U.S. History

What Happened On January 1st? On the first day of the year in 1863, President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, which forever altered the course of the Civil War and the nation's commitment to the abolition of slavery. The United States was embroiled in a brutal and divisive Civil War from 1861 to 1865, pitting the Northern states (Union) against the Southern states (Confederacy). A central point of contention was the institution of slavery, with the Southern states relying heavily on enslaved labor to support their agrarian economy. As the war intensified, Lincoln's views on slavery evolved. He recognized the strategic and moral imperatives of addressing the institution that fueled the Confederacy's economic engine. Lincoln came to believe that emancipating enslav...

What Happened On December 24th? The Ku Klux Klan (KKK), one of the most notorious and divisive organizations in American history, was founded on December 24, 1865. The organization's name itself, "Ku Klux," is believed to be derived from the Greek word "kuklos," meaning circle, combined with the English word "clan." The Klan's inception is labeled as a dark period in America's narrative, as it sought to assert white supremacy through intimidation, violence, and terrorism. In the aftermath of the Civil War, the United States faced a tumultuous period of reconstruction, attempting to heal the wounds of a divided nation as well as redefine the status of newly freed African Americans. The Confederate South struggled with the economic and social consequences of defeat, creating a breeding...

What Occurred On December 18th? Today on December 18, 1972, the United States unleashed the Operation Linebacker II (President Nixon was a devoted football fan), also known as the "Christmas Bombing" which was a relentless aerial assault on North Vietnam. The bombing raids targeted Hanoi, Haiphong, and other strategic locations, causing widespread destruction and civilian casualties. The intensity of the bombings made it the heaviest and most concentrated air campaign of the entire Vietnam War. Prior to the bombings, the Paris Peace Accords were intended to bring about a ceasefire and facilitate the withdrawal of U.S. troops. However, the negotiations faced numerous challenges, including disputes over the release of prisoners of war, the political future of South Vietnam, and issues ...

What Went Down On December 16th? December 16, 1773 was a day America will never forget as a group of colonists in Boston staged a daring act of defiance against British taxation. This courageous act sparked a chain of events that would eventually lead to the American Revolution. Known as the Boston Tea Party, this memorable event exemplified the colonists' growing discontent with British rule and their determination to assert their rights and liberties. By the 1770s, the American colonies found themselves increasingly at odds with British policies, particularly regarding taxation without representation. The Stamp Act and the Townshend Acts had already heightened tensions between the colonies and the British Crown. In an attempt to salvage the financially troubled East India Company, the Br...

So What Happened On December 15th? On this historic day in 1791, the Bill of Rights, the first ten amendments to the United States Constitution, was officially ratified, laying the foundation for the protection of fundamental rights that continue to shape the American experience. The drafting of the United States Constitution in 1787 sparked intense debates among the Founding Fathers. Concerns were raised about the potential concentration of power in the federal government without adequate safeguards for individual rights. To address these concerns, James Madison, a key figure in the drafting of the Constitution, proposed a series of amendments to explicitly protect individual liberties. The proposed amendments, known as the Bill of Rights, were sent to the states for ratification. On Dece...

What Happened On December 6th? Harriet Tubman Escaped Oppression (1849) Tonight on December 6th in the year 1849, historians and I alike, believe that Harriet Tubman, then still known as Minty, made her courageous escape to Philadelphia. Leaving behind the plantation and everything she knew and loved, she pursued the most fundamental thing of all: freedom! To anyone, the weight of such a decision is absolutely crushing. She left behind family, her familiar world, and the only life she'd ever known. Fear, no doubt, gnawed at her, as it would anyone. But a fierce fire burned within her – which propelled her on a 90 mile escape on foot! The North Star, her only guide, was her hope in the darkness of the night. Yet, she trudged onward using the Underground Railroad, the lifeline that saved th...

What Happened On December 1st? When Rosa Parks Stood Her Ground (1955) December 1, 1955 was a pivotal day in the American civil rights movement—a day when one woman's act of defiance echoed through the corridors of history and sparked a revolution in the fight against racial segregation. On that fateful day, Rosa Parks, a quiet and unassuming African American seamstress, refused to give up her seat on a Montgomery, Alabama bus, setting in motion a series of events that would challenge racial injustice and redefine the struggle for civil rights in the United States. Rosa Parks' bravery did not go unnoticed. Her role in the civil rights movement earned her national recognition, and she became a symbol of resistance against racial oppression. In 1999, she was awarded the Congressional Gold ...

What Happened On November 28th? The End of a Notorious Chapter: Jeffrey Dahmer's Death (1994) On November 28, 1994, the world learned of the death of one of the most infamous criminals in modern history, Jeffrey Dahmer. Known as the "Milwaukee Cannibal" or the "Milwaukee Monster," Dahmer gained notoriety for his heinous crimes involving the murders and dismemberment of 17 young men.  On the morning of November 28, 1994, Dahmer met his end at the Columbia Correctional Institution in Portage, Wisconsin. He and another inmate, Jesse Anderson, were attacked by a fellow inmate, Christopher Scarver, in the prison bathroom. Scarver, armed with a metal bar, assaulted Dahmer and Anderson, leading to their deaths.

What Happened On November 26th? The Birth of Thanksgiving: A Day of Gratitude and Unity (1863) On November 26, 1863, the nation observed its first official Thanksgiving Day. While the celebrations varied across different regions, the common theme was one of gratitude and reflection. Families, communities, and even soldiers on the battlefield paused to give thanks for the blessings they could find amidst the hardships of the time. Responding to author, Sarah Josepha Hale's persistent efforts and recognizing the need for a collective expression of gratitude, President Lincoln issued a proclamation on October 3, 1863, officially designating the last Thursday of November as a national day of thanksgiving. In his proclamation, Lincoln urged Americans to come together to "solemnly, reverently,...

What Happened On November 24th? The Shooting of Lee Harvey Oswald (1963) On November 24, 1963, just two days after the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, another shocking and pivotal moment occurred in the basement of the Dallas Police Headquarters. Lee Harvey Oswald, the alleged assassin of President Kennedy, was shot and killed by Jack Ruby, a nightclub owner with ties to the criminal underworld. On the morning of November 24, 1963, a televised event unfolded as Lee Harvey Oswald was being transferred from the Dallas Police Headquarters to the county jail. The police, attempting to avoid a large crowd at the front entrance, decided to move Oswald through the basement. As Oswald was being led through the basement by law enforcement officers, Jack Ruby, a Dallas nightclub owner,...