The Northwest Ordinance, adopted on July 13, 1787, established a government for the Northwest Territory, outlined state admission process, ensured equality with the original thirteen states, protected civil liberties, and banned slavery in new territories. The Ordinance would play a major role in the…
Read MoreOn July 12, 1862, during the heart of the Civil War, Congress authorized the Medal of Honor for the United States Army a few months following its initial creation for outstanding acts of bravery and heroism among sailors in the Navy by President Lincoln.…
Read MoreThe most famous duel in American history took place on July 11, 1804. This duel was the culmination of a long-standing and bitter rivalry between Alexander Hamilton, the first Secretary of the Treasury, and Aaron Burr, the then-sitting Vice President of the United States.…
Read MoreOn July 11, 1914, the Great Bambino, George Herman Ruth, made his major league debut with the Boston Red Sox at the young age of 19. Born February 6, 1895, in Baltimore, Maryland, Babe was the son of a saloon keeper. At seven, his…
Read MoreOn July 10, 1962, AT&T changed the way the world shares information, launching Telstar 1, the first active communications satellite. The launch highly-anticipated launch captivated people across the globe. As the Delta rocket thundered into the sky from Cape Canaveral, Florida, everyone held their…
Read MoreThe “Cross of Gold” speech, delivered by William Jennings Bryan on July 9, 1896, at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, remains one of the most renowned orations in American history. The speech catapulted Bryan to national prominence and secured his nomination as the…
Read MoreOn a warm summer day in 1775, as the tension between the American colonies and Great Britain simmered, the Second Continental Congress convened in the Pennsylvania State House. Inside, the air was thick with the weight of recent battles at Lexington and Concord, and…
Read MoreOn a hot and humid July 8, 1889, in the small town of Richburg, Mississippi, a makeshift ring was built to host one of the most epic boxing matches ever. The fight was scheduled to go on for 75 rounds, lasting until one of…
Read MoreThe late 1790s marked a turning point in American foreign policy, and nothing tested the fledgling country more than the XYZ Affair. Rooted in a failed negotiation with France, the incident triggered a series of events that dramatically altered the course of the French…
Read MoreThe first convention of the Republican Party, held in Jackson, Michigan, on July 6, 1854, was a watershed moment in American history, ignited by a national outcry against the expansion of slavery. This event marked the birth of a new political force, destined to…
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