On this day

2 July in history.

5 moments from 1890 to 2013: discovery, creativity and courage, each with a source to read more.

5 moments

Obverse of the Great Seal of the United States

1964

The Civil Rights Act becomes law. President Lyndon B. Johnson signed a law banning discrimination by race, colour, religion, sex or national origin in jobs and public places.

Wikipedia: Civil Rights Act of 1964

Photo: U.S. Government / Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)

More from 2 July

  1. Obverse of the Great Seal of the United States

    1890

    A law against monopolies

    The US Congress passed the Sherman Antitrust Act to stop big companies from crushing competition.

    Wikipedia: Sherman Antitrust Act

    Photo: U.S. Government / Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)

  2. J.K. Rowling reads from Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone at the Easter Egg Roll at the White House in 2010

    1998

    The Chamber of Secrets

    J. K. Rowling's second Harry Potter book was published in Britain.

    Wikipedia: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

    Photo: Daniel Ogren / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0)

  3. Aerial photograph of Hyde Park, London, courtesy of Luke Massey & the Greater London National Park City Initiative

    2005

    Live 8

    More than a thousand musicians played free concerts in ten countries to push world leaders to fight poverty in Africa.

    Wikipedia: Live 8

    Photo: @LondonNPC #NationalParkCity / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0)

  4. Pluto

    2013

    Pluto's new moons get names

    Two small moons of Pluto were named Kerberos and Styx, after figures from Greek myths about the underworld.

    Wikipedia: Kerberos (moon)Wikipedia: Styx (moon)

    Photo: NASA/Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory/Southwest Research Institute/A… / Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)

Moments chosen for discovery, creativity and courage. Each one links to a source where you can read more; photos are credited to their owners.