In History, Today on August 6

The first execution by electric chair took place in Auburn Prison in New York, marking a significant moment in the history of capital punishment.

Austria-Hungary declared war on Russia, escalating the conflict that became World War I.

Gertrude Ederle became the first woman to swim across the English Channel.

The United States dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan, during World War II, marking the first use of nuclear weapons in warfare.

Jamaica gained independence from the United Kingdom, becoming a sovereign nation within the Commonwealth.

U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Voting Rights Act into law, prohibiting racial discrimination in voting.

Tim Berners-Lee released files describing his idea for the World Wide Web, marking the beginning of the web as a publicly accessible service.

The National Security Agency (NSA) released a Presidential Daily Briefing titled 'Bin Laden Determined to Strike in US,' warning of potential terrorist attacks by al-Qaeda.

A U.S. military helicopter was shot down in Afghanistan, killing 30 American troops, including 22 Navy SEALs, marking the deadliest day for U.S. forces in the decade-long war.

NASA's Curiosity rover successfully landed on Mars, beginning its mission to explore the planet's climate and geology and assess whether it ever offered conditions favorable for microbial life.

The United States marked the 70th anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima with a ceremony in the city, attended by representatives from over 100 countries, including the United States.

The United States reimposed sanctions on Iran that had been lifted under the 2015 nuclear deal, following President Donald Trump's decision to withdraw from the agreement earlier in the year.

Facebook removed a post from President Donald Trump for the first time, citing misinformation about COVID-19, as the post falsely claimed children were 'almost immune' to the virus.