Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 is signed into law. The law banned discrimination based on disability.

Independence of Maldives. The Indian Ocean Island nation gained independence after 78 years of British rule.

Syncom 2, the world's first geosynchronous communications satellite is launched. Part of NASA's Syncom program, it was responsible for transmitting the first TV signal from a geosynchronous satellite, a manmade satellite whose orbital period around the Earth matches the Earth's rotation.

Potsdam Declaration is signed. Also known as the Proclamation Defining Terms for Japanese Surrender, the declaration signed by the US, UK and China, detailed the terms of surrender for Japan after World War II.

The country of Liberia is founded. This west African state was founded primarily by freed slaves from the United States. The Liberian constitution was based on the US's constitution and the capital, Monrovia, is named after James Monroe, the fifth president of the United States.