This Day In History

On March 15, 1820, Maine became the 23rd state in the United States. The decision ended nearly two centuries of rule by Massachusetts and recognized the growing population and independence of the northern district.

On March 14, 1794, Eli Whitney received a patent for his cotton gin nearly five months after submitting his application. The machine would dramatically speed up cotton processing and reshape the economy of the American South.

On March 13, 1942, the US Army officially launched its War Dog Program, marking the beginning of organized military service for American dogs. Today, that date is remembered as National K9 Veterans Day, honoring the loyalty, courage, and sacrifice of the dogs that have served beside US troops.

On March 12, 1930, Mahatma Gandhi began a 240-mile march to the sea to protest British control of India’s salt supply. The simple act of picking up a handful of salt would ignite nationwide civil disobedience and draw the world’s attention to India’s struggle for independence.

On March 15, 1820, Maine became the 23rd state in the United States. The decision ended nearly two centuries of rule by Massachusetts and recognized the growing population and independence of the northern district.

On March 13, 1942, the US Army officially launched its War Dog Program, marking the beginning of organized military service for American dogs. Today, that date is remembered as National K9 Veterans Day, honoring the loyalty, courage, and sacrifice of the dogs that have served beside US troops.

On March 10, 1862, the United States government issued its first widely circulated national paper money. These new notes, soon nicknamed “greenbacks,” were created during the financial strain of the American Civil War and transformed how the federal government financed itself.

On March 9, 1841, the US Supreme Court issued its final ruling in the case of United States v. Schooner Amistad. The decision ended a two-year legal battle over whether a group of kidnapped Africans were property—or free people who had fought for their liberty.

On March 16, 1802, the Military Academy at West Point was founded. America’s oldest military academy, West Point prepared some of our most accomplished Army officers for service.

On March 16, 1934, President Franklin Roosevelt signed the Migratory Bird Hunting Stamp Act, creating America’s popular Duck Stamps.

James Madison was born on March 16, 1751, in Port Conway, Virginia. One of America’s Founding Fathers and the fourth US president, Madison is considered the “Father of the US Constitution” and led America through the War of 1812.

On March 16, 1937, Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge was established in Delaware. The refuge projects vital wetlands and salt marshes that serve as important breeding and wintering grounds for hundreds of species of waterfowl and migrating birds.