2015 Event The Confederate flag is removed from the South Carolina capitol grounds after the state government enacted a law to permanently remove it; the flag, part of U.S. Civil War history, is viewed by many as a symbol of racism 2014 Event 49 hostages of the Islamic State are freed and returned to Turkey after an operation enacted by the Turkish government after the June kidnapping in Mosul, Iraq; Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will not give information regarding its actions 2012 Event Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi declares that proposed referendums on a new constitution will be enacted, but the decree he issued expanding his powers will be annulled 2012 Event Egyptian President Morsi plans to address the nation about the decree he enacted which greatly increases his powers 1970 Event Constitution of Singapore enacted 1967 Event 1st anti-bootleg recording laws enacted 1963 Event Equal Pay Act enacted 1932 Event U.S. Federal gas tax enacted 1932 Event 1st U.S. state unemployment insurance act enacted (Wisconsin) 1916 Event 1st federal grant-in-aid for state roads enacted 1907 Event 1st involuntary sterilization law enacted, Indiana 1901 Event Laws against phosphor matches enacted (inhibition white phosphorous) 1896 Event 1st U.S. absentee voting law enacted by Vermont 1871 Event 1st fertilizer law enacted 1867 Event Reconstruction enacted 1863 Event 1st U.S. wartime military conscription bill enacted 1851 Event 1st U.S. alcohol prohibition law enacted, Maine 1848 Event 1st pure food law enacted in U.S. 1813 Event 1st federal vaccination legislation enacted 1790 Event U.S. copyright law enacted 1672 Event 1st copyright law enacted by Massachusetts 1630 Event 1st colonial legislation prohibiting gambling enacted (Boston) 1623 Event 1st American temperance law enacted, Virginia
