The significance of history is not confined to the mere events that occurred in the past but it also establishes a connection to the present day. The past plays an extremely vital role in shaping the present because the decisions of yesterday can change the destiny of today. History is a story that teaches us about the past mistakes and the wise actions that brought great accomplishments. They are the lessons we learn from others for ages to come. It is not just about who we were and where we came from but also what we want to become and where we want to go from this day onward. Let us read the historical milestones of August 5.
1772 – The first Partition of Poland 
The First Partition of Poland took place in 1772 as the first of three partitions that eventually ended the existence of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth by 1795. Russia, Prussia, and Austria sign a treaty agreeing on the partition of Poland. Growth in the Russian Empire’s power, threatening the Kingdom of Prussia and the Hapsburg Monarchy, was the primary motive behind this partition.
1775 – First Spanish ship, San Carlos, enters San Francisco Bay
Before the Portola expedition’s encounter with the San Francisco Bay in 1769, European ships had sailed up and down the California coast for more than 200 years without sighting the fog-shrouded entrance to San Francisco Bay. The first ship ever to enter the San Francisco Bay was the San Carlos, a Spanish packet-boat under the command of Captain Juan de Ayala to survey San Francisco Bay and later even discovered the Angel Island.
1858 – The first transatlantic cable is completed
The first transatlantic telegraph cable is laid at Trinity Bay; Newfoundland spearheaded by Cyrus West Field (will fail after 3 weeks). A transatlantic telegraph cable is an undersea cable running under the Atlantic Ocean used for telegraph communications. The first was laid across the floor of the Atlantic from Telegraph Field, which established communication for three weeks and then failed. It was a great attempt at that time to establish communication.
1914 – The first electric traffic signal lights are installed in Cleveland, Ohio.
The American Traffic Signal Co. installed the first electric traffic light system at East 105th Street and Euclid Avenue in Cleveland, OH. The device used red and green lights with a buzzer that warned when the color was about to change and allowed police and fire stations to control the signals in case of an emergency. The system was designed by James Hoge and patented in 1918. The municipal traffic control system displayed electrically powered STOP and MOVE signs mounted on posts at each corner of an intersection that was wired to a manually operated switch housed inside a control booth nearby.
2011 – NASA launches its Juno space probe to study Jupiter
Juno was launched from Cape Canaveral to orbit and study Jupiter. While on its way to orbit, Juno communicated with ground controllers and later started communicating Earthy directly. Juno spent two years cruising in the inner solar system before reaching Jupiter. It has helped in studying Jupiter’s gravitational and magnetic fields and atmosphere as well as collecting data other data related to Jupiter.
2019 – Indian government revokes Article 370 from Kashmir state
The Indian government revoked the special status of Kashmir in its constitution, a disputed region for nearly 70 years. A presidential decree issued on August 5 revoked Article 370 of India’s constitution that guaranteed special rights to the Muslim-majority state, including the right to its constitution and autonomy to make laws on all matters except defense, communications, and foreign affairs. Kashmir became a union territory revoking its special status.
