Hi, Sen here. Welcome to another episode of Today in History.

Fights for independence and for gay rights, as well as the creation of Turkey. All coming up in today’s episode.

You’re going to hear three historical events from this day in the past. And you’ll hear them twice through. On this first listen, just try and get used to the way the English is spoken and how it sounds.

Are you ready? Then let’s begin. Here’s what happened today in history.

On July 24, 1783, the Venezuelan military and political leader Simón Bolívar was born. At the start of the 19th century, he played a key role in helping what is now Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Panama and Bolivia become independent from Spain. The country of Bolivia was even named after him.

On the same day in 1923, the Treaty of Lausanne, the last treaty of World War I, was signed in Switzerland. It replaced the 1920 Treaty of Sèvres and mapped out the borders of modern day Turkey following the end of the Ottoman Empire.

On July 24, 1969, the Gay Liberation Front was formed in New York City. It was a radical group addressing not only gay rights, but also other left-wing causes. Its creation came a month after the Stonewall Riots, which had caused a huge rise in gay movement organization, pride and political activism. Over the next few years, many more Gay Liberation Front groups formed across the U.S. and abroad. Although the organization had stopped operating by the 1980s, it paved the way for the modern fight for LGBTQIA+ rights.

Now for the second listen. See how much of the episode you can understand this time. And don’t worry about any difficult words, I’ll explain some of them afterwards. You can also find their meanings in the episode notes.

On July 24, 1783, the Venezuelan military and political leader Simón Bolívar was born. At the start of the 19th century, he played a key role in helping what is now Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Panama and Bolivia become independent from Spain. The country of Bolivia was even named after him.

On the same day in 1923, the Treaty of Lausanne, the last treaty of World War I, was signed in Switzerland. It replaced the 1920 Treaty of Sèvres and mapped out the borders of modern day Turkey following the end of the Ottoman Empire.

On July 24, 1969, the Gay Liberation Front was formed in New York City. It was a radical group addressing not only gay rights, but also other left-wing causes. Its creation came a month after the Stonewall Riots, which had caused a huge rise in gay movement organization, pride and political activism. Over the next few years, many more Gay Liberation Front groups formed across the U.S. and abroad. Although the organization had stopped operating by the 1980s, it paved the way for the modern fight for LGBTQIA+ rights.

Which words caught your attention today? Firstly, a ‘treaty’ is an official agreement or deal between countries. What’s more, in this context, ‘to address’ something means to think about it and begin to deal with it — often a problem or issue. And finally, the phrase ‘to pave the way for something’ is a nice way of saying to make it easier for something to happen.

Remember you can always rewind and listen again, as many times as you want!

For now though, that’s all. Be sure to join me again tomorrow for another episode of Today in History.

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Episode notes:
 
treaty: an official agreement or deal between countries 
to address something: to think about and begin to deal with something 
to pave the way for something: to make it easier for something to happen