SUNDAY, JANUARY 1, 2012

4714 B.C. ― Origin of Julian Period (Year 0)

1 ― Origin of Christian Era

1801 ― Ireland and Great Britain (England and Scotland) form United Kingdom

1863 ― Emancipation Proclamation (ending slavery) issued by Lincoln

1912 ― Sun Yat-sen forms Chinese Republic

1946 ― Emperor Hirohito of Japan announces he is not a god

1974 ― World Population Year begins

1979 ― U.S. and China (People's Republic) begin diplomatic relations

1992 ― Europe breaks down trade barriers

1994 ― North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) goes into effect