This Day In History, August 14th.
Five Historical Events That Happened on August 14th
The United States Social Security Act is signed into law in 1935. President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the Social Security Act into law on August 14, 1935. The legislation established old-age benefits for employees, as well as support for families with dependent children, unemployment insurance, and blind assistance.
1945: Japan surrenders, bringing World War II to a close - Japan surrendered to the Allies on August 14, 1945, thereby ending World War II. On September 2, 1945, the surrender was signed, formally ending the war.
Lech Walesa Leads Strike in Poland in 1980 - Lech Walesa, the head of the Solidarity labor union, led a strike at the Lenin Shipyard in Gdansk, Poland, on August 14, 1980. The strike kicked off a movement that would eventually lead to the demise of communism in Poland.
50 million people are affected by the Northeast blackout in 2003. A large power outage struck most of the northeastern United States and parts of Canada on August 14, 2003, leaving an estimated 50 million people without electricity. The outage was caused by a mix of human error and equipment malfunction and lasted many days.
1935: United States Social Security Act Signed into Law - On August 14, 1935, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the Social Security Act into law. The act provided for old-age benefits for workers, as well as aid to families with dependent children, unemployment insurance, and assistance to the blind.
The Social Security Act was a significant piece of legislation that established a national social insurance system in the United States. It offered workers and their families with retirement benefits, disability insurance, and survivor benefits, and it also established the first government unemployment insurance program. The Social Security Act had a profound influence on American culture and is an essential component of the social safety net today.
On August 14, 1945, Japan announced its surrender to the Allied Powers, effectively ending World War II. The surrender was signed on September 2, 1945, officially marking the end of the war.
Japan surrendered on August 14, 1945, after the United States dropped atomic bombs on the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The surrender was proclaimed by Emperor Hirohito in a radio broadcast, officially ending World War II hostilities. On September 2, 1945, the official surrender ceremony took place aboard the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay.
1975: The Rocky Horror Picture Show Premieres - The cult classic film "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" premiered on August 14, 1975, in London. The movie went on to become a popular midnight movie, with audiences dressing up in costume and participating in the show.
"The Rocky Horror Picture Show" is a musical comedy horror film from 1975. Jim Sharman directed the film, which stars Tim Curry, Susan Sarandon, and Barry Bostwick. The picture garnered mixed reviews at first, but it quickly gained a cult following in the years after its debut. As a midnight movie, it became popular, with viewers dressing up in costumes, chanting lines from the film, and even playing out parts. The film's fame has grown with time, and it is now regarded as a cult movie classic.
On August 14, 1980, Lech Walesa, the leader of the Solidarity trade union, led a strike at the Lenin Shipyard in Gdansk, Poland. The strike marked the beginning of a movement that would eventually lead to the downfall of communism in Poland.
The strike at the Lenin Shipyard in Gdansk, Poland, organized by Lech Walesa and the Solidarity labor union, was a watershed moment in Polish and communist history. A combination of economic and political complaints spurred the walkout, which swiftly expanded to other companies and businesses across the country. The strike-inspired Solidarity movement became a major force for political change in Poland, campaigning for more democracy, human rights, and workers' rights. The movement finally played a significant role in the fall of communism in Poland, and it remains a vital part of the country's history and identity today.
On August 14, 2003, a massive power outage affected much of the northeastern United States and parts of Canada, leaving an estimated 50 million people without power. The outage lasted for several days and was caused by a combination of human error and equipment failure.
The Northeast blackout of 2003 was one of the most severe power disruptions in US history. It impacted a large portion of the northeastern United States and parts of Canada, including New York, Toronto, and Detroit. A mix of reasons, including human mistake, equipment failure, and insufficient system monitoring, contributed to the outage. The outage in some places lasted several days and had a substantial impact on companies, transportation, and public safety. It also prompted increased focus and investment in the country's electrical system and infrastructure, as well as attempts to strengthen emergency response and disaster preparedness.