This Day in History

Here’s a look at some interesting events that took place on this day in history: 1861 – The Civil War begins with Confederate forces firing on Fort Sumter, in the harbor of Charleston, SC (More info) 1945 – President Franklin D. Roosevelt dies while in office (More info)

Here’s a look at some interesting events that took place on this day in history: 1866 – The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, or ASPCA, is founded (More info) 1874 – The first Arbor Day results in over 1 million trees being planted (More info)

Here’s a look at some interesting events that took place on this day in history: 1865 – Robert E. Lee surrenders his army to Ulysses S. Grant, effectively ending the Civil War (More info) 1959 – NASA announces its first seven astronauts, later dubbed the “Mercury Seven” (More info)

Here’s a look at some interesting events that took place on this day in history: 1912 – The Girl Guides — later renamed the Girl Scouts of the USA — are founded (More info) 1933 – Franklin D. Roosevelt addresses the nation in the first of his “fireside chats” (More info)

Here’s a look at some interesting events that took place on this day in history: 1817 – The New York Stock Exchange is founded (More info) 1948 – The Supreme Court rules that religious instruction in public schools violates the US Constitution (More info)

Here’s a look at some interesting events that took place on this day in history: 1850 – Senator Daniel Webster gives his “Seventh of March” speech endorsing the Compromise of 1850 in order to prevent a possible civil war (More info) 1876 – Alexander Graham Bell is granted a patent for an invention he calls the telephone (More info)

Here’s a look at some interesting events that took place on this day in history: 1770 – Five Americans are killed by British troops in an event that would later become known as the Boston Massacre (More info) 1872 – George Westinghouse patents the air brake (More info)

Here’s a look at some interesting events that took place on this day in history: 1836 – The Republic of Texas declares its independence from Mexico (More info) 1877 – The US Congress declares Rutherford B. Hayes the winner of the previous November’s election, even though Samuel J. Tilden won the popular vote (More info)

Here’s a look at some interesting events that took place on this day in history: 1781 – The Continental Congress adopts the Articles of Confederation (More info) 1790 – The first United States census is authorized (More info)

Here’s a look at some interesting events that took place on this day in history: 1784 – John Wesley charters the Methodist Church in the United States (More info) 1883 – The first vaudeville theater opens in Boston, Massachusetts (More info)

Here’s a look at some interesting events that took place on this day in history: 1827 – A group of masked and costumed students dance through the streets of New Orleans, Louisiana, marking the beginning of the city’s famous Mardi Gras celebrations (More info) 1951 – The Twenty-second Amendment to the United States Constitution, limiting Presidents to two terms, is ratified (More info)

Here’s a look at some interesting events that took place on this day in history: 1582 – Pope Gregory XIII announces the Gregorian calendar (More info) 1803 – In Marbury v. Madison, the Supreme Court of the United States establishes the principle of judicial review (More info)