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First Post
a day ago
- Politics
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History Today: When the US women's suffrage movement began 1848
On July 19, 1848, reformers convened in Seneca Falls to demand women's rights, launching the US women's suffrage movement. Their Declaration of Sentiments, boldly modelled on the Declaration of Independence, called for equal rights — including the ballot. What began there would change American democracy over the next seven decades read more Upstream view along the Seneca River in Seneca Falls, New York, c. 1850. Wesleyan Chapel, the site of the first women's rights convention in US history, is located just north of the river and is now part of the Women's Rights National Historical Park. Image/Smithsonian American Art Museum, Washington, DC As part of Firstpost's History Today series, July 19 is a landmark in global history. In 1848, the US women's suffrage movement was launched at the historic Seneca Falls Convention — a momentous step toward gender equality. Nearly 150 years later, on July 19, 1993, the US Department of Defense announced its 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' policy affecting LGBT military service. And in 1980, the Summer Olympics opened in Moscow, boycotted by around 60 countries in response to the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The birth of the US women's suffrage movement In the heat of mid‑July 1848, around 300 reform-minded Americans converged at the Wesleyan Chapel in Seneca Falls, New York. Over two transformative days (July 19-20), they launched the country's first women's rights convention — a defining moment that set the stage for over seven decades of struggle until women won the vote with the 19th Amendment in 1920. More from Explainers History Today: When the #BlackLivesMatter sparked a movement to change the world The catalyst for this gathering was a rejection that resonated with Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Lucretia Mott: when Stanton, Mott, and other women were barred from speaking roles at the 1840 World Anti‑Slavery Convention in London simply due to their gender. This exclusion led to a promise to fight for women's rights — resulting in a meeting arranged in Waterloo at Jane Hunt's home on July 9, which set Seneca Falls into motion. Stanton, Mott, Martha Wright, Mary Ann M'Clintock, and Jane Hunt, influenced by Quaker ideals and abolitionist fervour, used Stanton's kitchen table as their planning ground. A notice placed in the Seneca County Courier on July 14 announced 'a convention to discuss the social, civil and religious condition and rights of woman' — resulting in an overwhelmingly local but symbolically bold event in just days. The first day was women-only, empowering them to speak freely about their frustrations under a patriarchal legal system. On July 20, men — including the pivotal abolitionist Frederick Douglass — joined the discussion. Stanton's keynote speech set the tone: 'We are assembled to protest against a form of government…without the consent of the governed,' confronting the systemic disenfranchisement of women's voices in public and legal spheres. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Drafted almost overnight, the Declaration of Sentiments was a rhetorical masterpiece — mirroring the Declaration of Independence, yet boldly asserting gender equality: 'We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men and women are created equal.' This document catalogued 16 legal, educational and civil grievances — from wage injustice to constrained marital rights — highlighting women's subordinate standing. Among 12 resolutions, the ninth — calling for the elective franchise for women — stirred heated debate. Initially narrow in acceptance, the suffrage resolution passed only after Douglass spoke in its favour — tilting the vote meter. Ultimately, 68 women and 32 men affixed their names — all 100 signatories daring to envision radical equality. National newspapers covered the event. Some repelled it as 'insane,' while others praised the call for equality. The St Louis Republic ridiculed the idea of men washing dishes; The North Star, by contrast, lauded it as a 'foundation of a grand movement.' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Though suffrage advocates like Susan B Anthony were not present, they leveraged the event as a rallying point for impassioned advocacy. Within two weeks, supporters held a second convention in Rochester. Regular conventions formed a sustained campaign strategy: Worcester in 1850, followed by gatherings nationwide and the creation of local suffrage societies. Seneca Falls did not initiate public conversations about women's rights — it propelled them. Legal reforms enabling married women to own property, educated women, took legislative action, and pushed for marital autonomy over decades. Icons such as Susan B. Anthony, Carrie Chapman Catt, Alice Paul and Sojourner Truth will later carry forth the torch, hosting parades, hunger strikes and civil disobedience . Seneca Falls could not perhaps foresee its own fragmented legacy. While Elizabeth Cady Stanton and others prioritised white women's suffrage, Black activists like Truth, Wells, and Mary Church Terrell continued the fight — often independently and into the Jim Crow era. The Birth of the Movement at Seneca Falls was formal, symbolic, and foundational — but not comprehensive. The gender and race dynamics that started there retained tension through Jim Crow and beyond. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Charlotte Woodward Pierce, the only surviving signer to live to see the 19th Amendment ratified in 1920, was a living link between origin and outcome. Seneca Falls inspired waves of activism globally — Britain, Canada, across Europe — showed that what began as a local answer to gender bias would echo across borders . Modern scholarship complicates the Seneca Falls narrative. Historians like Lisa Tetrault argue that its prominence was constructed only decades later to establish origins for fractured factions of the suffrage movement. Meanwhile, Black suffragist history predates 1848. These activists are finally being recognised through initiatives honouring Black women voters under Jim Crow and the long tail of disenfranchisement culminating in the VRA (1965) and ongoing battles on voter suppression. Efforts following Seneca Falls included state suffrage victories — Wyoming in 1869, Colorado in 1893 — culminating in the 1913 Woman Suffrage Procession in Washington, DC. These campaigns led to the ratification of the 19th Amendment on August 18, 1920 . STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Yet, hope proved partial. Native Americans and Black women continued struggling — barriers persisted well into and beyond the Civil Rights era . The site is today part of the Women's Rights National Historical Park, anchored by landmarks like the Wesleyan Chapel and the Elizabeth Cady Stanton House. Schools, museums, and essays mark the passing of Seneca Falls as both inauguration and testament. Seneca Falls' legacy resonates today amid fights for transgender rights, reproductive justice, equal pay and civil rights. Its shining principle — 'all women are created equal' — still demands constant loud reiteration amid modern pressures. 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' announced On July 19, 1993, US Secretary of Defense Les Aspin unveiled the 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' (DADT) policy. Sponsored by the Clinton administration, it allowed LGBTQ‑identified individuals to serve only if they remained discreet about their identity, and prohibited discrimination — but enforced dismissal if they disclosed it. A compromise to balance demands for inclusion with military resistance, DADT sparked mixed reactions. LGBTQ groups criticised its forced secrecy as psychologically damaging, while opponents insisted it threatened unit cohesion. Over its 17‑year lifecycle, 13,500 service members were discharged under DADT . STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD DADT was ultimately repealed on September 20, 2011, enabling open LGBTQ service, a landmark victory in civil‑military equality. 1980 Summer Olympics open in Moscow amid boycott On July 19, 1980, the Summer Olympics began in Moscow — the first Games hosted by a communist nation. However, nearly 60 countries, led by the USA, boycotted the event in protest of the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979. Still, 5,179 athletes from 80 countries competed, including Bulgaria and East Germany. The Soviet Union topped medal tallies. Controversial performances — like US gymnast Cathy Rigby's absence and New Zealand's tainted gold — defined the competition. The boycott marked a high-water point in Cold War sports diplomacy, raising questions about politicising athletic events. With inputs from agencies
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First Post
2 days ago
- Politics
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History Today: When Hitler's 'Mein Kampf' was published for the first time
The autobiographical manifesto of Germany's Adolf Hitler was published for the first time on July 18, 1925. During its first year, the book sold 9,473 copies, while as many as 12 million copies were sold by the end of World War II read more Adolf Hitler's Mein Kampf on display at the Institute for Contemporary History in Munich. File image/AP Adolf Hitler was a mysterious man with his own beliefs. Even now, his way of life and his beliefs intrigue people across the world. So, if you want to know about him, the best way is to read his autobiographical manifesto 'Mein Kampf', published on July 18, 1925. Written during his imprisonment at Landsberg Prison, the book combined Hitler's personal history, political ideology and vision for Germany's future. If you are a history geek who loves to learn about important events from the past, Firstpost Explainers' ongoing series, History Today, will be your one-stop destination to explore key events. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD On this day in 1976, Romanian gymnast Nadia Comaneci made history at the Montreal Summer Olympics by scoring the first-ever perfect 10 in Olympic gymnastics. This event revolutionised the sport. Here is all that happened on this day. Mein Kampf was published The first volume of Adolf Hitler's infamous autobiographical manifesto, Mein Kampf (My Struggle) was published on July 18, 1925. He largely dictated the book while imprisoned in Landsberg Prison, serving a sentence for his role in the failed Beer Hall Putsch of 1923. The second volume followed in 1926. Mein Kampf laid out Hitler's core ideological tenets, including his virulent antisemitism, his concept of 'Lebensraum' (living space) for the German people in Eastern Europe, his disdain for parliamentary democracy, and his vision for a racially 'pure' Germany. It served as a chilling blueprint for the Nazi Party's agenda and the atrocities that would later unfold under his regime. The book 'Mein Kampf' is displayed behind bars at the Warmuseum Overloon in Overloon, Netherlands. File image/Reuters Initially, Mein Kampf had modest sales, but after Hitler's rise to power in 1933, it was heavily promoted and distributed widely across Nazi Germany. It became mandatory reading in schools and a common wedding gift, with over 12 million copies sold or distributed by the end of World War II. The book's publication marked the beginning of the mainstreaming of Nazi ideology, filled with dangerous propaganda that would later fuel the Holocaust, World War II, and the deaths of millions. Its anti-Semitic and ultranationalist rhetoric directly shaped Nazi policies and Hitler's totalitarian regime. After the war, the book was banned in several countries. In Germany, public printing and sale were prohibited for decades. When the copyright expired in 2015, a heavily annotated version was published by the Institute for Contemporary History in Munich, sparking fresh debate on how to confront hate speech and historical responsibility. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Nadia scored a perfect 10 in the Olympics Gymnastics The world watched in wonder when the first perfect 10 was achieved by Romanian gymnast Nadia Comaneci on July 18, 1976, at the Montreal Olympic Games. Scoring a perfect score was so unheard of at the time that even the scoreboard was famously unprepared for such an achievement, flashing '1.00' because it could only display three digits. Nadia's performance marked a technical and artistic peak in gymnastics, combining impeccable form, daring difficulty and calm under pressure. But this was just the beginning. Over the course of the 1976 Games, she earned seven perfect 10s and won three gold medals in the individual all-around, uneven bars and balance beam categories, along with a silver and a bronze. She became the youngest Olympic gymnastics all-around champion in history at that time. Romanian gymnast Nadia Comaneci etched history on July 18, 1976, after scoring a perfect 10 during the Olympic Gymnastic sport. File image Her success transformed the global perception of gymnastics. Previously dominated by older athletes, the sport began to shift toward younger, more agile competitors. Nadia's composure, grace, and innovation inspired a generation of gymnasts and elevated the standard of excellence worldwide. Back home in Romania, Comaneci became a national hero, celebrated for both her athletic brilliance and the pride she brought to her country during the Cold War era. Internationally, she became a global icon of perfection, with her name forever etched in Olympic history. This Day, That Year On this day in 1944, Allied forces captured the French town of Saint-Lô, a vital communications centre, during World War II. French General Ferdinand Foch launched a counterstrike that forced the Germans into a hasty retreat during the Second Battle of the Marne on this day in 1918.
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First Post
3 days ago
- Entertainment
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History Today: When Disneyland, the ‘happiest place on Earth, opened for the first time 70 years ago
Walt Disney opened the first Disneyland in California's Anaheim on July 17, 1955. The park tried to bridge the gap between typical amusement parks and a more immersive and story-driven experience read more Disneyland was Walt Disney's dream project through which he wanted to change the way traditional amusement parks were enjoyed. Representational image/Reuters Today, most of us dream of visiting Disneyland and enjoying ourselves with our loved ones. From fun rides to life-size Disney theme characters, the place is designed in a way that you can enjoy a whole day there. It all began when the first Disneyland opened its gates in Anaheim, California, on July 17, 1955, revolving around the themes of fantasy and futurism. If you are a history geek who loves to learn about important events from the past, Firstpost Explainers' ongoing series, History Today, will be your one-stop destination to explore key events. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD On this day in 2014, Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 was shot down over eastern Ukraine, killing all 298 people on board. The Boeing 777 was en route from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur. Here is all that happened on this day. First Disneyland opened Walt Disney always dreamt of opening a 'magic kingdom' where children and parents could enjoy themselves and genuinely have fun together. To fulfil this dream, he opened the gates of the first Disneyland to the public in California's Anaheim on July 17, 1955. Built on 160 acres of former orange groves, the $17 million theme park was an unprecedented venture which sought to bridge the gap between typical amusement parks and a more immersive, story-driven experience. Actor Ronald Reagan, Art Linkletter and Bob Cummings hosted the opening ceremony, broadcast live on television. Though the event was meant to be a joyful celebration, the day was famously plagued by mishaps. Counterfeit tickets led to overcrowding, plumbing problems caused drinking fountains to run dry and high temperatures softened the freshly laid asphalt. Despite the rocky start, Walt Disney remained hopeful, calling it only the 'beginning' of what he envisioned would be a magical destination that would continue to grow. In this file image from July 17, 1955, Governor Goodwin J Knight (left), Walt Disney (right), and Virginia Knight, wife of the governor take a ride in an antique-styled automobile at Disneyland near Anaheim, California at the premiere opening. File image/AP Disneyland was originally divided into five themed lands: Main Street USA, Adventureland, Frontierland, Fantasyland and Tomorrowland. It featured attractions such as the Jungle Cruise, Sleeping Beauty Castle, and the Mark Twain Riverboat, many of which are still in operation today. Walt Disney's vision was for Disneyland to never be completed and the park has evolved over the decades with the addition of New Orleans Square, Critter Country, Mickey's Toontown, Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge and more. It has welcomed hundreds of millions of visitors from around the globe and remains one of the most iconic tourist destinations in the world. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD More than just a theme park, Disneyland has become a cultural landmark, symbolising imagination, innovation, and childhood wonder. As Walt Disney once said during the park's dedication: 'Disneyland will never be completed. It will continue to grow as long as there is imagination left in the world.' MH17 shot down by over Ukraine It was on July 17, 2014, that Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 (MH17), en route from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur, was shot down over eastern Ukraine, killing all 298 passengers and crew on board. The Boeing 777 was struck by a Russian-made Buk surface-to-air missile launched from territory controlled by pro-Russian separatists. Most of the passengers were from the Netherlands, with others from Malaysia, Australia, Indonesia and several other countries. The downing of the civilian aircraft occurred amid intense fighting between Ukrainian forces and Russian-backed rebels in the Donetsk region, a conflict that had escalated following Russia's annexation of Crimea earlier that year. Lawyers attend the judges' inspection of the reconstruction of the MH17 wreckage. File image/Reuters Despite overwhelming evidence, Russia has repeatedly denied responsibility, offering conflicting narratives and promoting conspiracy theories. In contrast, the European Union, the United States and other Western nations have blamed Moscow for supplying the missiles and fueling the conflict. In 2022, a Dutch court convicted three men - two Russians and one Ukrainian - in absentia for their role in the attack, sentencing them to life imprisonment. Families of the victims continue to seek justice and accountability through international courts, including proceedings at the European Court of Human Rights and the International Civil Aviation Organization. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD This Day, That Year The United Nations completed the statute establishing the International Criminal Court on this day in 1998. In 1945, Joseph Stalin, Winston Churchill and Harry S Truman met at the Potsdam Conference, the last Allied summit conference of World War II. In, 1918, Former Russian tsar Nicholas II and his family were executed by Bolsheviks.
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First Post
4 days ago
- Science
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History Today: When Oppenheimer tested the first atomic bomb
The first atomic bomb, nicknamed 'The Gadget', was launched at the Trinity test site in Alamogordo, New Mexico, on July 16, 1945. Led by physicist J Robert Oppenheimer, the launch ushered in a new era - the nuclear age. The test was part of the Manhattan Project, which brought together some of the greatest scientific minds of the time, including Enrico Fermi, Richard Feynman and Niels Bohr read more World's first atomic bomb was detonated in New Mexico on July 16, 1945. Image Courtesy: The world entered the nuclear age on July 16, 1945, with the detonation of the first atomic bomb, which was tested in the New Mexico desert. Code-named Trinity, it was part of the Manhattan Project, a massive scientific and military effort by the United States to develop nuclear weapons during World War II. If you are a history geek who loves to learn about important events from the past, Firstpost Explainers' ongoing series, History Today, will be your one-stop destination to explore key events. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD On this day in 1951, JD Salinger's iconic novel, The Catcher in the Rye, was published. The book introduced the world to the unforgettable teenage protagonist, Holden Caulfield. Here is all that took place on this day across the world. The first atomic bomb exploded One of most important events of the 20th Century took place on July 16, 1945. The first atomic bomb was successfully tested by the United States in Alamogordo, New Mexico. And with this, the world entered the nuclear age. The bomb, nicknamed 'The Gadget,' used plutonium-239 and was detonated at 5:29 am. The explosion created a blinding flash, a fireball that reached temperatures hotter than the surface of the sun and a mushroom cloud that rose over seven miles (11 kilometres) into the sky. It produced an energy equivalent of about 21 kilotons of TNT. A man sits next to The Gadget, the nuclear device created by scientists to test the world's atomic bomb, at the Trinity Site in Alamogordo, New Mexico. Wikimedia Commons Led by physicist J Robert Oppenheimer, the Manhattan Project brought together some of the greatest scientific minds of the time, including Enrico Fermi, Richard Feynman and Niels Bohr. The successful test confirmed that nuclear fission could be weaponised, changing the course of history. After witnessing the explosion, Oppenheimer famously quoted the Bhagavad Gita, 'Now I am become Death, the destroyer of worlds.' Just three weeks later, the US dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima on August 6 and Nagasaki on August 9, leading to Japan's surrender and the end of World War II. The Trinity test not only marked the dawn of nuclear warfare but also triggered decades of arms races, Cold War tensions and ethical debates about the use of such destructive technology. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Catcher in the Rye published JD Salinger's only full-length novel, The Catcher in the Rye, was published by Little, Brown and Company on this day in 1951. With the launch of the book, the world was introduced to the unforgettable teenage protagonist, Holden Caulfield. Set in post-World War II America, the novel follows Holden over the course of three days in New York City after being expelled from prep school. Disillusioned by the 'phoniness' of the adult world and struggling with grief over the death of his younger brother, Holden narrates his journey in a raw, confessional tone that was both controversial and groundbreaking at the time. JD Salinger's classic novel, which gave life to Holden Caulfield. File image/AP While initial reviews were mixed, the book quickly gained popularity among young readers and became a bestseller. Its honest portrayal of teenage alienation, mental health, and rebellion struck a chord with postwar youth and sparked widespread debate. Salinger, who became famously reclusive after the novel's publication, never allowed a film adaptation and published little afterward. Yet his lone novel became a literary icon and has sold over 65 million copies worldwide. This Day, That Year Chicago officially opened its Millennium Park on this day in 2004. In 1979, Saddam Hussein became president of Iraq. Apollo 11 lifted off from Nasa's John F Kennedy Space Center in Florida on this day in 1969.
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First Post
5 days ago
- Business
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History Today: How a side project in 2006 became Twitter and eventually X
On this day in 2006, Twitter was launched as a side project that allowed users to send short status updates to groups of friends by texting a single number. Over the next decade, it grew to over 300 million users. It eventually became one of the world's leading social media platforms. Twitter's journey took a new turn after Elon Musk bought the company in October 2022 read more Twitter had a big role in influencing politics and culture in the early 21st century. Reuters/File Photo On July 15, 2006, Twitter (now called X) became available to the public. Over the next ten years, the platform grew to have more than 300 million users. The online microblogging site was launched by Jack Dorsey, Evan Williams and Biz Stone. Also on this day in 1997, Italian fashion designer Gianni Versace was murdered by serial killer Andrew Cunanan. As part of Firstpost Explainers' History Today series, here's a look at what happened on July 15: STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Twitter was launched On this day in 2006, Twitter, now called X, was launched as Odeo's side project that let users send short status updates to groups of friends by texting a single number. In the years that followed, Twttr became Twitter, and the simple idea of 'microblogging' quickly gained popularity. It went on to become one of the top social media platforms in the world. The online microblogging site was launched by Jack Dorsey, Evan Williams and Biz Stone. Reuters/File Photo Notably, Jack Dorsey came up with the idea of letting people send personal updates through SMS to groups. Six months after the launch, Twttr became Twitter. When it was made public, its creators added a 140-character limit to messages, which matched the standard length of a text message at the time. This was later changed to 280 characters. By 2013, the New York Times reported that Twitter had more than 2,000 staff members and over 200 million active users. In November that year, the company went public with a value of just over $31 billion. Twitter had a big role in influencing politics and culture in the early 21st century. In April 2022, a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission showed plans for Twitter to merge with one of Elon Musk's companies, X Holdings. After Musk bought Twitter in October 2022, he began the process of merging it with X and changing its brand. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Elon Musk bought Twitter in October 2022. Reuters/File Photo The merger with X Corp. was completed in April 2023. In a court document filed in California in early April 2023, it was stated that Twitter, as a company, 'no longer exists.' Gianni Versace was killed On this day in 1997, world-famous Italian fashion designer Gianni Versace was shot and killed by Andrew Cunanan outside his mansion in Miami. Versace was hit twice in the head, and Cunanan ran away from the scene. Notably, Cunanan had no past criminal record before he began a string of killings in Minneapolis in the spring of 1997. With the FBI already searching for him, Cunanan travelled to Miami Beach. On July 11, a fast-food worker recognised him, but police got there too late. Four days later, he shot Versace dead outside his South Beach home. World-famous Italian fashion designer Gianni Versace was shot in 1997. AFP/File Photo Both Cunanan and Versace were openly gay and moved in similar social groups, but police found no proof they had ever met. Versace's murder led to a major manhunt for Cunanan, who was known for changing his look in every photo. On July 23, the search ended just 40 blocks from Versace's mansion, on a houseboat that Cunanan had broken into. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD There, police found him dead from a self-inflicted gunshot. The weapon matched the one used in two other killings. He did not leave a note. This Day, That Year 1916: The Boeing Company, first named Pacific Aero Products Co., was set up in Seattle. 1971: Former US President Richard Nixon said he would visit communist China the next year. This was a major shift in US-China ties. 1996: American news channel MSNBC was launched by Microsoft and NBC, part of General Electric. 2020: George Floyd's family filed a case against the city of Minneapolis and the four police officers charged in his death, saying the officers violated his rights and that the city had allowed a culture of force, racism and lack of accountability in its police force.
