Across two and a half centuries, this brief stretch of early November has repeatedly reset the course of the nation—from the demobilization of the Continental Army following the Revolutionary War and Abraham Lincoln’s transformative 1860 election to groundbreaking ballot victories, historic naval engagements, and the opening of premier cultural institutions.
November 3
- 1783 – The Continental Army is Formally Disbanded: Following the signing of the Treaty of Paris ending the American Revolutionary War, General George Washington issued his farewell orders to the Continental Army from Rocky Hill, New Jersey, officially demobilizing the majority of the revolutionary forces.
- 1868 – John Willis Menard Becomes the First African American Elected to the U.S. Congress: Menard, a Louisiana Republican and abolitionist poet, won a special election to complete an unexpired term in the U.S. House of Representatives. Although political opponents contested the seat and the House ultimately declined to seat either candidate, his victory marked an early breakthrough in Reconstruction-era electoral politics.
November 4
- 1924 – Nellie Tayloe Ross is Elected the First Female U.S. Governor: In Wyoming, Democrat Nellie Tayloe Ross won election to serve the remainder of her late husband’s term, making history as the first woman elected governor of any U.S. state.
- 2008 – Barack Obama is Elected the First African American U.S. President: Illinois Senator Barack Obama defeated Arizona Senator John McCain in the general election, breaking a 232-year racial barrier to become the 44th President of the United States.
November 5
- 1872 – Susan B. Anthony Casts an Illegal Ballot: In Rochester, New York, women’s suffrage leader Susan B. Anthony cast a ballot in the presidential election to test the Fourteenth Amendment’s protection of citizenship rights. Her subsequent arrest, indictment, and highly publicized trial galvanized the national movement for women’s suffrage.
- 1940 – Franklin D. Roosevelt Wins an Unprecedented Third Term: President Franklin D. Roosevelt defeated Republican challenger Wendell Willkie, shattering the two-term precedent established by George Washington and securing an extraordinary third mandate amid the shadow of World War II.
November 6
- 1860 – Abraham Lincoln is Elected the 16th President of the United States: The election of Republican candidate Abraham Lincoln on an anti-slavery expansion platform triggered the secession of Southern states within weeks, setting the nation on the path toward the Civil War.
- 1869 – The First Intercollegiate American Football Game is Played: Rutgers College faced off against the College of New Jersey (later Princeton University) in New Brunswick, New Jersey, with Rutgers winning 6–4 in a contest that established the foundation of modern American college football.
November 7
- 1811 – The Battle of Tippecanoe: U.S. forces led by Indiana Territorial Governor William Henry Harrison fought an alliance of American Indian confederacy warriors near Prophetstown, Indiana. The battle weakened Tecumseh’s confederacy and served as a major catalyst leading up to the War of 1812.
- 1929 – The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) Opens to the Public: Founded by modern art patrons including Abby Aldrich Rockefeller, MoMA opened its doors in Manhattan, pioneering modern visual art exhibitions in the United States and shaping 20th-century American arts culture.
November 8
- 1942 – Operation Torch Commences: Allied forces under Lieutenant General Dwight D. Eisenhower launched Operation Torch, landing amphibious invasion forces in French North Africa. It marked the first major American military offensive in the European-North African theater during World War II.
- 1960 – John F. Kennedy Wins the Presidential Election: In one of the closest races in American history, Democratic Senator John F. Kennedy defeated sitting Vice President Richard Nixon, ushering in the “New Frontier” era.
November 9
- 1872 – The Great Boston Fire Breaks Out: One of the most expensive and destructive blazes in U.S. history tore through downtown Boston, destroying 776 buildings across 65 acres, killing approximately 30 people, and leading to sweeping nationwide reforms in municipal building codes and urban firefighting standards.
- 1906 – Theodore Roosevelt Embarks on the First Foreign Presidential Trip: President Theodore Roosevelt departed on the USS Louisiana to inspect construction progress on the Panama Canal, becoming the first sitting U.S. president to travel outside American borders while in office.
