March 3
Today in America's Present Past
1634 | The first tavern in America opened, Cole’s Inn, in Boston, Massachusetts.
1801 | Civil Rights: David Emmanuel became the first Jewish Governor in America taking office in Georgia.
1803 | Congress: The first government impeachment trial focused on John Pickering began.
1807 | POTUS: Democratic-Republican President Jefferson signed the Insurrection Act. At the time, it was seen as necessary response to put down a potential rebellion by Aaron Burr. It was expanded during the Civil War and later to deal with the KKK. In the modern era it has also be invoked to deal with looting and civil rights’ resistance .
1813 | The U.S. Army formed the Office of Surgeon General.
1815 | Congress: The U.S. declared war on Algiers.
1820 | Congress: Passed the Missouri Compromise.
1831 | Entrepreneur George Pullman was born.
1838 | Astronomer George William Hill was born.
1837 | Congress: Increased the membership of SCOTUS from seven to nine and separately recognized the Republic of Texas as an independent nation.
1840 | New Perce leader Chief Joseph was born.
1845 | Statehood: Florida was granted statehood.
1847 | Inventor Alexander Graham Bell was born.
1855 | Congress: Appropriated $30,000 to test military use of camels.
1855 | Architect Robert Mills died.
1863 | Congress: Enacted a draft. The Enrollment Act of 1863, the first federally mandated draft, to fill the Civil War needs also allowed men of draft age to pay $300 to opt out.
1863 | POTUS: Republican President Lincoln signed legislation creating the National Academy of Sciences.
1865 | POTUS: Republican President Lincoln signed the Freedmen’s Bureau Act.
1869 | Civil Rights: University of South Carolina opened to all.
1871 | Congress: Indian tribe status changed from independent to dependent.
1871 | Congress: Created a “civil service” system for government workers.
1873 | POTUS: Republican President Grant signed the Comstock Act, banning the distribution of “obscene, lewd or lascivious” materials through mail.
1877 | POTUS: President Hayes took the oath of office in private, at the White Houses’ “Red Room” due to the day falling on a Sunday.
1879 | Civil Rights: First argument presented by a female lawyer, Ms. Lockwood, before SCOTUS.
1885 | American Telephone & Telegraph (AT&T) formed.
1891 | Congress: Created the U.S. Court of Appeals.
1891 | POTUS: Republican President Harrison signed the Forest Reserve Act.
1895 | General Matthew Ridgeway was born.
1899 | George Dewy became the first to be promoted to Admiral of the Navy.
1905 | U.S. Forest Service was formed.
1911 | Actress Jean Harlow was born.
1913 | Civil Rights: The day before Wilson’s inauguration, 5,000 women marched in Washington, D.C. in support of suffrage.
1915 | Film: “The Birth of a Nation,” the controversial film later shown by Wilson in the White House debuted in New York City, New York.
1917 | Congress: Enacted the first excess profits tax on corporations.
1918 | Chemist Arthur Kornberg was born.
1931 | Congress: Designated the “Star Spangled Banner” as our national anthem over “America the Beautiful” and “Hail, Columbia.”
1934 | Outlaw John Dillinger broke out of jail.
1943 | WWII: U.S. forces defeated the Japanese at the Battle of Bismarck Sea.
1943 | Author Roger Swaybill was born.
1945 | WWII: US forces liberated Corregidor.
1959 | Comedian Lou Costello died.
1982 | Actress Jessica Biel was born.
1991 | Civil Rights: L.A. police beat motorist Rodney King.
1991 | Entrepreneur Arthur Murray died.
2017 | Economist Stephen Ross died.