1776
Congress makes it official: the union is now called the United States
A two-word change in the record books quietly retires "United Colonies" for good.
1850
California enters the Union, skipping territorial status altogether
Fillmore's signature caps a two-year rush from Mexican territory to free state, no in-between step required.
1942
A Japanese submarine surfaces off Cape Blanco and launches a floatplane over Oregon
A fire lookout spots the plane from Mount Emily before its bombs even hit the ground.
1957Member story · 1776 Club
Eisenhower signs the first civil rights law since Reconstruction
The bill survived Strom Thurmond's 24-hour filibuster only after Senate Democrats stripped its strongest voting protections.
1965Member story · 1776 Club
Johnson signs a new cabinet department into being, and names it for the cities
The Department of Housing and Urban Development becomes the federal government's eleventh cabinet agency.
1966Member story · 1776 Club
Johnson signs the first federal auto safety law; Detroit will now answer to Washington
In the Rose Garden, the president compares a weekend of highway deaths to a weekend of combat losses.