On this day in history - June 4

What Happened On This Day – June 4

• 1989 Thousands die in the Tiananmen Square Massacre

  Using assault rifles and tanks, Chinese troops massacred unarmed civilians who had taken part in pro-democracy protests.

• 1989 Poland holds the first free elections after World War II

  The landslide victory of the Polish trade union, “Solidarity”, marked the beginning of the Autumn of Nations, a wave of revolutions resulting in the fall of communism.

• 1984 Bruce Springsteen releases Born in the U.S.A.

  The album was Springsteen's most successful. It featured hits like “Born in the U.S.A.”, “Dancing in the Dark”, and “I'm on Fire”.

• 1917 The first Pulitzer Prize is awarded

  Every year, the prestigious award honors outstanding journalistic achievements. It was established with money bequeathed to Columbia University by publisher Joseph Pulitzer.

• 1783 The Montgolfier brothers demonstrate the first hot air balloon

  The flight of the Montgolfière lasted only about 10 minutes, but it secured the French inventors a place in the history books.