July 1, 1776

1776 Delegates at the Second Continental Congress in Philadelphia took the first vote on the Declaration of Independence.

July 1, 1873

1873 Georgian Henry Flipper became one of the first blacks to enter West Point Military Academy, going on to become the first black to graduate.

July 1, 1893

1893 Walter F. White was born in Atlanta, Georgia. He becomes an important voice for American blacks, particularly noted for his long efforts to marshal public opinion and government policy against lynching in the South. He also serves as executive secretary of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People from 1931 to 1955.

July 1, 1899

1899 Thomas A. Dorsey was born in Villa Rica, Georgia. This songwriter, singer, and pianist arranges up-tempo blues versions of many gospel hymns leading many to call him the "Father of Gospel Music."

July 1, 1918

1918 The Georgia General Assembly ratified the 18th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Although Prohibition would later be repealed by the 21st Amendment in 1933, Georgia would not be among the 38 states ratifying the 21st Amendment.

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July 1, 1956

1956 Georgia’s previous state flag officially became effective.

July 1, 1971

1971 The National Park Service opened Andersonville National Historic Site, which encompasses the site of Andersonville Prison as well as the Andersonville National Cemetery.

July 1, 1976

1976 The Georgia Agrirama opened in Tifton as the state’s official agricultural museum.

July 1, 1983

1983 Georgia’s present state constitution became effective.

July 1, 1985

1985 Young Harris College graduate Ronnie Milsap reached the top of the country-and-western charts today with "She Keeps the Home Fires Burning."

July 1, 1991

1991 President George Bush nominated Savannah-born Clarence Thomas for a seat on the U.S. Supreme Court.

July 1, 1997

1997 Georgia’s graduated driving license law went into effect. Previously, Georgia minors could obtain a driver’s permit at age 15 and an unrestricted driving license at age 16. There were no curfews on driving by minors, nor were there limits on how many minors could be in a car driven by a minor.

July 1, 1997

1997 The board of directors of the Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games (ACOG) was terminated . ACOG’s chief financial officer and a deputy continued in office to pay outstanding bills and any legal settlements, but for the most part, ACOG operations ended after seven years.

July 1, 1997

1997 Georgia’s Department of Children and Youth Services had a new name and mission by virtue of legislation that became effective on this day. The 1997 General Assembly decided to change the agency’s name to Department of Juvenile Justice, in part to signal a new and tougher approach to dealing with juvenile offenders.

July 1, 1998

1998 The name of DeKalb College changed to Georgia Perimeter College.

July 1, 1999

1999 Georgia’s new Department of Community Health became effective, replacing the former Department of Medical Assistance and several other state health-related agencies. The new agency was created to coordinate health policy in Georgia and promote economy and efficiency in health care services. Among programs it was created to administer were responsibility for Medicaid benefits to over 1 million low-income Georgians, health insurance for state employees, licensing of physicians, and promotion of women’s health.