On this day in 1865, the US Congress passed the Thirteenth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States, abolishing slavery and submitted it to the states for ratification.
On this day in 1968, Nauru gained independence from Australia.
On this day in 1990, the first McDonald's in the Soviet Union opened in Moscow.
And on this day in 2010, Avatar became the first film to gross over US$2 billion worldwide.