This Week in History: Week 1

January 1 – January 7

Over 130 historical moments took place during these 7 days of the calendar year. Explore our curated digest of the most world-changing events, iconic births, and notable deaths.

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Major Events (January 1 – January 7)(20)

1777 – 2024

1777⚡ Event

Battle of Princeton boosts the American Revolution

George Washington's army defeats British forces at Princeton, strengthening the Patriot cause during a critical phase of the Revolutionary War.

warmilitarypolitics

1801⚡ Event

Act of Union creates the United Kingdom

The Acts of Union take effect, uniting Great Britain and Ireland into the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland.

politicslaw

1839⚡ Event

Louis Daguerre is thought to photograph the Moon

French photography pioneer Louis Daguerre is believed to have taken one of the first photographs of the Moon, an early milestone in photographic history.

sciencetechnology

1863⚡ Event

Emancipation Proclamation takes effect

President Abraham Lincoln's executive order frees enslaved people in Confederate states, reshaping the purpose of the Civil War.

politicslaw

1920⚡ Event

Palmer Raids lead to mass arrests across the United States

Federal authorities carry out one of the largest Palmer Raids, arresting thousands of suspected radicals in cities across the United States.

politicslaw

1920⚡ Event

Babe Ruth is sold to the New York Yankees

Boston Red Sox owner Harry Frazee sells Babe Ruth's contract to the New York Yankees, a deal that transforms baseball history.

sportsculture

1959⚡ Event

Cuban Revolution succeeds

Fidel Castro's forces overthrow the Batista regime in Cuba, beginning a new era of communist rule in the Western Hemisphere.

politicswarmilitary

1985⚡ Event

UNESCO names first World Heritage Sites

UNESCO's World Heritage program begins recognizing its first sites, marking a milestone in global cultural and natural preservation.

culturelaw

1991⚡ Event

Sharon Pratt Dixon sworn in as Mayor of Washington, D.C.

Sharon Pratt Dixon was sworn in as the mayor of Washington, D.C., becoming the first African-American woman to hold the position.

politics

1993⚡ Event

Czechoslovakia dissolves

Czechoslovakia peacefully dissolved into two separate countries: the Czech Republic and Slovakia.

politicslaw

1998⚡ Event

Maldacena publishes AdS/CFT correspondence paper

Argentinian physicist Juan Maldacena published a landmark paper initiating the study of AdS/CFT correspondence. This work links string theory and quantum gravity.

sciencephilosophytechnology

1999⚡ Event

Euro currency introduced

The euro is introduced as an accounting currency in eleven European Union member states, marking a milestone in European integration.

economicspolitics

2004⚡ Event

Stardust spacecraft collects material from comet Wild 2

NASA's Stardust mission gathers dust grains from comet Wild 2, later providing scientists with valuable evidence about the early solar system.

spacesciencetechnology

2007⚡ Event

Adam Air Flight 574 crash

Adam Air Flight 574 crashed into the sea off Polewali, Indonesia, killing all 102 people on board. The crash was attributed to the pilots inadvertently disconnecting the autopilot.

disastertechnology

2009⚡ Event

Sri Lankan Army captures Kilinochchi

The Sri Lankan army captured the town of Kilinochchi from the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, concluding the Battle of Kilinochchi. This marked a significant event in the Sri Lankan civil war.

war

2010⚡ Event

Pakistan volleyball game bombing

A suicide bomber killed 105 spectators at a volleyball game in the Lakki Marwat District of Pakistan. The attack occurred on New Year's Day.

disasterwar

2011⚡ Event

Alexandria church bombing

A suicide bombing occurred outside a Coptic Orthodox Church in Alexandria, Egypt, following a New Year service. The attack killed 23 people.

disasterreligion

2016⚡ Event

Execution of Nimr al-Nimr

Nimr al-Nimr, a prominent Shia cleric in Saudi Arabia, was executed by the Saudi government along with 46 other people. This event occurred on January 2, 2016.

politicsreligion

2019⚡ Event