Commentaries by Elliot Winter | Newcastle University (UK)

On August 2, 1776, the Declaration of Independence, originally approved on July 4, was formally signed in Philadelphia, with John Hancock, the President of the Continental Congress, providing the first signature. Learn more about the Declaration of Independence.

On August 2, 1869, the Japanese caste system was abolished after centuries of existence as part of the Meiji Restoration's modernization of Japan.