August 31 - This 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. Former electrician Lech Walesa led the striking workers, who went on to form Solidarity, the first independent labor union to develop in a Soviet bloc nation... 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