1778day.year
The Emigration of Christians from the Crimea in 1778 begins.
In 1778, a mass migration of Christian communities from Crimea began under Russian imperial resettlement policies.
Following the Treaty of Küçük Kaynarca, Catherine the Great invited Orthodox Greeks, Armenians, and other Christians to leave Ottoman-controlled Crimea. On July 26, families departed for newly designated lands in New Russia, seeking religious freedom and economic opportunity. Organized by the Russian authorities, the journey involved long overland and river routes under challenging conditions. Settlers established agricultural colonies along the Dniester and Bug rivers. This migration reshaped the demographic landscape of southern Ukraine. It also reflected the broader geopolitical struggles between the Russian and Ottoman Empires. The legacy of these communities endures in the cultural mosaic of the region.
1778
Emigration of Christians from the Crimea in 1778
1848day.year
The University of Wisconsin–Madison is established by Nelson Dewey, first Governor of Wisconsin.
The University of Wisconsin–Madison was chartered on July 26, 1848, in Wisconsin’s newly established state capital of Madison.
Shortly after Wisconsin gained statehood in May 1848, Governor Nelson Dewey signed the act founding the university. The institution aimed to provide accessible higher education to the state’s citizens. Early classes were held in temporary locations before the campus was laid out on Main Street. Faculty members taught a liberal curriculum that included agriculture, science, and classical studies. Over the next decades, the university expanded its research facilities and student body. It became a model for public land-grant universities in the United States. Today, UW–Madison is known for its contributions to research and service.
1848
University of Wisconsin–Madison
Nelson Dewey
Governor of Wisconsin
1944day.year
World War II: The Red Army enters Lviv, a major city in western Ukraine, capturing it from the Nazis. Only 300 Jews survive out of 160,000 living in Lviv prior to occupation.
On July 26, 1944, the Red Army captured Lviv from Nazi Germany, ending brutal occupation and revealing the devastation of the city’s Jewish community.
On July 26, 1944, Soviet forces of the Red Army entered and recaptured the city of Lviv in western Ukraine from Nazi occupation. The German withdrawal exposed the tragic fate of Lviv’s Jewish population, with only about 300 survivors out of approximately 160,000 before the war. During the occupation, mass deportations, ghettos, and Einsatzgruppen executions decimated the community. The liberation of Lviv marked a turning point on the Eastern Front as Soviet troops advanced toward Warsaw. The city’s liberation allowed survivors and local populations to begin the slow process of rebuilding. Lviv’s wartime experience stands as a stark reminder of the Holocaust’s horrors and the resilience of its survivors.
1944
Red Army
Lviv
Ukraine
Nazis
Jews
1948day.year
U.S. president Harry S. Truman signs Executive Order 9981, desegregating the military of the United States.
On July 26, 1948, President Truman issued Executive Order 9981 to desegregate the U.S. military.
Executive Order 9981 abolished racial segregation in the United States Armed Forces.
Signed by President Harry S. Truman, it declared equality of treatment and opportunity for all service members.
The order led to the gradual integration of the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marines.
It represented a major step forward in the civil rights movement and military policy.
The desegregation of troops strengthened morale and set a precedent for further social change.
1948
Harry S. Truman
Executive Order 9981
1953day.year
Arizona Governor John Howard Pyle orders an anti-polygamy law enforcement crackdown on residents of Short Creek, Arizona, which becomes known as the Short Creek raid.
The Short Creek raid on July 26, 1953, saw Arizona authorities target a polygamist community.
Ordered by Governor John Howard Pyle, the Arizona National Guard and state police descended on Short Creek, a community of fundamentalist Mormon polygamists.
Dozens of men, women, and children were arrested and separated from their families in a controversial enforcement action.
The raid aimed to uphold anti-polygamy laws dating back to the 19th century.
Public reaction ranged from support for the rule of law to criticism of government intrusion into private lives.
The event sparked a national debate on religious freedom and state power.
Arizona
John Howard Pyle
polygamy
Short Creek, Arizona
Short Creek raid
1977day.year
The National Assembly of Quebec imposes the use of French as the official language of the provincial government.
On July 26, 1977, Quebec enacted Bill 101, making French the official language of the provincial government, courts, and public services.
The Charter of the French Language, known as Bill 101, was passed by Quebec’s National Assembly on July 26, 1977. It established French as the sole official language of government, courts, and commerce in the province. The law aimed to preserve Francophone culture amid concerns over English-speaking influence. Bill 101 mandated French signage, education, and public services, reshaping Quebec’s linguistic landscape. While praised by Francophone communities, it also sparked debates over language rights and minority protections. The legislation became a cornerstone of Quebec’s identity and fueled ongoing discussions on multiculturalism in Canada. Its effects continue to influence language policy and cultural dynamics in the province.
1977
Quebec
1990day.year
The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 is signed into law by President George H. W. Bush.
President George H. W. Bush signs the Americans with Disabilities Act, a landmark civil rights law prohibiting disability discrimination.
On July 26, 1990, President George H. W. Bush signed the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) into law.
This groundbreaking legislation prohibits discrimination based on disability in employment, public accommodations, transportation, and telecommunications.
It mandates reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities and promotes accessibility standards.
The ADA represented a major step forward for civil rights, empowering millions of Americans.
Advocates hailed the law as a transformative victory for dignity and inclusion in U.S. society.
Its effects continue to shape policies and attitudes towards disability rights around the world.
1990
Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990
George H. W. Bush
2016day.year
The Sagamihara stabbings occur in Kanagawa Prefecture in Japan. Nineteen people are killed.
A mass stabbing at a care facility in Sagamihara, Japan, claims 19 lives in one of the country’s deadliest mass murders.
On July 26, 2016, a former employee attacked a care facility for disabled individuals in Sagamihara, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan.
Nineteen residents were brutally killed and many others injured in the pre-dawn assault.
The perpetrator surrendered to police and later confessed to targeting people with disabilities.
The incident sparked national debate on mental health support and protections for vulnerable communities.
Public mourning and vigils were held across Japan in solidarity with the victims and their families.
The tragedy led to calls for strengthened security at care facilities and better social inclusion policies.
2016
Sagamihara stabbings
Kanagawa Prefecture