Today In History
5 Fun Facts About February 11 In Massachusetts History
1. On February 11, 1776, the governor of Massachusetts, Thomas Gage, fled from Boston to Halifax, Nova Scotia, as American Patriots surrounded the city. This event marked a turning point in the American Revolution, as it paved the way for the Patriots to take control of Boston and eventually gain...
5 Fun Facts About February 10 In Massachusetts History
1. In 1783, Massachusetts became the first state to abolish slavery with the passage of the Massachusetts Gradual Abolition Act. The law provided that all slaves born after the law's passage in 1783 would be free at the age of 25. 2. In 1868, Massachusetts Republican Senator Charles Sumner introduced...
5 Fun Facts About February 9 In Massachusetts History
1. On February 9, 1773, the British Parliament passed the Tea Act, which was a major cause of the Boston Tea Party. The act made British tea cheaper than smuggled tea from other countries, angering American merchants who saw it as a British attempt to monopolize the tea trade. 2....
5 Fun Facts About February 8 In Massachusetts History
1. On February 8, 1693, the Massachusetts Bay Colony held a day of thanksgiving to celebrate the failure of the Quebec expedition, a failed attempt to conquer New France. This was the first official thanksgiving proclamation in the colonies. 2. February 8, 1910, marked the opening of the Hampden County...
5 Fun Facts About February 7 In Massachusetts History
1. The Salem Witch Trials began on February 7, 1692, when three women were accused of practicing witchcraft in Salem Village, now known as Danvers. This event marked the beginning of a nine-month period of hysteria and panic that resulted in the execution of 20 people. 2. On February 7,...
5 Fun Facts About February 6 In Massachusetts History
1. On February 6, 1778, the United States received military aid from France during the American Revolutionary War. France officially recognized the United States as an independent nation and provided soldiers, ships, and supplies to support the Continental Army. This assistance helped turn the tide of the war in favor...
5 Fun Facts About February 5 In Massachusetts History
1. In 1775, the General Court of Massachusetts approved the establishment of the first Marine Hospital in America, which was located in Boston. This hospital provided medical care to sick and injured seamen, and it was the precursor to the United States Public Health Service Hospital system. 2. On February...
5 Fun Facts About February 4 In Massachusetts History
1. In 1783, the Massachusetts General Court ratified the Treaty of Paris, officially ending the American Revolutionary War. This treaty recognized the United States as an independent and sovereign nation. 2. The Boston Museum of Fine Arts opened its doors on February 4, 1876. The museum's collection includes nearly 500,000...
5 Fun Facts About February 3 In Massachusetts History
1. On February 3, 1783, the Massachusetts General Court officially recognized the independence of Vermont, which had previously been disputed territory between New Hampshire and New York. This decision helped to pave the way for Vermont to become the 14th state in the Union in 1791. 2. February 3, 1959...
5 Fun Facts About February 2 In Massachusetts History
1. Groundhog Day: Every February 2nd, people across the United States celebrate Groundhog Day. In Massachusetts, the most famous celebration occurs in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, but many cities and towns throughout the state also observe the day. According to tradition, if Punxsutawney Phil, the groundhog, sees his shadow on February 2nd,...
5 Fun Facts About February 1 In Massachusetts History
1. On February 1, 1865, Massachusetts passed the first compulsory education law in the United States, which required all children between the ages of 8 and 14 to attend school. 2. February 1, 2004 marked the day that Massachusetts became the first state in the country to allow same-sex couples...
5 Fun Facts About January 31 In Massachusetts History
1. On January 31, 1865, the United States House of Representatives passed the 13th Amendment to the Constitution, abolishing slavery throughout the United States. Massachusetts played a major role in the abolitionist movement, with many of its citizens speaking out against slavery and working to end it. 2. On January...