🔍︎
Dark Mode
National days, ongoing national weeks and months, and global observances for July 5, 2026. Plus historical events and birthdays.
These observances run for a full week; this calendar day falls inside the week.
These observances last the full month; this date is part of that month-long celebration.
Showing the first 12 on this date; there are more month-long observances. See the full months list for July.
Events that occurred on July 5 throughout history
Frederick Douglass delivers his "What to the Slave Is the Fourth of July?" speech in Rochester, New York. Douglass intentionally spoke the day after Independence Day to deliberately highlight the cruel hypocrisy of the nation celebrating liberty while millions remained enslaved. His speech is considered one of the most powerful and enduring critiques of American slavery ever written.
The Secret Service begins operation to monitory currency forgery. The agency began full-time Presidential protection after the assassination of President William McKinley.
President Roosevelt signs the National Labor Relations Act into law. The Act guaranteed the rights of private-sector workers to organize into trade unions, engage in collective bargaining, and take collective action.
Hormel Foods Corporation introduces Spam to utilize surplus supply of pork shoulder during the Great Depression.
Elvis Presley records his first single, "That's All Right", at Sun Records in Memphis, Tennessee.
President Richard Nixon certifies the Twenty-sixth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, lowering the voting age from 21 years old to 18 years old.
Oliver North is sentenced by U.S. District Judge Gerhard A. Gesell to a three-year suspended prison term, two years probation, $150,000 in fines and 1,200 hours community service for his involvement in the U.S. trafficking weapons to Iran between 1981 and 1986 by top government officials during the Reagan administration.
Jeff Bezos founds Amazon in his Seattle, Washington, garage. The company was started as an online bookstore and later became one of the world's largest online retail companies.
People born on July 5
Considered to be the "Father of Vegetarianism."
Showman also known as P. T. Barnum who co-founded Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus.
Author and screenwriter who wrote and later adapted his novel Dances With Wolves into a movie.
Astronomer who created an extensive catalog of stars that are still used today by many astronomers.
Actress remembered for her role as Mona in the sitcom Who's the Boss.
Musician also known as Huey Lewis and lead singer of Huey Lewis and the News.
Child actor who played Froggy in Our Gang (Little Rascals).
Creator and illustrator of the comic strip Calvin and Hobbes.
