Today In History
In 1776: The second Continental Congress made the term “United States” official, replacing “United Colonies.”
In 1859: California became the 31st state of the union.
In 1943: Allied forces landed at Salerno and Taranto during World War II.
In 1948: The People’s Democratic Republic of Korea (North Korea) was created.
In 1956: Elvis Presley made the first of three appearances on “The Ed Sullivan Show.”
In 1957: President Eisenhower signed into law the first civil rights bill to pass Congress since Reconstruction.
In 1971: Prisoners seized control of the maximum-security Attica Correctional Facility near Buffalo, N.Y., beginning a siege that ended up claiming 43 lives.
In 1993: PLO leaders and Israel agreed to recognize each other, clearing the way for a peace accord.