On This Day in History

13 May

On May 13, 1846, the U.S. Congress overwhelmingly votes in favor of President James K. Polk’s request to declare war on Mexico in a dispute over Texas.

Under the threat of war, the United States had refrained from annexing Texas after the latter won independence from Mexico in 1836. But in 1844, President John Tyler restarted negotiations with the Republic of Texas, culminating with a Treaty of Annexation. The treaty was defeated by a wide margin in the Senate because it would upset the slave state/free state balance between North and South and risked war with Mexico, which had broken off relations with the United States. But shortly before leaving office and with the support of President-elect Polk, Tyler managed to get the joint resolution passed on March 1, 1845. Texas was admitted to the Union on December 29.

While Mexico didn’t follow through with its threat to declare war, relations between the two nations remained tense over border disputes, and in July 1845, President Polk ordered troops into disputed lands that lay between the Neuces and Rio Grande rivers. In November, Polk sent the diplomat John Slidell to Mexico to seek boundary adjustments in return for the U.S. government’s settlement of the claims of U.S. citizens against Mexico and also to make an offer to purchase California and New Mexico. After the mission failed, the U.S. army under Gen. Zachary Taylor advanced to the mouth of the Rio Grande, the river that the state of Texas claimed as its southern boundary.

Mexico, claiming that the boundary was the Nueces River to the northeast of the Rio Grande, considered the advance of Taylor’s army an act of aggression and in April 1846 sent troops across the Rio Grande. Polk, in turn, declared the Mexican advance to be an invasion of U.S. soil, and on May 11, 1846, asked Congress to declare war on Mexico, which it did two days later.

After nearly two years of fighting, peace was established by the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, signed on February 2, 1848. The Rio Grande was made the southern boundary of Texas, and California and New Mexico were ceded to the United States. In return, the United States paid Mexico the sum of $15 million and agreed to settle all claims of U.S. citizens against Mexico.

1637
According to tradition, France's Cardinal Richelieu invented the table knife; he reportedly had the tips rounded to stop dinner companions from using knives to pick their teeth.

1871
With the Law of Guarantees, the Italian government attempted to settle the question of its relationship with the pope, who had been deprived of his lands in the process of Italian national unification.

1917
Three children—Lucia dos Santos and her cousins Francisco and Jacinta Marto—reported seeing the Virgin Mary near Fátima, Portugal.

1940
British politician Winston Churchill faced the House of Commons for the first time as prime minister and told the members that “I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears and sweat.”

1941
American singer and songwriter Ritchie Valens, who was the first Latino rock and roller, was born in Pacoima, California.

1950
American musician Stevie Wonder, a child prodigy who developed into one of the most creative musical figures of the late 20th century, was born in Saginaw, Michigan.

1960
A Swiss expedition led by Max Eiselin reached the summit of Dhaulagiri in the Himalayas.

1981
Pope John Paul II survived an assassination attempt in St. Peter's Square, Vatican City, in which he was shot and seriously wounded by Mehmet Ali Agca, a Turkish national.

2019
American singer and actress Doris Day—whose performances in movie musicals of the 1950s and sex comedies of the early 1960s made her a leading Hollywood star—died at age 93.

upset balance: no longer had a 66% majority.......LOL!!!!!! fucking control freaks!!!!!

1917. Frito Lay was first introduced in portugal

may 13, 1865. last battle of the civil war halts at Palmito Ranch Cameron County TEXAS

14 May

1607
The first permanent British settlement in North America was founded at Jamestown, Virginia.

1771
Robert Owen, a manufacturer-turned-reformer who was one of the most-influential utopian socialists of the early 19th century, was born in Newtown, Wales.

1796
Edward Jenner administered the first vaccination against smallpox.

1804
Meriwether Lewis and William Clark embarked from the American Midwest on their famous expedition to the Pacific coast of North America.

1948
Declaration of Israel's statehood
On this day in 1948—just before the expiry of the British mandate in Palestine—David Ben-Gurion and the Jewish People's Council proclaimed the establishment of the State of Israel, precipitating the first Arab-Israeli war.

1973
Skylab, the first U.S. space station, was launched.

1998
American singer and actor Frank Sinatra—who, through a long career and a very public personal life, became one of the most sought-after performers in the entertainment industry—died in Los Angeles

1998
The last episode of the television situation comedy Seinfeld aired; ostensibly a show about nothing, it was a landmark of American popular culture.

2015
American guitarist and singer B.B. King, who was a principal figure in the development of blues and from whose style leading popular musicians drew inspiration, died in Las Vegas.

we on breaks for weekends here? dont tell me i cant be lazy and not look things up for myself anymore.

1864, NewMarket VA. cadets hold the CSA line.

birthday, 1824. Edmund Kirby Smith

15 May

1718
The world's first machine gun is patented
British lawyer, James Puckle, invented the 25.4 mm caliber “Puckle Gun” for the use on ships. It was designed for two bullet types: round bullets for Christians and (more damaging) square bullets for Turks.

1928
The first Mickey Mouse film is screened
The 6-minute film “Plane Crazy” directed by Walt Disney shows Mickey trying to fly an airplane in reference to Charles Lindbergh. Today, Mickey Mouse is one of the world's most recognized cartoon characters and the official mascot of the Walt Disney Company.

1930
The first airline stewardess goes on duty
Ellen Church and her team served snacks on a United Airlines flight from Oakland to Chicago. The flight attendants were also responsible for refueling the aircraft, handling luggage, and checking tickets.

1940
The first McDonald's fast food restaurant opens
Maurice “Mac” and Richard “Dick” McDonald opened McDonald's Bar-B-Q in San Bernardino. Today, McDonald's is the world's largest fast food chain.

1948
Egypt, Syria, Transjordan and Iraq invade Israel
The First Arab-Israeli War was initiated by Israel's proclamation of independence on the day before the invasion. It lasted nearly 10 months and caused thousands of casualties on both sides.