American History

On September 12, 1787, it was proposed that trial by jury in civil cases be included America’s Constitution.  There was extensive debate over the topic, and it was ultimately left out of the Constitution.  It was finally made law as part of the Bill of Rights in 1791.

Today marks the 20th anniversary of the September 11th attacks on America. It was an event that changed our world forever. From that day forward, the term “9/11” would symbolize both disaster and heroics.

The American Forestry Association was founded on September 10, 1875, in Chicago, Illinois. It’s one of America’s oldest national conservation organizations, with a mission of “Creating Healthy and Resilient Forests, from Cities to Wilderness, that Deliver Essential Benefits for Climate, People, Water and Wildlife.”

On September 7, 1813, a newspaper referred to the United States as “Uncle Sam.”  The name reportedly came from Troy, New York’s Uncle Sam Wilson, and has since become one of America’s most enduring national symbols.

On September 5, 1774, the First Continental Congress opened in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It marked the first time the colonies gathered together to resist English oppression.

On September 4, 1882, Thomas Edison began providing electricity to a portion of New York City, an event often considered the start of the electrical age.

Marguerite Higgins Hall was born on September 3, 1920, in Hong Kong, China. A war correspondent for World War II, Korea, and Vietnam, she was the first woman awarded a Pulitzer Prize for international reporting.

On September 2, 1945, Japan formally surrendered to the Allies aboard the USS Missouri. This is celebrated as VJ in the US. Many other countries celebrate VJ Day on August 15, when Japan announced its surrender.

On August 30, 1983, the space shuttle Challenger blasted off on its third mission to space. The shuttle carried special cargo – commemorative covers bearing the new Express Mail Next Day Service stamp.