In History, Today on June 17

Vlad the Impaler attempts to assassinate Mehmed II, leading to the Night Attack at Târgoviște.

Sir Francis Drake claims a land he calls Nova Albion (modern California) for England.

Mumtaz Mahal dies during childbirth, prompting her husband, Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan, to commission the Taj Mahal.

The Battle of Bunker Hill is fought during the American Revolutionary War.

During the French Revolution, the Third Estate declares itself the National Assembly.

The Statue of Liberty arrives in New York Harbor from France.

President Herbert Hoover signs the Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act into law, raising U.S. tariffs on over 20,000 imported goods.

The RMS Lancastria is sunk by German bombers near Saint-Nazaire, France, during World War II, resulting in the loss of thousands of lives.

Iceland declares independence from Denmark and becomes a republic.

The East German uprising occurs as workers protest against the government, leading to Soviet military intervention.

The U.S. Supreme Court rules in Abington School District v. Schempp that school-sponsored Bible reading in public schools is unconstitutional.

The Watergate scandal begins with the arrest of five men for breaking into the Democratic National Committee headquarters.

Following a televised low-speed car chase, O.J. Simpson is arrested for the murders of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman.

The first public demonstration of the Segway PT (Personal Transporter) took place, showcasing a new mode of personal transportation that would later influence urban mobility.

The G8 summit began in Évian-les-Bains, France, focusing on global economic issues and international security.

The United States Supreme Court ruled in the case of Boumediene v. Bush that detainees at Guantanamo Bay have the right to challenge their detention in U.S. courts, a landmark decision on the rights of detainees.

A mass shooting occurred at the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, South Carolina, resulting in the deaths of nine African American churchgoers. The attack was racially motivated and led to widespread discussions on race relations in the United States.

The collision between the USS Fitzgerald, a United States Navy destroyer, and the ACX Crystal, a Philippine-flagged container ship, occurred off the coast of Japan, resulting in the deaths of seven U.S. sailors and significant damage to the destroyer.

Juneteenth was officially recognized as a federal holiday in the United States, commemorating the end of slavery in the country.

The European Union agreed to grant Ukraine and Moldova candidate status, marking a significant step in their potential accession to the EU.