What Comes Second, Third (and so on) on the 4th?
As you prepare for America's 235th birthday, let's take a quick look at some other significant events that occurred in the USA on the same day.
Assuming the founding of the nation trumps others in terms of historic significance, how would you rank the following?
Think: their importance in shaping the nation; their iconic presence.
July 4, 1803 -- the Louisiana Purchase is announced
July 4, 1826 -- Thomas Jefferson and John Adams, RIP
July 4, 1863 -- Lee retreats west from Gettysburg; Vicksburg surrenders to Grant after a 47-day siege
July 4, 1910 -- Jack Johnson ko's James J. Jeffries, aka "The Great White Hope", in "The Fight of the Century" . . . race riots ensue nationwide
July 4, 1939 -- Lou Gehrig tells a Yankees Stadium crowd he's "the luckiest man on the face of the earth""
July 4, 1966 -- LBJ signs the FOIA law
July 4, 1997 -- NASA's Pathfinder probe lands on Mars
July 4, 2004 -- The Freedom Tower's cornerstone is laid
- Comment (5)
- · Quote
- · UnfollowFollow (0)
Comments :
Dec '10
Re: What Comes Second, Third (and so on) on the 4th?
In descending order of importance: 1803, 1863, 1939, 1910, 1826, 1997, 1966, 2004.
Jun '10
Re: What Comes Second, Third (and so on) on the 4th?
For me, it was the almost simultaneous death of the old rivals (and later loyal correspondents) Adams and Jefferson.
Apr '11
Re: What Comes Second, Third (and so on) on the 4th?
4 July 1976--National Air & Space Museum opens.
And were those 1910 race riots Whites attacking Black neighborhoods?
Re: What Comes Second, Third (and so on) on the 4th?
Some insight into the post-fight rioting, from newspaper accounts at the time . . .
Dec '10
Re: What Comes Second, Third (and so on) on the 4th?
Would disagree slightly with Stuart - 1863 is definitely 2nd behind 1776. It was the tipping point of the CW, the point at which it became inevitable that the country would stay together.