260day.year
Sima Zhao's regicide of Cao Mao: The figurehead Wei emperor Cao Mao personally leads an attempt to oust his regent, Sima Zhao; the attempted coup is crushed and the emperor killed.
In 260, Emperor Cao Mao led a daring coup against his regent Sima Zhao but was swiftly overpowered and killed, solidifying Sima Zhao's control over Wei.
During China's Three Kingdoms period, Emperor Cao Mao grew resentful of Sima Zhao's grip on power and secretly organized a palace uprising on June 2, 260. The emperor gathered loyal officers to confront the regent, aiming to restore imperial authority. The insurrection was poorly coordinated, and Sima Zhao's guards quickly crushed the revolt. Cao Mao was killed during the conflict, leaving the throne a mere figurehead under Sima authority. This event cemented the Sima dynasty's rise and foreshadowed the fall of the Cao Wei regime. It remains a dramatic example of ambition, betrayal, and the ruthless realities of political power in ancient China.
260
Sima Zhao's regicide of Cao Mao
Wei
Cao Mao
Sima Zhao
1608day.year
The Colony of Virginia gets a charter, extending borders from "sea to sea".
On June 2, 1608, King James I granted the Virginia Company a second charter, extending its territorial claims from the Atlantic to the Pacific.
The Second Charter of the Virginia Company, issued on June 2, 1608, significantly expanded the colony's borders to span "from sea to sea," reflecting ambitious English colonial aspirations. It granted the company authority to establish courts, appoint officials, and regulate trade with Indigenous peoples. The charter aimed to attract new investors by promising vast lands rich in resources like timber and precious metals. Although the sweeping land claims were largely theoretical, the document provided a legal framework for governance and settlement. This expansion reinforced English claims in North America and laid groundwork for future colonial development. The charter's blend of commercial motive and imperial ambition shaped early American history.
1608
Colony of Virginia
1774day.year
Intolerable Acts: The Quartering Act of 1774 is enacted, allowing a governor in colonial America to house British soldiers in uninhabited houses, outhouses, barns, or other buildings if suitable quarters are not provided.
In 1774, the Quartering Act empowered colonial governors to billet British troops in private properties, fueling colonial unrest before the American Revolution.
Enacted on June 2, 1774, the Quartering Act was part of the Intolerable Acts imposed by the British Parliament in response to colonial protests like the Boston Tea Party. It authorized governors to house soldiers in unoccupied homes, barns, and other buildings when official barracks were insufficient. Many American colonists perceived the act as a violation of their rights and privacy, exacerbating anti-British sentiment. It forced civilians to bear the financial and logistical burden of maintaining a standing army. The measure galvanized colonial resistance and unity, contributing to the convening of the First Continental Congress. The Quartering Act exemplified the escalating tensions that ultimately led to armed conflict in 1775.
1774
Intolerable Acts
Quartering Act of 1774
colonial America
1793day.year
French Revolution: François Hanriot, leader of the Parisian National Guard, arrests 22 Girondists selected by Jean-Paul Marat, setting the stage for the Reign of Terror.
François Hanriot orders the arrest of 22 Girondist leaders in Paris, paving the way for the Reign of Terror during the French Revolution.
On June 2, 1793, during the tumult of the French Revolution, François Hanriot, commander of the Paris National Guard, moved decisively against political moderates.
Under the influence of radical Jacobins such as Jean-Paul Marat, Hanriot's forces arrested twenty-two deputies of the Girondist faction.
These targeted detentions dismantled one of the Revolution's staunchest moderate groups.
The purge shifted power firmly into the hands of the more extreme Jacobins.
It set the political atmosphere for the Committee of Public Safety's ascendancy.
This event directly preceded the onset of the Reign of Terror, a dark chapter marked by mass executions.
1793
French Revolution
François Hanriot
Girondists
Jean-Paul Marat
Reign of Terror
1848day.year
The Slavic Congress opens in Prague.
The first Pan-Slavic Congress convenes in Prague, bringing together Slavic intellectuals to discuss unity and national revival.
On June 2, 1848, amid the revolutionary fervor sweeping Europe, the Slavic Congress opened in Prague.
Delegates from various Slavic regions, including Bohemia, Poland, and Russia, assembled to debate political and cultural cooperation.
Leaders such as František Palacký called for recognition of Slavic rights within the Austrian Empire.
The congress aimed to foster solidarity against German and Hungarian dominance.
Despite its lofty goals, internal divisions and external pressure limited concrete outcomes.
The assembly nonetheless marked a significant moment in the rise of Slavic nationalism.
Its legacy influenced later movements for Slavic independence and federalism.
1848
Slavic Congress
Prague
1909day.year
Alfred Deakin becomes Prime Minister of Australia for the third time.
Alfred Deakin assumes the office of Prime Minister of Australia for the third time, leading the young nation through formative years.
On June 2, 1909, Alfred Deakin was sworn in as Australia's Prime Minister for the third time.
Deakin, a key architect of Australian federation, previously held the office in 1903–1904 and 1905–1908.
His return to leadership followed a period of political realignment and party consolidations.
During his tenure, he focused on national defense, industrial development, and immigration policy.
He also supported the establishment of the High Court of Australia.
Deakin's third ministry navigated the challenges of nation-building in the early 20th century.
His leadership helped define the structures of modern Australian governance.
1909
Alfred Deakin
Prime Minister of Australia
1924day.year
U.S. President Calvin Coolidge signs the Indian Citizenship Act into law, granting citizenship to all Native Americans born within the territorial limits of the United States.
President Calvin Coolidge signs the Indian Citizenship Act, granting U.S. citizenship to all Native Americans born within the country’s borders.
On June 2, 1924, President Calvin Coolidge enacted the Indian Citizenship Act into law.
For the first time, all Native Americans born in the United States were granted full American citizenship.
The legislation built on earlier efforts but marked a significant extension of civil rights.
Despite citizenship, many Native Americans continued to face state-level voting restrictions.
Advocates praised the act as a milestone in recognizing indigenous peoples' legal status.
However, it failed to address broader issues of land rights and cultural autonomy.
The act remains a landmark in the history of Native American–U.S. relations.
1924
Calvin Coolidge
Indian Citizenship Act
citizenship
Native Americans
1946day.year
Birth of the Italian Republic: In a referendum, Italians vote to turn Italy from a monarchy into a Republic. After the referendum, King Umberto II of Italy is exiled.
In 1946, Italians voted in a referendum to end the monarchy and establish the Italian Republic, leading to the exile of King Umberto II.
After a devastating World War II, Italy held a pivotal referendum on June 2, 1946 to decide between monarchy and republic.
The result favored a republic by a narrow margin, signaling the end of centuries of royal rule.
King Umberto II was swiftly exiled as the new Italian Republic was born.
This vote laid the foundation for Italy's modern democratic constitution in 1948.
The referendum marked a turning point in Italian political life, reshaping national identity and governance.
It remains a seminal moment in Italy's postwar recovery and democratic evolution.
1946
Birth of the Italian Republic
referendum
Italians
monarchy
Republic
Umberto II of Italy
1953day.year
The coronation of Queen Elizabeth II at Westminster Abbey becomes the first British coronation and one of the first major international events to be televised.
Queen Elizabeth II's coronation at Westminster Abbey in 1953 was the first major international event to be televised, bringing the monarchy into homes worldwide.
On June 2, 1953, millions watched as Queen Elizabeth II was crowned at Westminster Abbey.
It was the first British coronation to be broadcast live, showcasing the power of television.
The event blended ancient ceremony with modern media, symbolizing both tradition and progress.
Global audiences witnessed the pageantry and solemn rituals in real time for the first time.
This broadcast cemented television’s role in mass communication and royal publicity.
It remains a landmark moment in media history and the modern British monarchy.
1953
coronation of Queen Elizabeth II
Westminster Abbey
1955day.year
The USSR and Yugoslavia sign the Belgrade declaration and thus normalize relations between the two countries, discontinued since 1948.
In 1955, the USSR and Yugoslavia signed the Belgrade Declaration, restoring diplomatic relations after a seven-year ideological split.
After the Tito–Stalin split in 1948, relations between Yugoslavia and the Soviet Union had remained frozen.
On June 2, 1955, leaders gathered in Belgrade to sign the Declaration, normalizing ties.
The agreement allowed Yugoslavia to maintain its independent path within the socialist bloc.
It eased Cold War tensions in Eastern Europe and influenced other Eastern Bloc countries.
This diplomatic breakthrough paved the way for Yugoslavia's non-aligned stance.
The declaration marked a rare moment of unity during the Cold War.
1955
USSR
Yugoslavia
Belgrade declaration
1948
1964day.year
The Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) is formed.
The Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) was established in 1964 to represent the Palestinian people and their aspirations for statehood.
On June 2, 1964, the Arab League’s summit in Cairo led to the founding of the PLO.
The organization aimed to unify various Palestinian factions and advocate for self-determination.
Its charter called for the liberation of Palestine through armed struggle against Israel.
Yasser Arafat’s Fatah faction would later become dominant within the PLO.
The PLO gained international recognition but also faced controversy over its methods.
It played a central role in Middle East diplomacy and the Israeli–Palestinian conflict for decades.
1964
Palestine Liberation Organization
1967day.year
Luis Monge is executed in Colorado's gas chamber, in the last pre-Furman execution in the United States.
In 1967, Luis Monge was executed in Colorado's gas chamber, marking the last U.S. execution before a national moratorium on capital punishment.
Luis Monge was convicted of murdering a family in Colorado in 1964.
On June 2, 1967, he was executed by gas chamber, drawing national attention to capital punishment.
His death preceded the landmark Supreme Court case Furman v. Georgia in 1972, which paused executions.
Monge's case highlighted debates over the morality and legality of the death penalty.
Colorado would not carry out another execution until the 1990s.
The hiatus and subsequent rulings reshaped American capital punishment laws.
1967
Luis Monge
Colorado
gas chamber
pre-Furman