What happened on August 6th?

Good morning,

This newsletter brings to light how important stuff happens every day. However, while all things matter, there are days that stand out. August 6th is one of them.

On this fateful day, the United States did something that had never been done before and has only been done once since: deployed a nuclear bomb on an enemy.

This decision changed our world in so many ways. It brought unimaginable death and destruction to the Japanese citizens of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and it reshaped global politics in the years that followed the end of the Second World War, contributing to the power dynamics we have today.

Here’s what else happened on this day in history: 

🔥1945: American Bomber Dropped Atomic Bomb on Hiroshima

On August 6, 1945, during the final stages of World War II, the United States dropped an atomic bomb on the Japanese city of Hiroshima. This marked the first time in history that a nuclear weapon was used in combat. The bomb, codenamed "Little Boy," was dropped from the B-29 bomber Enola Gay, and its detonation released an unprecedented amount of energy equivalent to approximately 15 kilotons of TNT.

The immediate effects were devastating: an estimated 70,000 to 80,000 people were killed instantly, with tens of thousands more suffering from severe injuries and radiation sickness. The explosion flattened much of the city, destroying buildings and infrastructure over a large area. The bomb's impact caused widespread fires, which further contributed to the death toll and destruction.

In the days following the bombing, Japan faced immense pressure from the international community and the escalating destruction. On August 9, a second atomic bomb was dropped on Nagasaki. Japan's unconditional surrender came on August 15, 1945. In those six days, the Soviet Union also launched an invasion of Manchuria in mainland China, opening another front of the war that the Japanese could not handle.

Interestingly, official Japanese government sources suggest the use of the bombs alone was not enough to force their surreder, but that they combined with the Soviet invasion to force something many thought would never happen.

US President Harry Truman’s decision to use the bomb was done in an attempt to avoid the alternative: a full scale invasion of Japan. Such an invasion would have been unimaginably costly and deadly, and had no guarantee of success.

Additionally, by dropping the bomb, Truman was signalling to the Soviet Union, and the rest of the world, that the US had the capacity and the willingness to use such weapons, which put the US firmly in the driver’s seat of global politics in the years after the war. It wasn’t until the USSR developed its own nuclear capacity that they were considered on equal ground with the US, creating the dual power system that defined the Cold War.

Read about nuclear bombs and its devastating effects in Who Invented the Nuclear Bomb? The Doomsday Weapon.

📜1787: First Draft of Constitution Debated

Delegates from twelve states gathered in Philadelphia to discuss the first draft of the United States Constitution, created by the Committee of Detail. They aimed to replace the ineffective Articles of Confederation with a stronger federal government. Key issues included legislative structure, executive powers, and checks and balances to prevent any branch from dominating. The debates sought to balance the interests of large and small states and address both federalist and anti-federalist concerns.

🏰1806: The Holy Roman Empire Came to Its Official End

Emperor Francis II abdicated, officially dissolving the Holy Roman Empire after more than a thousand years. This monumental event occurred following the crushing defeat of Francis II's forces by Napoleon at the Battle of Austerlitz in 1805. Napoleon's establishment of the Confederation of the Rhine, a coalition of German states allied with France, rendered the Empire obsolete. 

⚡1890: First Execution by Electric Chair

New York State executed William Kemmler using the electric chair, a method designed to be more humane than hanging. Thomas Edison promoted this technology as part of the broader War of Currents against George Westinghouse's alternating current (AC) system. Kemmler, convicted of murdering his common-law wife, became the first person to face this new execution method, which quickly sparked debates about its ethics and effectiveness. 

🏊‍♀️1926: Gertrude Ederle Became the First Woman to Swim the English Channel

Ederle, who had already won a gold medal in the 1924 Olympics, battled strong currents and cold waters for 14 hours and 34 minutes, ultimately breaking the existing men's record by nearly two hours. Her historic swim not only showcased her incredible endurance and determination but also challenged prevailing gender norms and inspired future generations of female athletes. 

🏴1940: Estonia Lost Its Independence

Soviet forces forcibly annexed Estonia, integrating it into the Soviet Union following an ultimatum and military occupation. This annexation was part of a broader Soviet strategy under the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact, an agreement with Nazi Germany that divided Eastern Europe into spheres of influence. Estonia, along with its Baltic neighbors Latvia and Lithuania, lost its sovereignty and became part of the Soviet Union. This occupation led to severe repression, including mass deportations and political purges. Estonia remained under Soviet control until it regained its independence on August 20, 1991, during the dissolution of the Soviet Union.

🎉1962: Jamaica Became an Independent Country

This milestone was the result of years of political activism and negotiation, spearheaded by leaders like Alexander Bustamante and Norman Manley, who fought for self-governance and the end of colonial exploitation. Upon independence, Jamaica adopted its own constitution and joined the Commonwealth of Nations, maintaining a symbolic link to Britain while establishing its own parliamentary democracy. 

🗳️1965: U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson Signed the Voting Rights Act

This legislation followed the Civil Rights Movement's relentless efforts, highlighted by events such as the Selma to Montgomery marches, which exposed widespread voter suppression tactics against African Americans. The Act prohibited literacy tests and other discriminatory practices that had long disenfranchised Black voters, and it authorized federal oversight and enforcement in areas with a history of voting-related discrimination.

🌐1990: The UN Security Council Imposed Economic Sanctions on Iraq

This decisive action aimed to pressure Iraqi President Saddam Hussein to withdraw his forces from Kuwait and restore the nation's sovereignty. The sanctions included a total trade embargo, freezing of Iraqi assets, and restrictions on financial transactions, crippling Iraq's economy. These measures set the stage for the Gulf War, as diplomatic efforts failed and a U.S.-led coalition launched Operation Desert Storm in January 1991 to liberate Kuwait. The sanctions remained in place for over a decade, severely impacting Iraq's economy and population. Read more about Saddam Hussein in Saddam Hussein: Life, Death, and Legacy.

🚀2012: NASA's Robotic Vehicle Curiosity Landed on Mars

Curiosity, part of NASA's Mars Science Laboratory mission, aimed to investigate Mars' climate and geology, searching for signs of past life and assessing the planet's habitability. Equipped with advanced scientific instruments, the rover landed in Gale Crater, a location chosen for its potential to have once contained water.

🌟Born on This Day in History

1809: Alfred, Lord Tennyson, English Poet 

Alfred Lord Tennyson was a prominent English poet known for his vivid and evocative verse. His works, including The Charge of the Light Brigade and In Memoriam, earned him acclaim and the position of Poet Laureate of the United Kingdom, reflecting his significant influence on Victorian literature.

1881: Alexander Fleming, Scottish Bacteriologist 

Alexander Fleming was a Scottish bacteriologist renowned for his discovery of penicillin in 1928. His groundbreaking work on antibiotics revolutionized medicine, saving countless lives and establishing him as a pivotal figure in medical history.

💔Died on This Day in History

1637: Ben Jonson, English writer 

Ben Jonson was a prominent English playwright and poet known for his satirical plays and comedies such as Volpone and The Alchemist. His influence on English literature was substantial, contributing significantly to the development of drama and stagecraft during the early 17th century.

1973: Fulgencio Batista, Cuban Dictator 

Fulgencio Batista, a Cuban military officer and politician, ruled Cuba first as a dictator from 1952 to 1959 and later as a president from 1940 to 1944. His regime was marked by widespread corruption and political repression, leading to his overthrow by Fidel Castro's revolutionary forces in 1959.

Thanks again for reading!

Matt