Main Events

History throughout the year

January

1

1812

1812 John Adams letter to Thomas Jefferson.
John Adams marks the New Year by writing to Thomas Jefferson, after nearly ten years of silence. Learn more
2

1964

Martin Luther King arrives in Selma, Alabama for voting rights campaign.

6

1706

Ben Franklin born.

11

1757 (or 1755)

Alexander Hamilton born.

13

2021

President Donald Trump impeached (2nd time).

15

1929

Martin Luther King, Jr. born.

20

1965

Second inauguration of President Lyndon Johnson.

22

1973

Lyndon Baines Johnson dies at age 64.

23

1964

24th amendment to Constitution bans poll taxes.

29

1820

King George III dies.



February

3

1870

15th amendment bans racial bars to voting.

4

1801

John Marshall becomes Chief Justice of Supreme Court.

6

1756

Aaron Burr born.

10

1967

25th amendment to Constitution establishes presidential succession.

12

1809

Abraham Lincoln born.

17

1801

Thomas Jefferson elected president.

22

1732

George Washington born.

24

1803

Marbury v. Madison defines role of the Supreme Court.



March

4

1933

President Franklin Roosevelt’s 1st inauguration.

6

1857

Supreme Court’s infamous Dred Scott decision rules that enslaved workers are property, not people.

7

1965

“Bloody Sunday” march in Selma, Alabama.

15

1965

President Johnson addresses Congress on voting rights.

16

1751

James Madison born.

18

1963

Gideon v. Wainright rules that all defendants have right to an attorney.

22

1790

Thomas Jefferson appointed Secretary of State.

25

1964

Voting rights marchers reach Montgomery, Alabama.

27

1927

Lyndon Johnson enrolls at Southwest Texas State Teachers College (San Marcos).

31

1969

President Johnson announces that he won’t run for re-election.



April

4

1968

Dr. Martin Luther King speaking.

Martin Luther King assassinated.

9

1937

Lyndon Johnson wins first election to Congress.

11

1965

President Johnson signs Elementary and Secondary Education Act.

President Johnson signs Elementary and Secondary Education Act.

12

1860

Civil War begins at Fort Sumter, South Carolina.

13

1743

Thomas Jefferson born.

14

1865

Abraham Lincoln assassinated.

19

1775

Battles of Lexington and Concord.

24

1800

Library of Congress established in Washington, D.C.

30

1975

US military leaves Vietnam.



May

5

1961

Alan Shepard becomes first American in space.

7

1954

French surrender at Dien Bien Phu in Vietnam.

10

1968

Vietnam War peace talks begin in Paris.

17

1954

Brown v. Board of Education rules against segregated schools.

22

1964

President Johnson introduces phrase “Great Society.”

25

1787

Constitutional Convention begins in Philadelphia.

27

1911

Hubert Humphrey born.

29

1917

John F. Kennedy baby photo.

John Kennedy born.



June

4

1738

King George III born.

5

1968

Robert Kennedy assassinated.

11

1963

Governor George Wallace attempting to block integration at the University of Alabama.

George Wallace bars Black enrollment at University of Alabama.

13

1966

Miranda v. Arizona rules that police must inform suspects of their rights.

17

1774

William Franklin arrested for treason by Americans.

19

1775

Washington named commander of Continental Army.

25

2013

Shelby v. Holder limits Voting Rights Act.

26

2015

Supreme Court approves same sex marriage in Obergefell v. Hodges.



July

1

1971

26th amendment gives 18 year olds right to vote.

2

1964

President Johnson signs Civil Rights Act of 1964.

4

1826

Thomas Jefferson and John Adams die within hours of each other.

9

1868

14th Amendment broadly expands the Constitution.

11

2007

Lady Bird Johnson dies.

12

1804

Alexander Hamilton dies in duel.

20

1969

American astronauts land on moon.

26

1948

President Truman orders the desegregation of military.

28

1929

Jacqueline Kennedy born.

30

1965

President Johnson signs Medicare Act.



August

4

1961

Barack Obama, first Black president, born.

6

1965

President Johnson signs Voting Rights Act.

9

1974

President Richard Nixon resigns in disgrace.

18

1920

19th Amendment assures women the right to vote.

20

1964

President Johnson signs Economic Opportunity Act.

27

1908

First photograph of Lyndon Baines Johnson, at six months old.

Lyndon B. Johnson born.

28

1963

Martin Luther King leads March on Washington.



September

9

1965

Department of Housing and Urban Development created.

11

1789

Alexander Hamilton appointed Secretary of Treasury.

17

1787

Constitution of the United States of America.

Constitution signed by Constitutional Congress.

29

1965

National Endowment for the Arts created.



October

2

1967

Thurgood Marshall sworn in as first Black Supreme Court justice.

3

1965

President Lyndon B. Johnson gives his remarks before the signing the Immigration Act of 1965.

President Johnson signs Immigration Act of 1965.

10

1973

Vice President Agnew resigns in disgrace.

18

2020

Donald Trump impeached (first time).

19

1781

British Army surrenders to Americans at Yorktown, Virginia.

21

1967

Vietnam War protestors Veterans for Peace at the March on the Pentagon.

Anti-Vietnam War protestors march on Pentagon.

28

1886

Statue of Liberty dedicated in New York harbor.



November

2

1948

Lyndon Johnson first elected to Senate.

2

1964

Lyndon Johnson wins presidential election.

7

1967

President Johnson signs Public Broadcasting Act.

8

1960

Senator Kennedy elected President, Senator Johnson elected Vice President.

17

1934

Lyndon B. Johnson and Lady Bird Johnson in front of the US Capitol.

Lyndon Johnson marries Lady Bird.

21

1967

President Johnson signs Air Quality Act.

22

1963

President Lyndon Johnson sworn in on Air Force One.

President Kennedy assassinated. President Lyndon Johnson sworn in on Air Force One.



December

25

1760

George III becomes King of England.

5

1955

Montgomery, Alabama bus boycott begins.

6

1865

13th amendment abolishes slavery.

7

1787

Delaware becomes first state to ratify Constitution.

15

1791

Bill of Rights ratified.

22

1912

Claudia “Lady Bird” Taylor Johnson born.