Commentaries by William Hays Weissman

On February 4, 1794, the legislature of France abolished slavery throughout the territories of the French Republic. The practice was then reinstituted by Napoleon in 1804, before being banned permanently in 1814 after Bonaparte was exiled to Elba. As of 2001, slavery is defined as a "crime against humanity" by French law.

On February 4, 1913, late civil rights activist Rosa Parks—who became famous in 1956 for refusing to give up her seat to a white man and go to the back of a Montgomery Alabama bus—was born in Tuskegee, Alabama. Learn more about Rosa Parks.