Daily Almanac: August 8, 2023

Sunrise/Sunset:
RISE: 6:57 a.m.
SET: 8:46 p.m.

High/Low Temperatures:
HIGH: 74 °F
LOW: 62 °F

Today is…:
• Chauvin Day
• National Best Friends Day
• National Failures Day

What Happened On This Day:
• 1973 US involvement in Vietnam ends. The Case–Church Amendment passed by the US Congress set August 15 as the deadline for the end of the US military involvement in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia. Because of this, the US ended all military offensives in Vietnam on this day.
• 1969 The Woodstock Music & Art Fair opens its doors to participants and spectators. The iconic music festival, popularly known as Woodstock was held in Bethel, New York at the 600-acre farm of farmer Max B. Yasgur. Over 400,000 people attended the festival, which is often thought to be a key moment in the anti-establishment movement that was gaining popularity in the United States.
• 1947 India Becomes Independent From British Rule. British control of the South Asian country began in mid 1800s with the East India Company. The company initially established itself in the subcontinent for trading purposes, and then slowly took control over the princely states that separately ruled the country. A violent rebellion in 1857 prompted the British Crown to take over direct rule of India. The time between then and independence in 1945 was marked by violent and nonviolent movements targeted towards gaining independent rule. Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was a key figure in the nonviolent civil disobedience movement against the British. Independence came with the country being partitioned into India and Pakistan. Jawaharlal Nehru became the first Prime Minister of India, while Liaquat Ali Khan became the first Prime Minister of Pakistan.

Births On This Day:

• 1912 Julia Child

American chef, author

• 1769 Napoleon

Corsican/French military officer, political leader

Deaths On This Day:

• 1935 Will Rogers

American actor
• 1118 Alexios I Komnenos

Byzantine Emperor