In 1950 the United Nations (UN) resolved to join Eritrea to Ethiopia in a federation that would provide the former with autonomy under its own constitution and elected government. The Eritrean constitution, prepared by the UN in consultation with Emperor Haile Selassie I of Ethiopia, was adopted by the Eritrean Assembly on this day and ratified by Haile Selassie on August 11; however, Ethiopia never observed the provisions, and it annexed Eritrea in 1962. Thirty years of war followed before Eritrea finally won its independence in 1993 and adopted a new constitution in 1997.
| 1985: | | The Greenpeace ship Rainbow Warrior was sunk by two bomb explosions while berthed in Auckland Harbour, New Zealand. |
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| 1973: | | The Bahamas gained independence from Britain within the Commonwealth. |
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| 1962: | | | Telstar I, the first communications satellite to transmit live television signals and telephone conversations across the Atlantic Ocean, was launched. |
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| 1925: | | The Scopes Trial began in Dayton, Tennessee, with William Jennings Bryan arguing for the prosecution and Clarence Darrow for the defense. |
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| 1609: | | The Catholic League was formed by Maximilian I, duke of Bavaria, and the Catholic powers in Germany. |
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| 1584: | | William I, first of the hereditary stadholders of the United Provinces of the Netherlands, was assassinated. |
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