841
War & Conflict
Battle of Fontenoy
The Battle of Fontenoy pitted the sons of Louis the Pious against each other for control of the Carolingian Empire. The bloody battle led to the Treaty of Verdun dividing the empire.
On This Day in History
1788
Politics
Virginia Ratifies the Constitution
Virginia became the tenth state to ratify the U.S. Constitution, a crucial addition given the state's size and influence. James Madison led the ratification effort.
1876
War & Conflict
Battle of Little Bighorn
Lieutenant Colonel George Armstrong Custer and over 200 soldiers of the 7th Cavalry were killed by Lakota Sioux and Cheyenne warriors. 'Custer's Last Stand' became the most famous battle of the Indian Wars.
1903
Science
Marie Curie Presents Doctoral Thesis
Marie Curie presented her doctoral thesis on radioactive substances at the Sorbonne. She was the first woman to receive a doctorate in France and would win two Nobel Prizes.
1950
War & Conflict
Korean War Begins
North Korean forces invaded South Korea, beginning the Korean War. The conflict would involve the United States, China, and other nations and last three years.
1962
Civil Rights
Supreme Court Bans Official School Prayer
The Supreme Court ruled in Engel v. Vitale that government-directed prayer in public schools violated the First Amendment. The decision remains one of the most controversial in Court history.
2022
Civil Rights
Dobbs Decision Overturns Roe v. Wade
The Supreme Court's Dobbs v. Jackson decision overturned Roe v. Wade, ending nearly 50 years of federal abortion rights protection. The decision returned abortion regulation to individual states.