On June 22, 1870, President Ulysses S. Grant signed a bill into law creating the US Department of Justice. While the position of attorney general had existed in a part time capacity for decades, it was elevated to a full-time position as head of the new Department of Justice with increased responsibilities.
On June 20, 1863, West Virginia joined the Union as the 35th state. It had formed from the western counties of Virginia which disagreed with the state’s decision to secede during the Civil War.
On June 19, 1865, slaves in Galveston, Texas, were finally informed of their freedom by the Emancipation Proclamation (issued two years prior). The day the last American slaves were freed has become a federal holiday observed across the country.
On June 18, 1682, William Penn established Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It would quickly grow into a major city because of Penn’s vision.
On June 15, 1864, Arlington National Cemetery was officially established. It has since become the final resting place for over 420,000 military servicemen and women.
On June 12, 1776, the Fifth Virginia Convention unanimously ratified the Virginia Declaration of Rights. It provided inspiration for other notable documents, including the Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights.
Robert F. (Bobby) Kennedy was shot by an assassin on June 5, 1968, hours after delivering his victory speech in the California primary. He died from his wounds early the next day.
On May 23, 1788, South Carolina ratified the Constitution, making it America’s eighth state.
On May 18, 1933, President Franklin Roosevelt created the Tennessee Valley Authority to provide hydroelectric power to rural areas of six states.