Discover the Historical Events and Famous People Born on August 31

August 31 is a special day in history. Many important events happened on this day. Also, some famous people were born on August 31. In this article, we’ll learn about five big events that took place on August 31 in different years. We’ll also meet five well-known people who have birthdays on this day.

Historical Events of August 31

1. Henry VI Becomes King of England (1422)

On August 31, 1422, Henry VI became the King of England. He was only 9 months old! This makes him the youngest king in English history. Henry was born on December 6, 1421. His father, King Henry V, died when Henry VI was still a baby.

Because Henry VI was so young, he couldn’t rule by himself. His uncles helped run the country until he was older. Henry VI’s reign was very long, but it wasn’t always peaceful. There were many fights over who should be king. This led to a war called the Wars of the Roses.

Henry VI was king for a long time, but he had some problems. Sometimes he got very sick and couldn’t think clearly. This made it hard for him to be a good king. In the end, he lost his throne to Edward IV in 1461. Henry VI died in 1471.

2. Ralph Waldo Emerson’s “The American Scholar” Speech (1837)

On August 31, 1837, Ralph Waldo Emerson gave a very important speech. He spoke at Harvard College to a group called the Phi Beta Kappa Society. His speech was called “The American Scholar.”

Emerson was a famous writer and thinker. In his speech, he talked about how American writers should be different from European writers. He said Americans should write about their own ideas and experiences. This was a big deal because, at that time, many American writers copied European styles.

Emerson’s speech was very inspiring. It made people think that America could have its own special way of writing. This speech is sometimes called America’s “Intellectual Declaration of Independence.” Just like the country became free from Britain, Emerson wanted American writing to be free from European ideas.

3. Theodore Roosevelt’s “Square Deal” Speech (1910)

On August 31, 1910, Theodore Roosevelt gave a speech in Osawatomie, Kansas. Roosevelt was a former President of the United States. In his speech, he talked about something he called a “Square Deal.”

A “Square Deal” meant that everyone should be treated fairly. Roosevelt thought that big companies had too much power. He wanted to make sure that regular people had a chance to succeed too. He said that property (things people own) should help society, not control it.

This speech was very important. It showed that Roosevelt wanted to change how the country worked. He thought the government should do more to help regular people. This idea later became part of a movement called Progressivism.

4. Franklin D. Roosevelt Signs the Neutrality Act (1935)

On August 31, 1935, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed a new law. It was called the Neutrality Act. This law said that the United States couldn’t sell weapons to countries that were fighting in wars.

This law was made because many people in America didn’t want to get involved in other countries’ wars. They remembered how bad World War I was, and they didn’t want to fight in another big war.

The Neutrality Act was supposed to keep America out of wars in other parts of the world. But it didn’t work as well as people hoped. When World War II started a few years later, America ended up joining the war anyway.

5. Malayan Independence (1957)

On August 31, 1957, a big change happened in Southeast Asia. The Federation of Malaya became independent from Great Britain. Malaya had been under British control for a long time.

This was a very happy day for the people of Malaya. They could now run their own country. The first Prime Minister of Malaya was Tunku Abdul Rahman. He worked hard to bring different groups of people together in the new country.

Later, in 1963, Malaya joined with other nearby areas to form a new country called Malaysia. August 31 is still celebrated as Independence Day in Malaysia today.

Famous People Born on August 31

Now let’s learn about five famous people who were born on August 31:

1. Maria Montessori (1870-1952)

Biography Table:

Maria Montessori was born on August 31, 1870, in Italy. She became a doctor at a time when not many women were allowed to do that. But she’s most famous for her ideas about teaching children.

Montessori created a new way of teaching called the Montessori method. In this method, children learn by doing things themselves. They use special toys and tools to learn about math, language, and the world around them. Teachers help guide the children, but the kids get to choose what they want to learn about.

Many schools around the world still use Montessori’s ideas today. Her birthday is celebrated as a special day in these schools.

2. Wilhelmina of the Netherlands (1880-1962)

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Wilhelmina was born on August 31, 1880. She became Queen of the Netherlands when she was only 10 years old! But because she was so young, her mother helped rule the country until Wilhelmina turned 18.

Wilhelmina was queen for a very long time – 58 years! She ruled during both World War I and World War II. During World War II, she had to leave the Netherlands because Germany took over the country. She lived in London but kept encouraging her people to resist the Germans.

After the war, Wilhelmina helped rebuild her country. She gave up being queen in 1948 so her daughter Juliana could take over. Wilhelmina is remembered as a strong leader who helped her country through very hard times.

3. Fredric March (1897-1975)

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Fredric March was born on August 31, 1897. He became one of the most famous actors of his time. March acted in both movies and plays on stage.

One of March’s most famous roles was in the movie “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.” He played two very different characters in this movie. He won an Academy Award (also called an Oscar) for this role. March won another Oscar for his part in “The Best Years of Our Lives,” a movie about soldiers coming home after World War II.

March was known for being able to play many different types of characters. He could be funny or serious. He acted for almost 50 years before he retired. Many people still watch his movies today.

4. Alan Jay Lerner (1918-1986)

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Alan Jay Lerner was born on August 31, 1918. He became famous for writing the words (called lyrics) for songs in musicals. Lerner often worked with a composer named Frederick Loewe. Together, they created some of the most popular musicals ever.

Their most famous musical was probably “My Fair Lady.” This show tells the story of a poor flower seller who learns to speak like a rich person. The songs from this musical, like “I Could Have Danced All Night,” are still very popular.

Lerner also wrote the words for “Gigi” and “Camelot.” He won many awards for his work, including Oscars and Tony Awards. His musicals are still performed in theaters around the world.

5. Richard Gere (born 1949)

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Richard Gere was born on August 31, 1949. He is a famous American actor who has been in many popular movies. Gere started acting in the 1970s and became a big star in the 1980s and 1990s.

One of Gere’s most famous movies is “Pretty Woman,” where he played a rich businessman who falls in love with a woman he hires. He has also been in serious movies like “Chicago” and “An Officer and a Gentleman.”

Besides acting, Gere is known for speaking up for human rights. He has worked to help people in Tibet and to fight diseases like AIDS. Gere continues to act in movies and work for causes he believes in.

Takeaway

August 31 is a day filled with important events and notable birthdays. From young kings to inspiring speakers, from independence declarations to new laws, this day has seen many significant moments in history. It’s also the birthday of people who have made big impacts in education, leadership, acting, and writing.

Learning about these events and people helps us understand how the world has changed over time. It shows us how decisions made long ago can still affect us today. The famous people born on this day have entertained us, taught us, and sometimes changed the way we think about things.

As we remember August 31, we can think about how each of us might make our own mark on history. Maybe someone reading this article will do something important on a future August 31!

References:

1. “Henry VI of England.” Encyclopedia Britannica.
2. Porte, Joel. “Emerson, Ralph Waldo.” American National Biography Online.
3. Morris, Edmund. “Theodore Roosevelt.” Simon & Schuster, 2001.
4. Dallek, Robert. “Franklin D. Roosevelt and American Foreign Policy, 1932-1945.” Oxford University Press, 1995.
5. Andaya, Barbara Watson, and Leonard Y. Andaya. “A History of Malaysia.” Palgrave, 2001.
6. Standing, E. M. “Maria Montessori: Her Life and Work.” Plume, 1998.
7. Fasseur, Cees. “Wilhelmina: The Young Queen.” Haus Publishing, 2011.
8. Tranberg, Charles. “Fredric March: A Consummate Actor.” University Press of Kentucky, 2013.
9. Lees, Gene. “Inventing Champagne: The Worlds of Lerner and Loewe.” St. Martin’s Press, 1990.
10. Gere, Richard. “Official Website.” www.richardgere.com