This Day In History, August 2nd.
Five Historical Events That Happened on August 2nd
The Battle of Cannae was fought in 216 BC between the Carthaginian army headed by Hannibal and the Roman army. With nearly 50,000 Roman troops slain, it is regarded as one of the bloodiest conflicts in ancient history.
The United States performed its first census in 1790, with a population of little more than 3.9 million people.
Wild Bill Hickok, a famed gunslinger and lawman of the American Old West, was slain at Deadwood, South Dakota, during a poker game in 1876.
1934: The death of German President Paul von Hindenburg allows Adolf Hitler to solidify his authority and establish the Third Reich.
1990: Iraq invaded Kuwait, triggering the Gulf War, which lasted several months and concluded in Kuwait's liberation by an international coalition led by the United States.
216 BC: The Battle of Cannae took place between the Carthaginian army, led by Hannibal, and the Roman army. It is considered as one of the bloodiest battles in ancient history, with over 50,000 Roman soldiers killed.
The Battle of Cannae was fought between the Carthaginian army headed by Hannibal and the Roman army led by consuls Lucius Aemilius Paullus and Gaius Terentius Varro during the Second Punic War. Hannibal's military skill, combined with the superior cavalry of his army, resulted in a crushing defeat of the much larger Roman army. It is claimed that about 50,000 Roman troops were slain, making it one of the most severe losses in military history on a single day. The conflict is frequently studied at military colleges as a prime example of tactical genius and the value of battlefield flexibility.
1790: The first U.S. Census was conducted, with the population of the United States at the time being just over 3.9 million people.
Under the leadership of Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson, the first United States Census was performed in 1790. The census was conducted to establish the number of seats each state would have in the United States House of Representatives. The population of the United States at the time was estimated to be somewhat more than 3.9 million people, including around 697,000 slaves, according to the census. Individuals in each household's age, gender, and race were also recorded in the census. Since then, the census has been conducted every 10 years, and it has remained an important instrument in defining the allocation of political power and government resources in the United States.
1876: Wild Bill Hickok, a legendary gunslinger and lawman of the American Old West, was killed during a poker game in Deadwood, South Dakota.
Wild Bill Hickok, sometimes known as James Butler Hickok, was an American Old West legend. He was a superb gunfighter and lawman who rose to prominence as a soldier, scout, and law enforcement officer. On August 2, 1876, he was playing poker in a Deadwood, South Dakota saloon when he was shot in the back of the head by a dissatisfied gambler named Jack McCall. Hickok died instantaneously while holding a pair of aces and a pair of eights, which became known as the "dead man's hand" in poker mythology. Hickok's death was extensively publicized, and he became a symbol of the Wild West, with its lawlessness and violence.
1934: German President Paul von Hindenburg died, paving the way for Adolf Hitler to consolidate his power and establish the Third Reich
From 1925 until his death in 1934, Paul von Hindenburg was the President of Germany. He was a distinguished military leader who became president at the age of 77. The Weimar Republic faced economic and political issues during his administration, including significant unemployment and political instability. Adolf Hitler was elected Chancellor of Germany in 1933, and he swiftly began consolidating his authority by eliminating opposition parties and establishing a totalitarian state. When Hindenburg died on August 2, 1934, Hitler took advantage of the chance to combine the roles of Chancellor and President, essentially establishing himself as Germany's undisputed dictator. This event effectively ended the Weimar Republic and established the Third Reich.
1990: Iraq invaded Kuwait, sparking the Gulf War, which lasted for several months and resulted in the liberation of Kuwait by a coalition of international forces led by the United States.
Iraq, commanded by Saddam Hussein, invaded Kuwait on August 2, 1990, accusing it of stealing oil and plotting to lower oil prices. The invasion provoked worldwide outrage, and the United Nations Security Council enacted a series of resolutions demanding that Iraq immediately withdraw from Kuwait. When Iraq failed to comply with these conditions, the United States organized a coalition of international troops to free Kuwait. The Gulf War, as it was known, began on January 17, 1991, with a huge air bombardment, followed by a multi-week ground invasion.The coalition troops liberated Kuwait on February 28, 1991, and the war formally concluded on April 11, 1991, when Iraq agreed to the conditions of the UN cease-fire. The Gulf War had a profound influence on the Middle East's political and social environment, and the ramifications are still being felt today.