On May 30, 1854, President Franklin Pierce signed the Kansas-Nebraska Act into law. The act had been created to settle tensions over slavery and open new lands for development, but instead only proved to create more division and move America closer to Civil War.
On January 9, 1788, Connecticut ratified the US Constitution, making it the fifth state to join the young United States.
On June 14, 2008, the USPS issued the first set of stamps in its Flags of Our Nation Series.
On November 21, 1789, North Carolina was admitted as the 12th state of the union.
On June 14, 1846, California settlers staged the Bear Flag Revolt in rebellion against the Mexican government.
On March 6, 1820, President James Monroe signed the Missouri Compromise into law.
On August 10, 1861, the first major battle in the Trans-Mississippi Theater of the Civil War was fought in Missouri.
On December 12, 1787, Pennsylvania was the second state to ratify the Constitution and be admitted to the Union.
On December 10, 1817, Mississippi was admitted to the Union as the 20th state.