final words, church bells throughout the city—including possibly the famed Liberty Bell—pealed in celebration. The ringing signaled the first public announcement of the colonies' break from Britain. This act galvanized popular support and spread the news of independence across the nascent nation.
1776
Liberty Bell
John Nixon
Declaration of Independence of the United States
1822day.year
Chippewas turn over a huge tract of land in Ontario to the United Kingdom.
The Chippewa cede a vast territory in Ontario to the United Kingdom under a land treaty.
On July 8, 1822, leaders of the Chippewa Nation signed an agreement transferring a large tract of land in what is now Ontario to British colonial authorities. The cession opened over one million acres for settlement, logging, and resource extraction. For the Chippewa, the treaty represented both a loss of ancestral lands and a strategic move to secure trade goods and peace with settlers. British officials saw the agreement as vital to expanding colonial infrastructure and population. The deal reshaped the region’s demographic and economic landscape for decades to come.
1822
Chippewas
Ontario
1853day.year
The Perry Expedition arrives in Edo Bay with a treaty requesting trade.
Commodore Perry arrives in Edo Bay, initiating Japan’s end of isolation by demanding trade relations.
In the summer of 1853, American Commodore Matthew C. Perry sailed into Edo Bay (today’s Tokyo Bay) with a squadron of Black Ships. On July 8, he delivered letters from President Millard Fillmore requesting the opening of Japanese ports to American vessels. Perry’s show of steam-powered naval strength and diplomatic firmness stunned Japan’s isolationist government. His arrival set in motion negotiations that would culminate in the 1854 Convention of Kanagawa. The expedition marked the beginning of Japan’s rapid modernization and entry onto the world stage.
1853
Perry Expedition
Edo
1859day.year
King Charles XV & IV accedes to the throne of Sweden–Norway.
Charles XV & IV ascends to the thrones of Sweden and Norway, uniting the crowns once more.
On July 8, 1859, Prince Charles, known as Charles XV in Sweden and Charles IV in Norway, formally became king of the united kingdoms of Sweden–Norway. His accession followed the death of his father, Oscar I, ushering in a reign noted for liberal reforms and cultural patronage. Charles advocated for constitutional governance, press freedom, and infrastructural improvements such as railways and telegraphs. He pursued a cautious foreign policy amid rising European tensions. His tenure strengthened the bond between the two Scandinavian nations and left a lasting impact on their modernization.
1859
Charles XV & IV
Sweden–Norway
1874day.year
The Mounties begin their March West.
The North-West Mounted Police embark on their historic March West to establish law in Canada’s prairies.
On July 8, 1874, the newly formed North-West Mounted Police (NWMP) set out from Fort Dufferin in Manitoba on what would become known as the March West. Charged with enforcing Canadian law and curbing the illicit whiskey trade, the force traveled hundreds of miles across rugged plains and river crossings. The expedition faced challenging terrain, supply shortages, and harsh weather. Their journey marked the first major deployment of federal authority into the Western Territories. The March West laid the foundation for the modern Royal Canadian Mounted Police and helped shape Canada’s frontier order.
1874
Mounties
March West
1937day.year
Turkey, Iran, Iraq, and Afghanistan sign the Treaty of Saadabad.
Four Middle Eastern countries sign the Treaty of Saadabad, promoting regional cooperation.
On July 8, 1937, Turkey, Iran, Iraq, and Afghanistan convened in Teheran to sign the Treaty of Saadabad. The pact established a non-aggression agreement and sought to strengthen diplomatic and economic ties among the signatories. It aimed to deter external influence in a politically volatile region. The treaty fostered a period of relative stability and mutual trust in the Middle East. Though later overshadowed by World War II, its framework inspired future regional accords. The Saadabad Treaty remains a historical milestone in interwar diplomacy.
1937
Treaty of Saadabad
1960day.year
Francis Gary Powers is charged with espionage resulting from his flight over the Soviet Union.
Spy plane pilot Francis Gary Powers is charged with espionage by Soviet authorities.
On July 8, 1960, Francis Gary Powers was formally charged by the Soviet Union with espionage after his U-2 reconnaissance plane was shot down during a spy mission. Captured over Sverdlovsk, he faced trial and a decade-long prison sentence. The incident strained U.S.-Soviet relations and derailed an important summit between President Eisenhower and Premier Khrushchev. Powers eventually received a prisoner exchange and returned home in 1962. His case highlighted the risks of Cold War aerial surveillance and influenced future intelligence protocols. Powers later wrote a memoir and worked in aviation until his untimely death in 1977.
1960
Francis Gary Powers
espionage
Soviet Union
1962day.year
Ne Win besieges and blows up the Rangoon University Student Union building to crush the Student Movement.
On July 8, 1962, Burmese military ruler Ne Win attacked and destroyed the Rangoon University Student Union building to suppress student protests.
On July 8, 1962, Burmese military leader Ne Win launched a pre-dawn assault on the Rangoon University Student Union building. Using explosives and heavy weapons, his forces demolished the historic union hall, a hub of student activism. This act was aimed at crushing the growing Student Movement that challenged his new government. The destruction sent a clear message of zero tolerance for political dissent. The building had long symbolized academic freedom and youthful resistance. Its demolition marked a turning point in Burma's political climate, instilling fear among intellectuals nationwide.
1962
Ne Win
besieges and blows up
Rangoon University
Student Movement
1966day.year
King Mwambutsa IV Bangiriceng of Burundi is deposed by his son Prince Charles Ndizi.
In 1966, King Mwambutsa IV of Burundi was overthrown by his son, Prince Charles Ndizi.
On July 8, 1966, Prince Charles Ndizi led a palace coup that deposed his father, King Mwambutsa IV Bangiriceng, ending his four-decade reign over Burundi. Citing corruption and political stagnation, the young prince seized royal power in a swift, bloodless takeover. International observers noted the unusual familial rivalry and its implications for East African monarchies. King Mwambutsa went into exile, and the coup triggered a period of political uncertainty and subsequent military influence in Burundian governance. The event marked a critical shift from monarchical rule toward more turbulent political dynamics in the country.
1966
King
Mwambutsa IV Bangiriceng of Burundi
Charles Ndizi
1970day.year
Richard Nixon delivers a special congressional message enunciating Native American self-determination as official US Indian policy, leading to the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act of 1975.
President Nixon outlined Native American self-determination as US policy in a special congressional message.
On July 8, 1970, President Richard Nixon delivered a landmark special message to Congress, officially endorsing the concept of Native American self-determination. Rejecting centuries of forced assimilation policies, Nixon called for tribes to manage their own affairs in education, healthcare, and resource management. This speech laid the groundwork for the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act of 1975, which granted tribes greater control over federal programs. The address signaled a major shift in US Indian policy and was praised by many tribal leaders for recognizing Indigenous sovereignty. While implementation faced bureaucratic challenges, the message remains a pivotal moment in the ongoing effort to empower Native American communities.
1970
Richard Nixon
Native American self-determination
Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act of 1975