diff --git a/template/.github/workflows/check_modified_history.yml b/template/.github/workflows/check_modified_history.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f743574
--- /dev/null
+++ b/template/.github/workflows/check_modified_history.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,26 @@
+name : modified_history_check
+
+on :
+  pull_request:
+    types:
+      - opened
+      - synchronize
+
+jobs:
+  check-history:
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    steps:
+      - name: Checkout code
+        uses: actions/checkout@v4
+        with:
+          fetch-depth: 0
+      - name: Check if HISTORY.rst was modified or created
+        run: |
+          git diff origin/${{ github.base_ref }} HEAD \
+            --diff-filter=AMR \
+            --name-only \
+            -- HISTORY.rst | grep -q . || {
+              echo "ERROR: HISTORY.rst was not modified"
+              exit 1
+            }
+
diff --git a/template/HISTORY.rst.jinja b/template/HISTORY.rst.jinja
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..dad2dc0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/template/HISTORY.rst.jinja
@@ -0,0 +1,28 @@
+=======
+History
+=======
+
+[Unreleased]
+------------
+
+Added
+^^^^^
+
+Changed
+^^^^^^^
+
+Deprecated
+^^^^^^^^^^
+
+Removed
+^^^^^^^
+
+Fixed
+^^^^^
+
+{{ version }} ({{ '%Y-%m-%d' | strftime }})
+------------------
+
+Added
+^^^^^
+* First release on PyPI.
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/tests/test_copier.py b/tests/test_copier.py
index 9916393..8ad43f4 100644
--- a/tests/test_copier.py
+++ b/tests/test_copier.py
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 import pytest
+from datetime import date
 
 def test_project_folder(default_project):
     assert default_project.exit_code == 0
@@ -13,6 +14,8 @@ def test_project_folder(default_project):
     "pyproject.toml",
     "my_project/__init__.py",
     "my_project/my_project.py",
+    "HISTORY.rst",
+    ".github/workflows/check_modified_history.yml",
 ])
 def test_generated_file_exists(default_project, file_name):
     assert default_project.project_dir.joinpath(file_name).exists()
@@ -110,3 +113,10 @@ def test_content_project_slug_init(default_project, desired):
     content = default_project.project_dir.joinpath('my_project').joinpath(
                                         "__init__.py").read_text()
     assert desired in content, f"{desired!r} is not in content"
+
+
+def test_content_history(default_project):
+    content = default_project.project_dir.joinpath(
+                                    "HISTORY.rst").read_text()
+    desired = f"0.1.0 ({date.today().strftime('%Y-%m-%d')})"
+    assert desired in content