This Day in History

On March 1, 1845, President John Tyler signed a resolution inviting the Republic of Texas to join the United States. The decision ended years of debate, angered Mexico, and soon led to war. Annexation expanded U.S. territory but intensified sectional tensions, helping shape the political conflicts that eventually culminated in the Civil War.

In 1878, Congress overrode President Rutherford B. Hayes’ veto of the Bland–Allison Act, reigniting America’s fierce debate over silver and gold. The law required the Treasury to purchase and mint silver, expanding the money supply and deepening a national struggle over debt, inflation, and economic power.

In 1862, philosopher Ralph Waldo Emerson and Senator Charles Sumner visited President Abraham Lincoln at the White House during the Civil War. Their meeting reflected the growing moral pressure to end slavery. Soon after, Lincoln moved toward the Emancipation Proclamation, marking a turning point where conscience and political leadership helped reshape the nation’s purpose.

On February 27, 1860, Abraham Lincoln spoke at Cooper Union in New York City, transforming himself from a regional politician into a national figure. His carefully reasoned defense of restricting slavery’s expansion impressed Northern audiences, strengthened Republican confidence, and helped propel him toward the presidency at a moment when the nation stood on the brink of division.

In 1815, Europe believed Napoléon was finished. Exiled to Elba, he escaped with a small loyal force and landed in France, marching toward Paris. Instead of resistance, soldiers joined him and towns welcomed him. Without a major battle, he reclaimed the throne, beginning the dramatic “Hundred Days” that shocked the world.