-
The Declaration of Independence
On this day, a document was that declared freedom and independence from the British Empire. The thirteen colonies were finally separated from the shackles of Britain, and we became America. This was important because if this did not happen, we could still be part of Britain, and therefore, still have a king or ruler who takes away or violates our rights. Without it, we would not be free. -
Creation/Signing of the U.S. Constitution
On this day, a revised form of our original government (AoC) was created. This included the people's rights and the powers of our government over the people. This was important because it changed the rules America followed and was a much better form of government than the AoC. We still abide by the Constitution today. -
The Cotton Gin is Created
On this day, Eli Whitney received a patent for what is today the modern cotton gin. It was created in the United States, which adds more historic value to the creation. This invention was created because people needed a way for cotton to be seeded more efficiently. It is important not only because it achieved this goal, but it changed the slave population. Since the value of cotton went up, more slaves were needed to grow and pick cotton. -
Period: to
Lewis and Clark Expedition
This expedition was when Lewis and Clark, two explorers, were hired to map out the new land that President Jefferson had purchased from the French. They travelled all throughout the West, following the Mississippi and Missouri rivers. This trek was important because it doubled the size of America and gave us the oppourtunity to move out West and create more farming land for our people. -
Bessemer Process is Patented
On this day, a patent was put on Sir Henry Bessemer's process to make steel. This changed America's steel industry completely changed because steel could now be made quickly and could be made in America, which created the vertical building. Without it, we might not have any of the cities that we do today, and the revolutionary inventions we have made further since. -
Lee Surrenders to General Grant
On this day, General Robert E. Lee surrendered to General Grant and his Union troops. After months and months of fighting, they gathered in Appomatox Courthouse, VA, and Lee gave up, making amends with Grant. This is important to U.S. history because it brings an official end to the Civil War. -
Lincoln is Assassinated
On this day, President Abraham Lincoln is shot in Ford's Theatre by John WIlkes Booth during a play. It occured just weeks after the war ended. This is influential and an important event for U.S. history because now, the president that had plans to reunite the South and rebuild America after the war was dead, which caused a lot of problems with Southern and African-American rights. -
Ellis Island Opens
On this day, Ellis Island officially opened for business. Ellis Island was the place where European immigrants, such as the Irish and Polish, would arrive on a boat and take a citizenship test to get in America. This place was important because it gave the Europeans somewhere to move to and find new life, and brought new culture to America. -
Atomic Bombing on Hiroshima, Japan
This is the day that America dropped a massive atomic bomb onto Hiroshima, Japan. This remains the first and only use of nuclear weapons in war. At the time, we were ending WW2. This concluded war, killing about 166,000 people. This impacted America because it finally put an end to the war and caused Japan to surrender, which led to the rebuilding of the relationship between our countries. -
Period: to
Cuban Missile Crisis
The crisis happened when Cuba secretly deployed nuclear weapons such as missiles to use in the Cold War. It took a lot of negotiation to get the Cubans to dismantle the missiles and return them to the Soviet Union. This impacted America in this time period because it was the first time that the Cold War almost escalated to a full nuclear war. -
Apollo 11 Lands on The Moon
On this day, Buzz Aldrin and Neil Armstrong became the first people on Earth to step foot on the moon. After years of racing Russia, the Americans became first to step foot on another planetary body. This impacted America because it put us ahead in the Space Race and led to huge improvements and work with NASA. -
My Birthday
I was born in Reading Hospital in Pennsylvania. I have a younger sister, a mom, a dad, and two cats. Today, I am an 8th grader. I enjoy baseball and hunting, as well. -
Terrorist Attacks on September 11, 2001
On this day, two planes were hijacked and crashed into the World Trade Center by a terrorist group know as Al-Qaeda. They also hijacked two other planes; one crashed in a field in Pennsylvania, and the other into the Pentagon. This impacted Americans because it upped the security for airlines and it killed thousands of American people, which led us to a war with this terrorist group.