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1989 Thousands die in the Tiananmen Square Massacre
Using assault rifles and tanks, Chinese troops massacred unarmed civilians who had taken part in pro-democracy protests.
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1989 Poland holds the first free elections after World War II
The landslide victory of the Polish trade union, “Solidarity”, marked the beginning of the Autumn of Nations, a wave of revolutions resulting in the fall of communism.
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1984 Bruce Springsteen releases Born in the U.S.A.
The album was Springsteen’s most successful. It featured hits like “Born in the U.S.A.”, “Dancing in the Dark”, and “I’m on Fire”.
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1917 The first Pulitzer Prize is awarded
Every year, the prestigious award honors outstanding journalistic achievements. It was established with money bequeathed to Columbia University by publisher Joseph Pulitzer.
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1783 The Montgolfier brothers demonstrate the first hot air balloon
The flight of the Montgolfière lasted only about 10 minutes, but it secured the French inventors a place in the history books.