August 31 - The Day in History

August 31 : General Interest 1980: Polish government signs accord with Gdansk shipyard workers On this day in 1980, representatives of the communist government of Poland agree to the demands of striking shipyard workers in the city of Gdansk... Read more American Revolution 1777 : Sam Mason survives Indian attack http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/sam-mason-survives-indian-attack Automotive 1955 : William Cobb demonstrates first solar-powered car http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/william-cobb-demonstrates-first-solar-powered-car Civil War 1864 : Battle of Jonesboro leads to fall of Atlanta http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/battle-of-jonesboro-georgia Cold War 1951 : William O. Douglas calls for recognition of PRC http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/william-o-douglas-calls-for-recognition-of-prc Crime 1985 : Los Angeles mob attacks Night Stalker http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/los-angeles-mob-attacks-night-stalker Disaster 1886 : Earthquake shakes Charleston, South Carolina http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/earthquake-shakes-charleston-south-carolina General Interest 1888 : Jack the Ripper claims first victim http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/jack-the-ripper-claims-first-victim 1897 : Edison patents the Kinetograph http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/edison-patents-the-kinetograph 1939 : Germany prepares for invasion of Poland http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/germany-prepares-for-invasion-of-poland Hollywood 1949 : Actor Richard Gere born http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/actor-richard-gere-born Literary 1908 : William Saroyan is born http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/william-saroyan-is-born Music 1928 : Bertolt Brecht and Kurt Weill's The Threepenny Opera premieres in Berlin http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/bertolt-brecht-and-kurt-weills-the-threepenny-opera-premieres-in-berlin Old West 1777 : Sam Mason survives Indian attack http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/mason-survives-indian-attack Presidential 1935 : FDR signs Neutrality Act http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/fdr-signs-neutrality-act Sports 1959 : Sandy Koufax strikes out 18 http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/sandy-koufax-strikes-out-18 Vietnam War 1955 : Dulles supports Diem's decision not to hold national election http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/dulles-supports-diems-decision-not-to-hold-national-election 1965 : Ky refuses to negotiate with the Communists http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/ky-refuses-to-negotiate-with-the-communists 1967 : Senate Committee calls for stepped-up bombing http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/senate-committee-calls-for-stepped-up-bombing 1970 : Thieu government maintains control of Senate http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/thieu-government-maintains-control-of-senate 1972 : U.S. weekly casualty figures hit new low http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/us-weekly-casualty-figures-hit-new-low World War I 1916 : American soldier Harry Butters killed in the Battle of the Somme http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/american-soldier-harry-butters-killed-in-the-battle-of-the-somme World War II 1944 : The British cross the Gothic Line http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/the-british-cross-the-gothic-line

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