Stamp Act Congress approved Declaration of Rights

Stamp Act Congress approved Declaration of Rights

October 19, 2009 04:00:00 am

On October 19, 1765, the Stamp Act Congress, meeting in New York in the wake of Parliament’s passage of the controversial Stamp Act imposing a tax for the upkeep of British troops in North America, approved a Declaration of Rights enumerating the rights and grievances of the American colonies.

THIS DAY @ LAW

France abolishes slavery

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.

Civil rights activist Rosa Parks born

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.