These seven days in November have been marked by pivotal moments in American history, from revolutionary changes in communication and civil rights to the depths of national tragedy and the conclusion of major conflicts. This period saw the debut of an iconic animated character, the implementation of a national time standard to organize the country, a significant ruling on same-sex marriage, one of the most famous speeches in U.S. history, the end of the Cuban Missile Crisis, a presidential assassination, and a key Civil War battle.
November 18
1883 The United States adopted a system of standardized time zones to regulate railroad schedules across the continent.
1928 Walt Disney’s animated short “Steamboat Willie” premiered in New York City launching Mickey Mouse into global stardom as one of the most recognizable icons of American popular culture.
November 19
1863 President Abraham Lincoln delivered his famous speech at the dedication of the Soldiers’ National Cemetery in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, four months after the pivotal Civil War battle.
1969 Apollo 12 astronauts Charles Conrad and Alan Bean landed the Lunar Module *Intrepid* on the Moon, performing the second crewed lunar landing.
November 20
1789 New Jersey became the first state to ratify the first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution, known as the Bill of Rights.
1962 President John F. Kennedy announced the end of the naval quarantine of Cuba, formally marking the conclusion of the Cuban Missile Crisis.
November 21
1877 Inventor Thomas Edison publicly announced his invention of the phonograph, a machine capable of recording and reproducing sound.
1922 Rebecca Latimer Felton of Georgia was sworn in, becoming the first woman to serve in the United States Senate.
November 22
1718 The infamous English pirate Edward Teach, known as Blackbeard, was killed off the coast of Ocracoke Island, North Carolina.
1963 The 35th President of the United States, John F. Kennedy, was assassinated in Dallas, Texas.
November 23
1863 The Battle of Chattanooga began in Tennessee during the Civil War, leading to a major Union victory that cleared the way for a deep invasion into the South.
1943 U.S. Takes Tarawa and Makin Atolls** | American forces successfully completed the capture of the Tarawa and Makin atolls in the Gilbert Islands from the Japanese.
November 24
1874 Joseph F. Glidden received a patent for his invention of barbed wire, dramatically changing American farming and ranching practices and accelerating the settlement of the West. |
1963 Lee Harvey Oswald was shot and killed by Dallas nightclub owner Jack Ruby in the basement of the Dallas Police Headquarters on live national television
