Fairly Awake

The week is June 8-14, 2026. Let us remember some interesting worldwide historical events that surround government legislation.

• June 8, 1789 — James Madison proposed the Bill of Rights in the US House of Representatives.

• June 8, 1987 — New Zealand’s Labour government legislated against nuclear weapons and nuclear powered vessels, the only nation to legislate against nuclear power.

• June 9, 68 — Roman Emperor Nero committed suicide to evade a Senate-imposed death by flogging.

• June 9, 1954 — Chief Counsel Joseph Welch famously asked US Senator Joseph McCarthy, “Have you no sense of decency, sir?” This occurred during a Senate-Army hearing. (McCarthy had accused the US Army of communist activities.)

• June 9, 2019 — The numbers were record-breaking. Over 1 million people protested in the streets of Hong Kong, against newly proposed laws of extradition to China.

  

• June 10, 1963 — The US Equal Pay Act was signed into law by President John F. Kennedy.

• June 11, 1776 — The Continental Congress appointed a committee to draft the Declaration of Independence, with Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Roger Sherman, and Robert R. Livingston as members.

• June 13, 1866 — The US House of Representatives passed the 14th Amendment (Civil rights, no office-holders shall have engaged in insurrection, etc.)

• June 14, 1777 — The US Continental Congress adopted the Stars & Stripes flag, designed by Francis Hopkinson.

  

Aren’t you glad American citizens have representative voting power? In a democracy, it is possible for The People to steer their country toward positive change.

The main resource for this post is the On This Day website, which is a fascinating and engaging online historical resource. Check it out!