The Maastricht Treaty was signed, creating the European Union
MajorLeaders from 12 European nations signed the treaty that would transform the European Community into the EU. The agreement established European citizen...
February 7 in History
Significant events that happened on this day.
Historical Events
1992
1984
Astronauts Bruce McCandless II completed the first untethered spacewalk using a jetpack
MajorMcCandless floated 320 feet away from Space Shuttle Challenger, becoming a human satellite orbiting Earth. He maneuvered using the Manned Maneuvering...
1974
Grenada gained independence from the United Kingdom
The tiny Caribbean island nation became an independent country after over 200 years of British rule. The peaceful transition marked the end of colonia...
1964
The Beatles arrived in America for the first time, triggering mass hysteria at JFK Airport
MajorOver 3,000 screaming fans mobbed the airport as the Fab Four stepped off Pan Am Flight 101. Two days later, 73 million Americans would watch them perf...
1962
President Kennedy banned almost all trade with Cuba, establishing an embargo that would last over 50 years
The embargo was a response to Cuba's alignment with the Soviet Union and nationalization of American-owned properties. It became one of the longest-ru...
1904
A massive fire destroyed most of Baltimore's downtown in what became known as the Great Baltimore Fire
The fire started in a dry goods warehouse and raged for 30 hours, destroying over 1,500 buildings across 70 city blocks. Firefighters from as far away...
1863
The world's first experiment with fire extinguishers in a public building was conducted at a London theater
HMS Warrior tested an early fire suppression system using steam and water, but the demonstration at the Theatre Royal actually involved testing chemic...
1812
Charles Dickens was born in Portsmouth, England
MajorThe author would go on to write some of English literature's most beloved classics including Oliver Twist, A Christmas Carol, and Great Expectations....
1795
The 11th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was ratified after a lawsuit embarrassed the government
The amendment was rushed through after a South Carolina man successfully sued the state of Georgia and won. The Founding Fathers were horrified that s...
1783
The Revolutionary War officially ended when Britain declared an end to hostilities with America
MajorKing George III announced the cessation of hostilities in America, though the Treaty of Paris wouldn't be signed until September. This marked Britain'...
1497
Followers of Girolamo Savonarola burned cosmetics, art, and books in Florence's Bonfire of the Vanities
The Dominican friar convinced Florentines to destroy items he deemed sinful, including mirrors, fine clothes, musical instruments, and works by Bottic...
1301
Edward of Caernarvon became the first English Prince of Wales
King Edward I formally invested his son Edward as Prince of Wales, establishing a tradition that continues today. The title had been created to consol...