This Day In History, June 22nd.
Five Historical Events That Happened on June 22nd.
The Catholic Church compelled Galileo Galilei to abandon his conviction that the Earth revolves around the sun in 1633.
The British Parliament ended the slave trade in 1807, but slavery was not abolished until 1833.
1941: Nazi Germany launched Operation Barbarossa, an invasion of the Soviet Union that marked the start of World War II's biggest and bloodiest theater.
1944: US President Franklin D. Roosevelt signs the G.I. Bill into law, offering benefits to World War II veterans.
The iconic American dancer and actor Fred Astaire died at the age of 88 in 1987.
Galileo Galilei was forced to renounce his belief that the Earth revolves around the sun by the Catholic Church.
Galileo Galilei was an Italian astronomer and physicist who advocated for the heliocentric hypothesis, which proposed that the Earth rotates around the Sun, as opposed to the generally accepted geocentric theory, which proposed that the Sun and other planets rotated around the Earth. The Catholic Church, which had tremendous authority in Europe at the time, charged Galileo with heresy for propagating this notion in 1633. Galileo was put on trial, and under threat of torture, he was compelled to abandon his convictions and was imprisoned for the rest of his life. It took generations for the Church to recognize Galileo's contributions to science and lift the ban on his publications.
The British Parliament abolished the slave trade, although slavery itself was not banned until 1833.
The British Parliament approved the Abolition of the Slave Trade Act on June 22, 1807, which abolished the slave trade across the British Empire. The legislation made buying or selling slaves, transporting them over the Atlantic, or forcing them to serve as slaves unlawful. However, slavery was not abolished until 1833, with the passage of the Slavery Abolition Act. The act liberated all slaves in the British Empire, albeit full legal rights and protections were not conferred until later. The abolition of the slave trade was a significant step forward in the struggle against slavery, and it set a precedent for other countries to follow.
Nazi Germany launched Operation Barbarossa, the invasion of the Soviet Union, which began the largest and deadliest theater of World War II.
On June 22, 1941, Nazi Germany, headed by Adolf Hitler, launched Operation Barbarossa, a surprise attack on the Soviet Union. The invasion, which included around 4 million German troops, was one of the biggest military engagements in history. The invasion's purpose was to conquer the Soviet Union and seize land and resources for the Nazi dictatorship. However, due to reasons such as the severe winter cold and the Soviet Union's military and industrial superiority, the invasion eventually failed. The Eastern Front of World War II, fought mostly between Germany and the Soviet Union, became the war's biggest and bloodiest theater, killing an estimated 30 million people. The Soviet Union's invasion had a significant impact on the course of the war since it drew resources and attention away from other fronts and led to Nazi Germany's eventual collapse.
First day of summer: In the Northern Hemisphere, June 21st is usually the first day of summer. This day is marked by the summer solstice, which is the longest day of the year.
On June 22, 1944, US President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed into law the Servicemen's Readjustment Act, also known as the G.I. Bill. The measure gave a variety of advantages to World War II veterans, including low-interest loans to start enterprises or farms, job training, unemployment compensation, and free or reduced-cost education. The G.I. Bill had a huge influence on American society since it assisted millions of veterans in their transition back into civilian life and stimulated economic growth in the postwar years. As many veterans used the law's education benefits to attend college and university, the measure also helped to increase access to higher education and create a more educated workforce. The G.I. Bill is still regarded as a landmark piece of legislation in American history, as well as one of the most successful and effective social welfare programs ever devised.
Fred Astaire, the legendary American dancer and actor, died at the age of 88.
Fred Astaire, one of the most acclaimed dancers and performers in American history, died on June 22, 1987, at the age of 88, in Los Angeles, California. Astaire was noted for his beautiful and inventive dance technique, which fused ballet, tap, and ballroom dancing. He appeared in several Hollywood films, including musicals such as "Top Hat," "Swing Time," and "Easter Parade," and is regarded as one of the twentieth century's most important actors. Throughout his career, Astaire received several honors, including an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in the 1974 film "The Towering Inferno." To this day, his legacy inspires dancers and performers.