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