On this day in ...
... 1794 (215 years ago today), Congress approved the Neutrality Act of 1794 which provided guidelines to ensure that the United States remained neutral in time of war. Among other things, it prohibited the outfitting of foreign belligerent vessels in U.S. ports and the recruitment by foreign belligerents of U.S. sailors or soldiers inside U.S. territory. Violation of its terms constituted a crime.
... 1944 (65 years ago today), having been liberated from Nazi German occupation the night before by the arrival of American troops, "[t]he people of Rome have crowded onto the streets to welcome the victorious Allied troops," as depicted in this video clip. It would be many months, however, before the rest of Italy was freed.
