Facts and trivia from American History
The Service Flag, also called the Blue Star Flag is an official banner authorized by the Department of Defense for display by families who have members serving in the Armed Forces during any period of war or hostilities the United States may be engaged in for the duration of such hostilities.
On February 12, 1999 the United States Senate fails to pass two articles of impeachment against President Bill Clinton. He was accused of perjury and obstruction of justice by the House of Representatives.
On February 5, 1917, Congress passed the Immigration Act, which restricted Asian immigration, over President Wilson’s veto.
On February 4, 1789, George Washington became the first and only president to be unanimously elected by the Electoral College. He repeated this remarkable feat four year later in 1792.
On February 3, 1950, Klaus Fuchs was arrested in Great Britain for passing atomic bomb information to the Soviet Union. The arrest of Klaus Fuchs led authorities to later arrest Julius and Ethel Rosenberg.
February 2, 1887 was the first gathering at Gobbler’s Knob in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania to wait for the groundhog’s shadow. According to tradition, if the groundhog comes out of its hole on this day and sees its shadow, there will be six more weeks of winter; no shadow means an early spring.
On January 29, 1777, Major General William Heath and his army of 6,000 abandon their siege on Fort Independence.
The siege was stopped by a surprise British counterassault and bitter cold weather.
On January 28, 1986, the space shuttle Challenger explodes during takeoff.
On January 27, 1825, Congress approves Indian Territory, clearing the way for forced relocation of the Eastern Indians. The FORCED relocation would later be known as the Trail of Tears.
On January 26, 1861, Louisiana seceded from the Union with a vote of 113 to 17.
