On This Day in History – July 2

Major Events

• 1776 – The Continental Congress adopted a resolution declaring the American colonies independent from British rule, two days before the Declaration of Independence was formally adopted.
• 1881 – U.S. President James A. Garfield was shot by Charles J. Guiteau; he would die from his wounds later in September.
• 1937 – Aviation pioneer Amelia Earhart and her navigator Fred Noonan disappeared over the Pacific Ocean during an attempt to fly around the world.
• 1962 – The first Wal-Mart store opened in Rogers, Arkansas, founded by Sam Walton.
• 1964 – U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act of 1964 into law, outlawing discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.

Famous Birthdays

• Thurgood Marshall (1908–1993), first African American U.S. Supreme Court Justice
• Medgar Evers (1925–1963), American civil rights activist
• Ron Silver (1946–2009), American actor and political activist
• Ashley Tisdale (born 1985), American actress and singer
• Lindsay Lohan (born 1986), American actress and singer

Notable Deaths

• Ernest Borgnine (d. 2012), American actor, Academy Award winner (b. 1917)
• Betty Grable (d. 1973), American actress and WWII pin-up icon (b. 1916)
• James A. Garfield (d. 1881), 20th President of the United States, mortally wounded on this day (b. 1831)

Holidays

• Civil Rights Act Day (United States) – Commemorates the signing of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
• World UFO Day – Observed by some to commemorate the Roswell UFO incident and raise awareness of unidentified flying objects.
• Flag and Anthem Day (Curaçao) – Celebrates national identity and heritage.

Fun Facts

• President Thomas Jefferson reportedly believed July 2 would be celebrated as America’s true Independence Day.
• Amelia Earhart’s disappearance remains one of the greatest unsolved mysteries in aviation history.
• The first Wal-Mart store revolutionized American retail and became one of the largest global companies.
• World UFO Day encourages people to look to the skies and consider the possibility of extraterrestrial life.