Hi, I’m Sen, and this is Today in History – the audio journey through time where you’ll learn about what happened on this day in years past! What’s more, you’ll practice your English listening skills and learn a few new words along the way!

I’d recommend listening to this episode twice. First time through, don’t worry about understanding exactly what is being said. It’s not about trying to recognize every word, but rather listening to the sounds and getting used to the rhythm of the speech. Then, on the second time through, you can try and focus more on the words, phrases and their meaning.

Let’s begin. So, what happened today in history?

On July 10, 1917, the political activists and writers Emma Goldman and Alexander Berkman were imprisoned in the United States for obstructing the draft. At the time, a law had been passed which allowed the government to conscript soldiers to fight in the First World War. As anarchists and antimilitarists, Goldman and Berkman considered conscription a violation of freedom. They formed the No Conscription League to obstruct the draft and support people who refused military service.

Two years later, on July 10, 1919, the Dutch parliament approved women’s right to vote. The end of the First World War in 1918 saw major upheaval and radical social change in Europe. One notable example is women’s suffrage, which was achieved in several European countries throughout the interwar period.

On July 10, 1942, Lopo do Nascimento was born. He was instated as the first Prime Minister of Angola in 1975, when the country gained its independence from Portuguese rule. His time in office lasted until the position was abolished three years later.

How did you find that? I hope you enjoyed letting what was said just wash over you. Listening like this is a great way to absorb the general meaning. But, now, rewind, and have a second listen. Try focusing more on the individual words this time. See if you can understand as much of the whole episode as possible.

That’s it for today! Want more historical facts? Be sure to check out a new episode of Today in History tomorrow!