June 2
1865
Today marks the end of the American Civil War. Confederate General Edmund Kirby Smith signed the surrender terms, ending the four years of war.
June 3
1800
Second President of the United States John Adams becomes the first president to live in Washington, DC. The city was created to replace Philadelphia as the United States’ capital. President Adams moved to a temporary residence at Tunnicliffe’s City Hotel before officially moving to the White House on November 1.
June 4
1919
U.S. Congress officially passes the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, granting voting rights to women.
June 5
1968
Senator Robert Kennedy, younger brother of President John F. Kennedy, is assassinated. He was shot in Los Angeles by a Palestinian activist right after the Senator’s win in California presidential primary.
June 5
2004
Ronald Reagan, the United States’ 40th president, dies today after a long battle with Alzheimer’s.
June 6
1833
President Andrew Jackson becomes the first president to take a locomotive, known as the “Iron Horse,” back in the day.
June 11
1776
Continental Congress starts to draft the U.S. Declaration of Independence. The Congress elected Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, Robert R. Livingston, and Roger Sherman to draft the document. They were later known as the Committee of Five.
June 14
1777
The Continental Congress adopts the “stars and stripes” as their flag. In the resolution, it stated that “the flag of the United States be thirteen alternate stripes red and white” and that “the Union be thirteen stars, white in a blue field, representing a new Constellation.” June 14 is known as Flag Day in the U.S.
June 15
1775
George Washington is assigned to lead the Continental Army. He would later become the United States’ First President.
June 17
1885
The Statue of Liberty arrives in New York City. The copper and iron statue was sent as a gift from France to commemorate a century of U.S.-France friendship.
June 19
1856
First Republican national convention comes to its conclusion. John Charles Fremont was nominated for presidency.
June 20
1782
U.S. Congress officially adopts the Great Seal of the United States. The seal, which is still in use today, shows a bald eagle clutching olive branch and arrows with its talons, which are the symbols of the Congress’ power to make peace (olive branch) and war (arrows).
June 21
1788
The U.S. Constitution is officially ratified. On this day New Hampshire became the ninth and last state to necessary to ratify the Constitution making it the official law of the land.
June22
1970
President Richard Nixon signs a measure lowering the voting age to 18 years.
June 28
1836
The United States’ 4th president James Madison dies today in his home in Virginia. He was a drafter of the U.S. Constitution.
