June 8th: Today in 1789 James Madison recognizing that the public distrusts politicians who have no restrictions on them introduces his proposal to create a Bill of Rights. From his speech:
I believe that the great mass of the people who opposed [the Constitution], disliked it because it did not contain effectual provision against encroachments on [...]
June 7th: Today in 1917 the British army detonated explosives in mines dug below the German trenches killing an estimated 10,000 Germans in the explosion. The Battle of Messines was a rare battle in the first World War where the defenders suffered more casualties than the attackers, however once the trick had been played it [...]
Ok this probably isn’t work safe but it is very funny and contains some things I didn’t know about George Washington. Apparently he had a very interesting physiology….
Via Metafilter
June 6th: Today in 1813 a small force of British troops, militia and indians beat an American forced three times its size in the Battle of Stoney Creek. Big battle if you are studying Canadian history, not so big in real consequences….
I saw this last night. I have to say that I pay attention now when I see fighters over DC and these guys were moving along, glad it turned out to be nothing..
Dalmation, Dalmation, Dalmation.
June 5th: Today in 1968 Robert F. Kennedy was shot by Sirhan B. Sirhan as he left a hotel. He died the next day.
June 4th: Today in 2004 a man in an armored bulldozer went on a rampage against city hall destroying numerous buildings and cars. I never heard of this, but what a story! As he rampaged he apparently tried hard not to hurt anyone and once his dozer finally shut down he killed himself. Real [...]
June 3rd: Today in 1943 in a racially charged Los Angeles a group of service men looking to avenge an assault on a sailor began attacking anyone hispanic in zoot suits leading to four days of riots. The Zoot Suit Riots led to hundreds of mexican american youths being arrested but only nine of the [...]
June 2nd: Today in 1925 Lou Gehrig stood in for the Yankees regular first baseman Wally Pipp and started a streak of 2,130 baseball games without missing a game. The record has since been broken by Cal Ripken Jr but the feat is still amazing and well worth celebrating. Gehrig was a class act.