On this day in American historyMay
31 dates, 247 cited events. Every entry links to the day’s full story.
- 1May
The Battle of Chancellorsville between Robert E. Lee's…
8 moments from the American record, 1863 to 2003 · 5 births · 2 observances. The 122nd day of the year.
Wolphert Gerretse, b. 1579★ International Workers' Day or Labour Day
- 2May
Stonewall Jackson is wounded by friendly fire while returning to…
8 moments from the American record, 1670 to 2012 · 5 births. The 123rd day of the year.
Elias Boudinot, b. 1740
- 3May
The United States Senate Committee on Armed Services and United…
8 moments from the American record, 1802 to 2001 · 5 births. The 124th day of the year.
Jacob Riis, b. 1849
- 4May
The Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations became the…
8 moments from the American record, 1776 to 1989 · 5 births · 2 observances. The 125th day of the year.
John Brooks, b. 1752★ Bird Day
- 5May
The Confederate government is declared dissolved at Washington
8 moments from the American record, 1864 to 1994 · 5 births · 2 observances. The 126th day of the year.
John Batterson Stetson, b. 1830★ Cinco de Mayo
- 6May
U.S. president Chester A. Arthur signed the Chinese Exclusion Act…
8 moments from the American record, 1861 to 2013 · 5 births. The 127th day of the year.
Joseph Brackett, b. 1797
- 7May
Michigan ratifies a 203-year-old proposed amendment to the United…
8 moments from the American record, 1840 to 2025 · 5 births. The 128th day of the year.
Stephanus Van Cortlandt, b. 1643
- 8May
U.S. President Richard Nixon announces his order to place naval…
8 moments from the American record, 1942 to 2025 · 5 births. The 129th day of the year.
Edward Tompkins, b. 1815
- 9May
Watergate scandal
8 moments from the American record, 1865 to 2022 · 5 births · 2 observances. The 130th day of the year.
John Brown, b. 1800★ Commemoration of the end of the German occupation of the Channel Islands related observances:
- 10May
Delegates from the Thirteen Colonies met in Philadelphia
8 moments from the American record, 1773 to 2013 · 5 births. The 131st day of the year.
Robert Gray, b. 1755
- 11May
Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota…
8 moments from the American record, 1858 to 2022 · 5 births. The 132nd day of the year.
Chang and Eng Bunker, b. 1811
- 12May
In the largest defeat of the Continental Army
8 moments from the American record, 1780 to 2015 · 5 births. The 133rd day of the year.
Henry Cabot Lodge, b. 1850
- 13May
During a visit to Caracas, Venezuela, the US Vice President…
8 moments from the American record, 1780 to 2013 · 5 births. The 134th day of the year.
Zebulon Baird Vance, b. 1830
- 14May
The 6th United States Congress recesses
8 moments from the American record, 1800 to 2010 · 5 births. The 135th day of the year.
Timothy Dwight IV, b. 1752
- 15May
A small Confederate force, which included cadets from the…
8 moments from the American record, 1864 to 2008 · 5 births · 2 observances. The 136th day of the year.
René Goupil, b. 1608★ International Day of Families
- 16May
Continental Army officer Lachlan McIntosh fatally wounds Button…
8 moments from the American record, 1771 to 1991 · 5 births · 1 observance. The 137th day of the year.
William H. Seward, b. 1801★ National Day, declared by Salva Kiir Mayardit
- 17May
The United States Supreme Court hands down a unanimous decision…
8 moments from the American record, 1863 to 2004 · 5 births · 1 observance. The 138th day of the year.
Seth Warner, b. 1743★ International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia
- 18May
U.S. president Franklin D. Roosevelt signed an act establishing…
8 moments from the American record, 1860 to 2019 · 5 births · 1 observance. The 139th day of the year.
Mathew Brady, b. 1822★ National Speech Pathologist Day
- 19May
Mexico ratifies the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
8 moments from the American record, 1776 to 1986 · 5 births · 3 observances. The 140th day of the year.
Johns Hopkins, b. 1795★ Malcolm X Day
- 20May
U.S. President Abraham Lincoln signs the Homestead Act into law
8 moments from the American record, 1775 to 2013 · 5 births · 1 observance. The 141st day of the year.
Simon Fraser, b. 1776★ National Day
- 21May
The Union Army succeeds in closing off the last escape route from…
8 moments from the American record, 1660 to 2024 · 5 births. The 142nd day of the year.
Alfred Moore, b. 1755
- 22May
President Ulysses S. Grant signs the Amnesty Act into law
8 moments from the American record, 1807 to 2017 · 5 births · 3 observances. The 143rd day of the year.
Worthington Whittredge, b. 1820★ Aromanian National Day
- 23May
Confederate troops under Stonewall Jackson defeated a Union force…
8 moments from the American record, 1788 to 1980 · 5 births · 1 observance. The 144th day of the year.
Margaret Fuller, b. 1810★ Aromanian National Day
- 24May
Samuel Morse sends the message "What hath God wrought" (a…
8 moments from the American record, 1844 to 2022 · 5 births. The 145th day of the year.
Emanuel Leutze, b. 1816
- 25May
U.S. President John F. Kennedy announces
8 moments from the American record, 1782 to 2020 · 5 births · 3 observances. The 146th day of the year.
Samuel Ward, b. 1725★ First National Government / National Day
- 26May
The U.S. Congress passes Public Law 80-557
8 moments from the American record, 1783 to 1998 · 5 births · 1 observance. The 147th day of the year.
Robert W. Chambers, b. 1865★ National Paper Airplane Day
- 27May
The Supreme Court of the United States declares the National…
8 moments from the American record, 1896 to 2016 · 5 births. The 148th day of the year.
Nathaniel Gorham, b. 1738
- 28May
The last steel girder is removed from the original World Trade…
7 moments from the American record, 1754 to 2002 · 5 births. The 149th day of the year.
Edward Livingston, b. 1764
- 29May
Rhode Island becomes the last of North America's original…
8 moments from the American record, 1780 to 2015 · 5 births · 1 observance. The 150th day of the year.
Patrick Henry, b. 1736★ International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers
- 30May
The Lincoln Memorial in Washington
8 moments from the American record, 1806 to 2024 · 5 births. The 151st day of the year.
Grace Andrews, b. 1869
- 31May
The U.S. Supreme Court expands on its Brown v. Board of Education…
8 moments from the American record, 1775 to 2019 · 5 births. The 152nd day of the year.
John Albion Andrew, b. 1818