The History of the United States, Every Year - Statistics

General Stats
  • This quiz has been taken 36 times
  • The average score is 69 of 248
Answer Stats
Year Event Answer % Correct
1777 This federal holiday - established to celebrate the harvest of the past year - is celebrated for the first time. It is modelled on a feast shared by the Pilgrims. Thanksgiving
100%
1780 This American-born military officer, previously entrusted by George Washington, deflects to the British side of the Revolutionary War. Benedict Arnold
84%
1784 Britain receives its first bales of this American-imported crop. This would come to define the Southern region of the country. Cotton
84%
1785 Delegates from Virginia and Maryland meet at the Mount Vernon Conference to discuss the use of this Mid-Atlantic bay: the largest estuary in the United States. Chesapeake Bay
71%
1776 Founding Father Thomas Paine publishes this pamphlet advocating independence from Great Britain to people in the Thirteen Colonies. Common Sense
68%
2003 The United States government claims that Saddam Hussein's Iraqi government is in possession of "weapons of ____ ___________". Mass Destruction
65%
1836 This pivotal military engagement in the Texas Revolution occurs, later culminating in the defeat of the Mexican army and the formation of the Republic of Texas. Battle of the Alamo
61%
1825 This canal is opened, granting passage from Albany, New York to the Great Lakes; it is the first navigable waterway joining the Atlantic Ocean to these lakes. Erie Canal
61%
1812 The Boston Gazette coins this term, referring to legislation creating oddly shaped electoral districts designed to help incumbents win re-election. Gerrymander
61%
1791 The First Bank of the United States is chartered for 20 years, with its headquarters in this city. Philadelphia
61%
1787 The first of these 85 essays is published - to promote the ratification of the United States Constitution. The Federalist Papers
61%
1845 This narrative poem by Edgar Allan Poe is first published, noted for its musicality, stylised language and supernatural atmosphere. The Raven
61%
1838 This forced displacement of 60,000 people from the 'Five Civilised Tribes' to modern-day Oklahoma leads to the death of thousands of innocent native Indians. Trail of Tears
61%
1783 The American Revolution officially ends with the signature of this treaty. It set the boundaries between British North America and the United States. Treaty of Paris
61%
1852 This novel by American author Harriet Beecher Stowe - depicting the harsh conditions experienced by enslaved African Americans - is published in Boston. Uncle Tom's Cabin
61%
1802 The United States Military Academy is established at this fortified site in New York. It is still open to this day. West Point
61%
1945 This World War II meeting between Roosevelt, Churchill, and Stalin is held in Crimea, to discuss the postwar reorganization of Germany and Europe. Yalta Conference
61%
1805 This naval war between Tripolitania and the United States - fought over American refusal to pay of tribute to piratical rulers of North Africa - ceases. First Barbary War
58%
1850 This abolitionist and social activist, later an advocate for woman's suffrage, becomes an official conductor of the Underground Railroad. Harriet Tubman
58%
1908 This automobile by the Ford Motor Company: the first affordable car, is officially launched at the initial price of $850 (~$28,000, adjusted for inflation, in 2023). Model T
58%
1865 With the end of the Civil War, and the initiation of the presence of Union troops in former Confederate states to defend newly freed slaves, this period begins. Reconstruction
58%
1951 This television sitcom, starring Lucille Ball and her husband Desi Arnaz, makes its television debut on CBS. I Love Lucy
55%
1837 This manufacturer begins his agricultural manufacturing business in Grand Detour, Illinois, now known for its tractors and other heavy equipment. John Deere
55%
1919 The Eighteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution goes into effect, authorising this federal process, which lasted until 1933. Prohibition
55%
1917 This award for achievements in journalism, literature, and musical composition within the United States is first distributed. Pulitzer Prize
55%
1816 Due to an observed persistent "dry fog" and an average decrease in temperature of 0.4-0.7°C (0.7-1°F), this year is known as the 'Year Without a ______'. Summer
55%
1993 The North American ____ _____ Agreement is signed by Canada, the United States and Mexico: establishing a trilateral economic bloc in the continent. Free Trade
52%
1954 Joseph Welch lashes out at this Senator of Wisconsin in a hearing on the issue of Communism with the army, saying, 'Have you, at long last, no decency?' Joseph McCarthy
52%
1829 A prominent British chemist and mineralogist leaves a bequest of £100,000 to fund this institution, which presently holds 154 million archived items. Smithsonian Institution
52%
1895 The gold reserve of the United States Treasury is saved when this wealthy Ashkenazi Jewish family, originally from Frankfurt, loan $65 million worth of gold. The Rothschilds
52%
1938 Orson's Welles' radio adaptation of this H.G. Wells novel - on the radio series: 'The Mercury Theatre in the Air' - is broadcast, leading to mass panic. The War of the Worlds
52%
1794 This violent protest occurs - primarily in western Pennsylvania - over taxation on distilled spirits imposed by the federal government Whiskey Rebellion
52%
1843 This Mexican President announces that the annexation of Texas by the United States would be considered an act of war by Mexico. Antonio López de Santa Anna
48%
1840 In the presidential election of 1840, William Henry Harrison defeated incumbent Martin Van Buren. This Virginian is the former's running mate for vice president. John Tyler
48%
1950 This syndicated daily and Sunday comic strip, written and illustrated by Charles M. Schulz, is first published in seven newspapers. Peanuts
48%
1877 Thomas Edison announces his first 'great' invention: a machine that can record sound and store it as etchings on wax cylinders or discs. Phonograph
48%
1979 After false radio reports from this Ayatollah that the Americans had captured the Grand Mosque in Mecca, its embassy in Pakistan is attacked by a mob. Ruhollah Khomeini
48%
1798 The Alien and ________ Acts become law, criminalising the publication or writing of false or malicious statements about the United States government. Sedition
48%
1911 The United States Supreme Court declares this company - founded principally by John D. Rockefeller - an "unreasonable monopoly" and orders its dissolution. Standard Oil
48%
1790 This federal system is established, granting rights to inventors of a "new, useful" "process, machine, article of manufacture, or composition of matter". United States Patent System
48%
1847 This religious leader - the second president of the LDS Church - along with 148 Mormon pioneers, arrive in modern-day Utah - hence establishing Salt Lake City. Brigham Young
45%
1932 A sequence of natural disasters begin in Kansas, Oklahoma, Colorado, New Mexico and Texas, leading to the start of these storms in the United States. Dust Bowl
45%
1920 This period of mass paranoia about the alleged spread of socialism, communism, and anarchism among American labourers commences. First Red Scare
45%
1849 The present fifth-largest city in Texas, in the county seat of Tarrant County, is founded. It is known as "where the West begins". Fort Worth
45%
1881 This famous gunfight: a thirty-second shootout between lawmen led by Virgil Earp and a group of outlaws, takes place in Tombstone, Arizona Territory. Gunfight at the O.K. Corral
45%
1811 The Commissioners' Plan of 1811 is presented, depicting the design for the streets of this borough. Manhattan
45%
1936 Margaret Mitchell's novel: 'Gone with the Wind', is first published. It is centred around this female character: the spoiled daughter of a plantation owner. Scarlett O'Hara
45%
1963 In his inaugural speech, Alabama Governor George Wallace defiantly proclaims: "___________ now, ___________ tomorrow, and ___________ forever!" Segregation
45%
1992 In Super Bowl XXVI, the Buffalo Bills are defeated by this Washington football team 37–24 at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Washington Redskins
45%
2006 This digital optical data storage format is released, designed to supersede the DVD format - capable of storing several hours of high-definition video. Blu-Ray
42%
1980 Millions of viewers tune into this prime-time television soap opera to learn who shot the lead character J. R. Ewing. Dallas
42%
1959 The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum of modern art - designed by this architect - opens to the public in New York City. Frank Lloyd Wright
42%
1810 Jacob John Astor founds the Pacific ___ Company, engaged in the commercial trade of a commodity sourced from animals. Fur
42%
1939 The classic colour musical film: 'The Wonderful Wizard of Oz' - produced by this film and media corporation - is premiered in movie theatres. Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios
42%
1961 In his Farewell Address President Dwight Eisenhower warns of this abstract business relationship pertaining to the sale, purchase, and acquisition of arms. Military-Industrial Complex
42%
2011 This left-wing populist movement initiates in response to high unemployment, record executive bonuses, and extensive bailouts of the financial system. Occupy Wall Street
42%
1960 This professional baseball team based in Pittsburgh defeat the New York Yankees in the seventh game of the World Series. Pittsburgh Pirates
42%
1902 This annual American college football bowl game, between Michigan and Stanford, is held in Pasadena, California, for the first time. Rose Bowl Game
42%
1925 This trial commences, in which a school teacher in Dayton, Tennessee, is arrested and prosecuted for teaching Charles Darwin's Theory of Evolution. Scopes Trial
42%
1858 This then-Senator of Illinois engages in publicised debates with Abraham Lincoln over slavery, especially regarding the Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854. Stephen Douglas
42%
1915 This controversial, but highly advanced, film - by D. W. Griffith - praising the Ku Klux Klan and condemning the Black race, is first premiered. The Birth of a Nation
42%
1792 The Coinage Act is passed, establishing this bureau responsible for producing coinage and conducting trade and commerce within the nation. United States Mint
42%
1964 This commission to investigate the assassination of John F. Kennedy concludes that he was killed by Lee Harvey Oswald and that Oswald acted alone. Warren Commission
42%
1867 Alaska is purchased for $7.2 million from Russia, by this United States Secretary of State. The media then described it as a "folly", due to its apparent lack of use. William Seward
42%
2000 These potential computer errors occur - related to the formatting and storage of calendar data for dates in and after the year 2000. Y2K Problem
42%
1955 The Disneyland theme park opens in this city in Orange County, California, part of the Los Angeles metropolitan area. Anaheim
39%
1846 This group of American pioneers depart Independence, Missouri, on the Oregon Trail. Later, they become snowbound in the Sierra Nevada mountain range. Donner Party
39%
1885 This stock market index - then representing the dollar average of fourteen stocks: twelve railroads and two leading American industries - is published. Dow Jones Industrial Average
39%
1943 This military campaign about an island - part of the Solomon Islands - in the Pacific theatre of World War II results in a United States victory against Japan. Guadalcanal Campaign
39%
1841 The Supreme Court rules that the Africans who took control of this Spanish vessel had been enslaved illegally; having then been shipped off to Cuba. La Amistad
39%
1941 This law is enacted, under which the United States supplied the Allied nations with food, oil, and materiel between 1941 and 1945. Lend-Lease Act
39%
1889 President Grover Cleveland signs the Enabling Act, admitting four territories as U.S. States. On November 8, this region becomes the 41st state. Montana
39%
1909 This civil rights organisation is formed by such figures as W. E. B. Du Bois and Ida B. Wells, on the hundredth anniversary of the birth of Abraham Lincoln. NAACP
39%
1987 This controversial religious broadcaster - associated with televangelicalism - announces his candidacy for the 1988 Republican presidential nomination. Pat Robertson
39%
1888 An international Congress for Women's Rights is opened in Washington, D.C., organised by this social reformer committed to women's suffrage. Susan B. Anthony
39%
2007 This television game show airs its last episode hosted by Bob Barker, who had been its host since 1972. The Price is Right
39%
2008 The colourised $5 bill is released, featuring this historical figure. Approximately 6% of paper currency produced by the U.S. Treasury in 2009 were $5 bills. Abraham Lincoln
35%
1973 In 'The Battle of the Sexes', this tennis player defeats Bobby Riggs in a televised tennis match at the Astrodome in Houston, Texas. Billie Jean King
35%
1899 The United States embarks on an 'Open Door Policy' in foreign affairs: one of trade and intervention, especially in reaction to this uprising in the Qing dynasty. Boxer Rebellion
35%
1978 These agreements signed by Anwar Sadat and Menachem Begin - arranged by President Jimmy Carter - begin, leading to the 1979 Egypt-Israel peace treaty. Camp David Accords
35%
1984 This civil rights activist delivers his speech: 'What The Future Holds For Farm Workers And Hispanics', at the Commonwealth Club in San Francisco. Cesar Chaves
35%
1868 In the Battle of Washita River, this United States Army officer leads an attack on Cheyenne living on reservation land with Chief Black Kettle, killing 103 of them. George Armstrong Custer
35%
1854 This American transcendentalist philosopher's novel: Walden, is published - a reflection on his simple living in a cabin over the course of two years. Henry David Thoreau
35%
1897 This gold rush to Yukon commences when the first successful prospectors arrive in Seattle. Out of the original 100,000 miners, only 30,000 would arrive. Klondike Gold Rush
35%
1918 President Woodrow Wilson delivers his Fourteen Points speech. The thirteenth one encourages the creation of this independent state. Poland
35%
1904 The third Modern Olympic Games open in this city, lasting from 29 August to 3 September. It is the first time that the Olympic Games were held outside Europe. St. Louis, Missouri
35%
1892 This American monthly fashion and lifestyle magazine, based at One World Trade Center in New York City, is launched. Vogue
35%
1844 American chemist Charles Goodyear receives a patent for this process, which involves using sulfur to harder rubber, especially for use in motor tyres. Vulcanisation
35%
1998 This Pixar computer-animated comedy film - their second feature-length one - is released in theatres. A Bug's Life
32%
1831 This French political philosopher visits the United States, inspiring his conservative social text 'Democracy in America'. Alexis de Tocqueville
32%
2009 This American financier pleads guilty to his investment scandal - concerning the largest Ponzi scheme in history, worth about $64.8 billion. Bernie Madoff
32%
1995 The 67th Academy Awards are held at Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, hosted by this late-night television talk host - whose show featured on NBC and CBS. David Letterman
32%
1942 This Italian-born physicist creates the first nuclear reactor: the Chicago Pile-1, as part of the Manhattan Project. Enrico Fermi
32%
1983 The first restaurant of this fast-food chain opens in Clearwater, Florida - the owl is its mascot. Hooters
32%
1824 This French aristocrat embarks on a tour of the then 24 states forming the Union. He visits President James Monroe at the White House. Marquis de Lafayette
32%
1916 During the Mexican Revolution, this general leads about 500 Mexican raiders in an attack against Columbus, New Mexico, killing twelve U.S. soldiers. Pancho Villa
32%
1853 This diplomatic expedition is sent to the Tokugawa Shogunate, with the goal of forcing the end of Japan's 220-year-old policy of isolation - to open up trade. Perry Expedition
32%
1835 This war between the United States and a group of Native Americans and Black Indians in Florida breaks out; it is regarded as the longest of the Indian conflicts. Second Seminole War
32%
1896 The United States Supreme Court decision Plessy v. Ferguson upholds racial segregation and promotes this three-word doctrine. "Separate but equal"
32%
1969 These spontaneous protests by members of the gay community mark the start of the modern gay rights movement in the United States. Stonewall Riots
32%
1871 William "Boss" Tweed - noted as the political boss of this Democratic Party political machine based in New York - is arrested for bribery. Tammany Hall
32%
1989 Warner Communications and this new magazine business based in New York City announce plans for a formal merger. Time
32%
1883 The first theatre of this genre of variety entertainment based in France - noted as a farce with music - is opened in Boston, Massachusetts. Vaudeville
32%
1962 Bob Dylan premieres this protest anti-war song - included on his album 'The Freewheelin' Bot Dylan - Gerde's Folk City in Greenwich Village, New York City. Blowin' in the Wind
29%
1999 Traders of this energy company based in Houston, Texas, allegedly route 2,900 MWs of electricity destined for California to the town of Silver Peak, Nevada. Enron
29%
1913 This central banking system - still in use to this day - is created by President Woodrow Wilson, largely due to the Panic of 1907. Federal Reserve
29%
1985 President Ronald Reagan joins this West German Chancellor for a funeral service in Bitburg, including the graves of 59 elite S.S. troops from World War II. Helmut Kohl
29%
1834 The Whig Party is officially named by this United States Senator of Kentucky, known for the Compromise of 1850 and his promotion of the American System. Henry Clay
29%
1863 The first claim under this law - granting free ownership of government or public land in exchange for its development - is made for a farm in Nebraska. Homestead Act
29%
1935 This United States senator, dubbed 'The Kingfish', makes the longest speech on Senate record, taking fifteen and a half hours and containing 150,000 words. Huey Long
29%
1826 The historical romance novel: 'The Last of the Mohicans' is first printed, written by this American author. James Fenimore Cooper
29%
1946 This Indian Prime Minister appeals to the United States and the Soviet Union to end nuclear testing and to start nuclear disarmament. Jawaharlal Nehru
29%
1801 This American Founding Father is appointed the fourth Chief Justice of the United States, succeeding Oliver Ellsworth. John Marshall
29%
1803 The landmark Supreme Court decision _______ v. Madison establishes the principle of judicial review. Marbury
29%
1981 The biographical sports drama film: 'Raging Bull' - directed by this film producer - wins the Academy Award for Best Film Editing and Best Actor. Martin Scorsese
29%
1977 This Grammy Award-winning Fleetwood Mac album is released, featuring such hit numbers as 'Go Your Own Way', 'Dreams', and 'Don't Stop'. Rumours
29%
1786 This armed uprising begins in Western Massachusetts, in response to a debt crisis and in opposition to the state's efforts to heavily tax its citizens. Shays' Rebellion
29%
1974 This amusement park located twenty miles southeast of Trenton, New Jersey, is opened - including a water park named 'Hurricane Harbor'. Six Flags Great Adventure
29%
1928 The New York Yankees defeat this Missouri professional baseball team, 4 games to 0, to win their 3rd World Series Title. St. Louis Cardinals
29%
2021 The 240th anniversary of these crucial Federalist documents - the predecessors to the United States Constitution - is noted. Articles of Confederation
26%
1882 This United States federal law, signed by President Chester A. Arthur, is the first major law restricting immigration into the country. Chinese Exclusion Act
26%
1990 Congress passes this federal environmental law - intended to reduce and control air pollution nationwide. Clean Air Act
26%
1817 With the inauguration of James Monroe as President, this political period begins - marked by a sense of national purpose and a desire for unity among Americans. Era of Good Feelings
26%
1861 This battle fought in Prince William County, Virginia, is the first major battle of the American Civil War - resulting in a Confederate victory. First Battle of Bull Run
26%
1809 James Madison is sworn in as the fourth President, with this Founding Father - known for being the first governor of New York - as his Vice President. George Clinton
26%
1887 This political era is undergoing: a time of rapid economic growth in the industrial sector, as well as corruption and power abuse by robber barons. Gilded Age
26%
1779 In the Battle of Flamborough Head, the American ship Bonhomme Richard - commanded by this naval captain - engages the British ship Serapis. John Paul Jones
26%
2018 President Donald Trump boasts on Twitter that his nuclear button is "much bigger" and "more powerful" than whose? Kim Jong-un
26%
1820 This law is enacted, with the hopes of maintaining an equal number of slave states and free states. Missouri Compromise
26%
1956 This Broadway musical with a book and lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner and music by Frederick Loewe - based on George Bernard Shaw's 'Pygmalion' - debuts. My Fair Lady
26%
1970 Lieutenant William Calley goes on trial for this mass murder of unarmed South Vietnamese civilians during the Vietnam War, committed by the United States. Mỹ Lai Massacre
26%
1855 This American industrialist opens a new factory for the manufacture of firearms in Hartford, Connecticut. Samuel Colt
26%
1975 The Apollo-_____ Test Project is carried out by the United States and the Soviet Union, marking the first such link-up between spacecraft from the two nations. Soyuz
26%
1997 This Senator of South Carolina - also known for his 24-hour long filibuster - becomes the longest-serving Senator, with a then-tenure of under 42 years. Strom Thurmond
26%
1923 This political scandal boils over (pun intended) - which started when Secretary of the Interior Albert Bacon Fall leased Navy petroleum reserves in Wyoming. Teapot Dome Scandal
26%
1797 This diplomatic episode in the presidency of John Adams inflames, involving a confrontation between the United States and France, which led to the Quasi-War. XYZ Affair
26%
1968 The Beatles announce the creation of this record label in New York City, which would later serve such artists as James Taylor and Badfinger. Apple Records
23%
2001 As part of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, three cities are struck: New York City, Shanksville, Pennsylvania, and _________ County, Virginia. Arlington
23%
1827 The _________ and Ohio Railroad is incorporated, becoming the first railroad in America offering commercial transportation of both people and freight. Baltimore
23%
2017 This renowned circus stages the final show in its 146-year history at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Uniondale, New York. Barnum & Bailey Circus
23%
2015 This American horse race: a Grade I stakes race for three-year-old Thoroughbreds in New York, takes place for the 147th time. Belmont Stakes
23%
2002 This bear market of this stock market bubble reaches bottom; many online shipping and communication companies shut down or became devalued. Dot-com Bubble
23%
1912 This political activist - one of the founding members of the Industrial Workers of the World - is nominated as the Socialist Party's candidate for President. Eugene V. Debs
23%
1900 This hurricane makes landfall in Southeast Texas, eventually killing 6,000-12,000 citizens - making it the deadliest natural disaster in United States history. Galveston Hurricane
23%
1988 In the vice presidential debate of the 1988 election, after Dan Quayle's assertion of his experience, Lloyd Bentsen replies: "Senator, you're no ____ _______". Jack Kennedy
23%
1966 The Supreme Court case _______ v. Arizona rules that an arrested individual is entitled to rights against self-incrimination and to an attorney. Miranda
23%
1924 This musical composition is written by George Gershwin for solo piano and jazz band, combining elements of classical music with jazz-influenced effects. Rhapsody in Blue
23%
1906 This writer and muckraker publishes 'The Jungle': a novel depicting the life of a contemporary immigrant family in Chicago working in the meat packing industry. Upton Sinclair
23%
1808 The discovery of this type of coal in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, leads to coal being the key fuel source of America's industrial revolution. Anthracite
19%
1986 The first artists are inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, which included this duo known for their steel-string acoustic guitar playing - formed in 1951. Everly Brothers
19%
1940 This General of the Armies - the sole one - urges all-out aid to Britain in order to defend the Americas in a nationwide radio broadcast. John J. Pershing
19%
2013 In the 85th Academy Awards, this Ang Lee adventure-drama film wins four awards, including Lee's second for Best Director, Life of Pi
19%
1957 This suspension bridge connecting the Upper and Lower peninsulas of Michigan - at the time the longest of its kind between anchorages - opens to traffic. Mackinac Bridge
19%
2014 Microsoft announces that it is purchasing this Swedish video game developer - creator of the popular sandbox video game: Minecraft - for $2 billion. Mojang Studios
19%
1795 The ______________ Act of 1795 is enacted, to increase the period of required residence from two to five years before granting citizenship. Naturalization
19%
1869 The 'golden spike' is driven in Promontory, Utah, marking the completion of this major engineering feat: the first of its kind in North America. Pacific Railroad
19%
1894 Three thousand workers of a railroad car company go on strike to protest lowered wages without an equivalent reduction in expenses in Chicago. Pullman Strike
19%
2010 This element - the 117th in the periodic table - is discovered. It is probably a metallic solid at room temperature, with properties similar to astatine. Tennessine
19%
1934 This comedy team - active from 1922 to 1970 - releases their first short: 'Woman Haters', directed by Archie Gottler. The Three Stooges
19%
1815 The War of 1812 nears completion with this treaty; the results are inconclusive, but several indigenous nations are displaced from their territory. Treaty of Ghent
19%
2005 John Roberts is sworn in as the 17th Chief Justice of the United States, succeeding this Supreme Court Justice. William Rehnquist
19%
1856 Preston Brooks beats this Senator with a cane in the United States Senate, for a speech the latter gave disavowing the pro-slavery violence in Kansas. Charles Sumner
16%
1982 This electronics company's _________ 64 8-bit home computer is launched - over the course of twelve years, selling approximately fifteen million units. Commodore
16%
1944 This army officer, who later served as Secretary of State and Secretary of Defense under President Harry Truman, becomes the first Five-Star general. George C. Marshall
16%
1958 This political advocacy group is founded by a retired candy manufacturer, associated with ultraconservative, libertarian, and far-right politics. John Birch Society
16%
1819 The Supreme Court decision McCulloch v. ________ rules that the Bank of the United States is constitutional, defining Congress' legislative authority. Maryland
16%
1833 This sectional political crisis, involving South Carolina's refusal to adopt the federal Tariffs of 1828 and 1832, comes to a close. Nullification Crisis
16%
2023 A global banking crisis arises out of four American regional banks, with the largest being this firm operating in Santa Clara, California. Silicon Valley Bank
16%
1937 The United States Senate votes down President Franklin D. Roosevelt's proposal to add these members to the federal government. Supreme Court Justices
16%
1927 This musical drama film, directed by Alan Crosland, is the first "talkie" with a synchronised soundtrack, fostering the end of the silent film era. The Jazz Singer
16%
1971 The Twenty-sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution is ratified, which deals with this legal election issue. Voting Age
16%
1793 The epidemic of this disease occurs in Philadelphia, claiming the lives of 5,000 people - at the time, 10% of its population. Yellow Fever
16%
1821 This private liberal arts college based in Massachusetts is founded by the then-president of Williams College Zephaniah Swift Moore. Amherst College
13%
1781 This Revolutionary War battle is fought in South Carolina, which marks a crucial turning point in the American reconquest of the state from the British. Battle of Cowpens
13%
1864 This naval and land engagement of the Civil War - fought over this crucial port on the Alabama coast - results in a Union victory. Battle of Mobile Bay
13%
1922 This Californian species is hunted to extinction. Prior to Spanish settlement in the second half of the 1700s, approximately 10,000 of them inhabited the region. California Grizzly Bear
13%
1933 This voluntary government work relief program, initially for unmarried men aged 18 to 25, commences as part of the New Deal. Civilian Conservation Corps
13%
1976 Ford launches volume production of this supermini car at its Valencia plant - selling over 22 million units since release. Ford Fiesta
13%
1823 Religious leader Joseph Smith first goes to the place containing these 'sacred' objects - the source from which he translated the Book of Mormon. Golden Plates
13%
1929 This national park in northwestern Wyoming - covering approximately 310,000 acres of land - is established by Congress. Grand Teton National Park
13%
1907 This group of United States Navy battleships departs Hampton Roads, Virginia, on a fourteen-month circumnavigation of the globe. Great White Fleet
13%
1886 This riot: the aftermath of a bombing that took place at a labour demonstration in Chicago, Illinois, shores up national support for the eight-hour work day. Haymarket Affair
13%
1893 The United States Marines intervene in Hawaii, resulting in the overthrow of this queen of the nation. Liliʻuokalani
13%
1830 Sarah Josepha Hale - also known for campaigning for the completion of the Bunker Hill monument - has this renowned nursery rhyme published in Boston. Mary Had a Little Lamb
13%
2004 The Spirit and ___________ rovers - launched by NASA - land on Mars. The latter remained active on the Red Planet for 5,111 sols (14 Earth years). Opportunity
13%
1991 Indictments against two Libyan intelligence officials in connection with the bombing of a Boeing 747-121 during this transatlantic flight are announced. Pan Am Flight 103
13%
1921 This full-length silent comedy-drama film, written, produced, directed by and starring Charlie Chaplin - in his Tramp character - is released. The Kid
13%
1848 This treaty is signed, ending the Mexican-American war and ceding to the United States virtually all of what becomes the southwestern part of the nation. Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
13%
1799 As part of the Quasi-War, this United States Navy frigate captures the French frigate Insurgente. USS Constellation
13%
1967 During the Six-Day War, this Israeli attack on a United States Navy research ship results in the death of 34 crew members but is concluded to be an accident. USS Liberty Incident
13%
1901 This industrial production firm based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania - the first billion-dollar corporation - is incorporated by industrialist J. P. Morgan. U.S. Steel
13%
1914 United States troops withdraw from this constituent state in Mexico; Venustiano Carranza's troops take over and Carranza makes the town his headquarters. Veracruz
13%
1778 This Revolutionary War battle commences, fought in modern-day Freehold Borough, New Jersey. The result was inconclusive; it claimed 1,500 casualties. Battle of Monmouth
10%
1878 The Bland-Allison Act is passed, requiring the United States Treasury to buy some silver and put it into circulation, briefly restoring this monetary policy. Bimetallism
10%
1807 This highly controversial law is passed, which essentially prohibited trade between the United State and any foreign port. Embargo Act of 1807
10%
1949 This modernist poet and critic, whose works include 'The Cantos', is awarded the first Bollingen Prize in poetry. Ezra Pound
10%
1898 In the Battle of Manilla Bay - the first of the Spanish-American War - this commodore - the only Admiral of the Navy - destroys the Spanish squadron. George Dewey
10%
1874 This minor political party is established - advocating the issuing of non-gold backed currency to create inflation, hence making debts easier to pay. Greenback Party
10%
1879 This political economist and journalist self-publishes his work: 'Progress and Poverty', in which he argues for land value taxation. Henry George
10%
1796 This treaty is officially put into effect, resolving issues between the United States and Great Britain following the Revolutionary War. Jay Treaty
10%
1952 '4'33"': a controversial composition consisting of four minutes and thirty-three seconds of silence - by this composer - premiers in Woodstock, New York. John Cage
10%
1875 A murder conviction begins to break the power of this Irish-American secret society, for their anti-owner coal miner activism. Molly Maguires
10%
1857 This series of hostile attacks during the Utah War occur, perpetuated by settlers from the LDS Church against the Baker-Fancher emigrant wagon train. Mountain Meadows Massacre
10%
1926 This engineer and physicist successfully launches the world's first liquid-fueled rocket at Auburn, Massachusetts. Robert H. Goddard
10%
1931 This group of nine African American teenage males are accused in Alabama of raping two white women, leading to a series of Supreme Court cases. Scottsboro Boys
10%
1890 This law is enacted, broadly prohibiting anticompetitive agreements and unilateral conduct that monopolises the relevant market. Sherman Antitrust Act
10%
1930 This law is passed, raising U.S. Tariffs on 20,000 imported goods, leading to a freeze in international trade. It is said to have prolonged the Great Depression. Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act
10%
1828 This minor party is formed in New York, being the earliest third party in the United States. It nominated William Wirt for president in the election of 1832. Anti-Masonic Party
6%
1813 This battle - part of the War of 1812 - results in an American victory against Tecumseh's Confederacy and their British Allies. Battle of the Thames
6%
1814 The Battle of Horseshoe Bend - part of this war between the United States and the Muscogee tribes - occurs in northern Alabama. Creek War
6%
1804 This Northern city - at the time with a population of about a thousand people - is engulfed by a major fire, and is mostly destroyed. Detroit
6%
1972 This astronaut is the twelfth and last person to walk on the Moon, after jointly completing the third and final Extra-vehicular activity of Apollo 17. Gene Cernan
6%
1948 The first audio-recorded presidential debate in the United States is recorded, featuring New York Governor Thomas Dewey and this Minnesota Governor. Harold Stassen
6%
1910 This African-American boxer defeats white boxer James J. Jeffries in a heavyweight boxing match, sparking race riots throughout the country. Jack Johnson
6%
1965 This Scottish racing driver wins the Indianapolis 500, and later wins the Formula One world driving championship in the same year. Jim Clark
6%
2019 This corporation supplying medical devices and pharmaceuticals is ordered to pay $572 million for contributing to the opioid crisis in Oklahoma. Johnson & Johnson
6%
2016 This NASA space probe, built by the Lockheed Martin Corporation, enters the orbit of Jupiter. Juno
6%
1862 Author Horace Greeley publishes an editorial in this newspaper, urging President Abraham Lincoln to make abolition of slavery an official aim of the war effort. New-York Tribune
6%
1903 This cantilever bridge over the East River in New York City opens - it would be complete six years later. Queensboro Bridge
6%
1866 This politician from Ohio - affiliated with the Radical Republicans - is the current chief justice of the United States, succeeding Roger Taney. Salmon P. Chase
6%
1851 This private Jesuit university - the now oldest operating institution of higher learning in California - is opened. Santa Clara University
6%
1818 This Midwestern Native American tribe ceded their traditional lands across present Missouri, Arkansas, and Oklahoma. The Osage
6%
1870 This German-born cartoonist drafts a political cartoon for Harper's Weekly - for the first time symbolising the Democratic Party with a donkey. Thomas Nast
6%
1873 Congress enacts this law, criminalising any use of the United States Postal Service to send any "obscene, lewd, or lascivious" items through the mail. Comstock Law
3%
1860 Abraham Lincoln delivers this address in New York City, in which he affirming his opposition to the expansion of slavery into the western territories. Cooper Union Speech
3%
1859 This American composer (probably) writes the folk song 'Dixie': one of the most distinctive pieces of Southern culture. Dan Emmett
3%
2012 This Scottish driver wins the 96th Indianapolis 500 with the manufacturer Chip Ganassi Racing - being his third win there. Dario Franchitti
3%
1822 This free Black leader in Charleston, South Carolina, for plotting a slave revolt. Its potential major scale stoked the fears of the antebellum planter class. Denmark Vesey
3%
1800 The plot of this slave rebellion in Richmond, Virginia, is discovered, resulting in the hanging of the culprit and twenty-five followers. Gabriel's Rebellion
3%
1891 This early motion picture exhibition device - designed for films to be viewed by one person at a time through a peephole viewer window - is first displayed. Kinetoscope
3%
1905 The landmark United States Supreme Court decision _______ v. New York holds that New York's eight-hour work day law is unconstitutional. Lochner
3%
1872 This American-registered merchant brigantine is discovered adrift and deserted in the Atlantic Ocean off the Azores Islands. Mary Celeste
3%
1994 The first conference devoted to the World Wide Web opens, featuring such speakers as Marc Andreessen: co-founder of this first widely used web browser. Mosaic
3%
1996 This company specialising in computer workstations for higher education and business use - founded by Steve Jobs - is bought by Apple Computer. NeXT
3%
1806 This expedition sent out by President Thomas Jefferson commences, intended to explore the southern and western regions of the Louisiana Territory. Pike Expedition
3%
1953 With the NBC Symphony Orchestra, conductor Arturo Toscanini performs this Beethoven symphony for the last time. Symphony No. 3 "Eroica"
3%
1789 This epistolary novel, written by William Hill Brown, is published in Boston. It is considered the first American novel. The Power of Sympathy
3%
1884 This free-floating perennial aquatic plant native to tropical and subtropical South America is introduced in the United States, and becomes an invasive species. Water Hyacinth
3%
1842 The _______-Ashburton Treaty is signed, establishing the United States-Canada border east of the Rocky Mountains. Webster
3%
2020 This state is the last to report a confirmed case of COVID-19 - nowadays having a total of over 650,000 cases. West Virginia
3%
1832 The Supreme Court case _________ v. Georgia rules that the Cherokee are entitled to federal protection from the states, but is ignored by Andrew Jackson. Worcester
3%
1876 This catastrophic fire in New York breaks out, claiming the lives of approximately 300 individuals. Brooklyn Theatre Fire
0%
1782 This American expedition, intended to destroy enemy Native American towns along the Sandusky River in the Ohio County, fails. Crawford Expedition
0%
1880 This amateur astronomer - the son of one of the first Americans to be photographed - takes the first photograph of the Orion Nebula. Henry Draper
0%
2022 This Category 5 Atlantic hurricane - the third costliest tropical cyclone on record - strikes Cuba, Florida and the Carolinas hard, causing 161 casualties. Ian
0%
1788 American pioneers establish this town in modern-day Ohio: the first permanent American settlement outside the original Thirteen Colonies. Marietta
0%
1839 This American inventor takes the first known American photographic portrait. However, the first-ever self-portrait was taken by Hippolyte Bayard in France. Robert Cornelius
0%
1947 This Academy Award-winning 'Tom and Jerry' cartoon is released to theatres: and later voted #42 of the top 50 Greatest Cartoons of all time. The Cat Concerto
0%
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