Category Archives: 1780s

First European settlers land in Australia 230 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Jan 26 1788)


Video: 'First Fleet - Behind the News'

(Saturday, January 26, 1788, early morning local time) — The British First Fleet, led by Arthur Phillip, sailed today into Port Jackson, New South Wales, to establish Sydney, the first permanent European settlement on the Australian continent. Continue reading First European settlers land in Australia 230 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Jan 26 1788)

Delaware first state to ratify U.S. Constitution 230 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 7 1787)


Video: 'The Constitution of the United States of America'

(Friday, December 7, 1787) — Delaware voted 30-0 today to become the first state to ratify the United States Constitution, the supreme law of the United States of America featuring the separation of powers doctrine, whereby the federal government would be divided into three branches (legislative, executive and judicial). Continue reading Delaware first state to ratify U.S. Constitution 230 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 7 1787)

The Federalist Papers published in New York 230 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Oct 27 1787)


Video: 'HISTORY TALKS: Federalist Papers - New Ideas for a New Nation'

(Saturday, October 27, 1787) — The first of The Federalist Papers, a series of articles and essays written under the pseudonym “Publius” by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay to promote the ratification of the United States Constitution, was published today in the Independent Journal, a New York newspaper. Continue reading The Federalist Papers published in New York 230 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Oct 27 1787)

United States Constitution completed and signed 230 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Sep 17 1787)


Video: 'Constitution Convention 11 minutes'

(Monday, September 17, 1787) — The United States Constitution, the supreme law of the United States of America featuring the separation of powers doctrine, whereby the federal government is divided into three branches (legislative, executive and judicial), was completed and signed today by a majority of delegates (39) attending the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia. Continue reading United States Constitution completed and signed 230 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Sep 17 1787)

Congress establishes governing rules for Northwest Territory 230 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Jul 13 1787)


Video: 'Northwest Ordinance of 1787'

(Friday, July 13, 1787) — The Congress of the Confederation today adopted the Northwest Ordinance, which established a government in the Northwest Territory, an area corresponding to the eastern half of the present-day Midwest. Continue reading Congress establishes governing rules for Northwest Territory 230 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Jul 13 1787)

U.S. Vice President William R. King born 230 years ago today (Apr 7 1786)


Video: ‘William R. King Top # 5 Facts’

(Friday, April 7, 1786)William R. King, the 13th Vice President of the United States, was born today in Sampson County, North Carolina.

The future U.S. Senator from Alabama would briefly serve as vice president under President Franklin Pierce, a Democrat, from March 4, 1853 until his death of tuberculosis only 45 days later.

Ben Franklin states preference for the turkey as national bird 230 years ago today (Jan 26 1784)

(Monday, January 26, 1784) — In a letter to his daughter Sarah (also called “Sally”), Benjamin Franklin today expressed unhappiness over the choice of the bald eagle as the symbol of America, and stated his own preference: the turkey, calling it “a much more respectable Bird, and withal a true original Native of America.”