During these seven days, the United States solidified its governing framework with the Northwest Ordinance, expanded its reach into the Pacific, and witnessed landmark cultural milestones. These events highlight the persistent spirit of growth, governance, and social change that has defined the American experience across the centuries.
July 7
- 1898: President William McKinley signed the Newlands Resolution, which formally annexed Hawaii as a territory of the United States, marking a major milestone in American expansionism in the Pacific.
- 1981: President Ronald Reagan nominated Sandra Day O’Connor to the Supreme Court. She would go on to become the first female justice in the history of the nation’s highest court.
July 8
- 1775: The Continental Congress signed the Olive Branch Petition, a final, desperate attempt by the Thirteen Colonies to avoid a full-scale war with Great Britain.
- 1776: The Liberty Bell and other church bells rang out in Philadelphia to celebrate the first public reading of the Declaration of Independence, officially ushering in the birth of the United States.
July 9
- 1850: President Zachary Taylor died after serving just 16 months in office. He was succeeded by Millard Fillmore, who would lead the nation during a time of intense sectional tension.
- 1896: William Jennings Bryan delivered his electrifying “Cross of Gold” speech at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, forever changing the landscape of American populist politics.
July 10
- 1832: President Andrew Jackson vetoed the bill to re-charter the Second Bank of the United States, a landmark action that fueled the “Bank War” and profoundly shifted American economic policy.
- 1890: Wyoming was officially admitted to the Union as the 44th U.S. state, becoming the first state in the nation to guarantee women the right to vote in its constitution.
July 11
- 1796: The United States officially took possession of Detroit from Great Britain, a major step in securing the American Northwest as dictated by the terms of the Jay Treaty.
- 1798: The United States Marine Corps was formally re-established by an act of Congress, creating the modern structure of the branch after it had been disbanded following the Revolutionary War.
July 12
- 1862: Congress authorized the Medal of Honor, which would become the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government for valor in action.
- 1984: Walter Mondale made history by naming New York Congresswoman Geraldine Ferraro as his running mate, making her the first woman to appear on a major party ticket in a U.S. presidential election.
July 13
- 1787: The Congress of the Confederation enacted the Northwest Ordinance, a foundational document that established governing rules for the Northwest Territory and created procedures for the admission of new states while restricting the expansion of slavery.
- 1863: The New York City Draft Riots began, triggered by the federal government’s first military draft during the Civil War, reflecting deep social and political unrest in the North.
