September 19th

On this day – September 19th 1692 –Giles Corey tortured to death in the Salem Witch Trials

The Salem witch trials was a series of prosecutions and executions for Witchery around the Salem are in Massachusetts, US. A total of 20 people were executed, and one of those was Giles Corey. He was accused together with his wife for witchcraft, which he testified against an allegedly accused of witchery. In his own trial refused Corey to plead guilty or not guilty. To get him to plead was he laid under an increasing load of heavy rocks, known as Peine forte et dure. He died of this torture on the 19th of September 1962 after surviving two days of this torture.

September 17th

On this day -17th of September 1787 – The American constitution was signed 

The American constitution was signed in Philadelphia in 1787 and ratified the year after. The drafting of the constitution had begun in May the same year. Several months was spent on discussion the issues and by the end was none of the delegates happy with the whole constitution. The final draft was presented to the delegates on September 12th and the final meeting, with the signing of the constitution was held on September 17th. The constitution has sine been amended several times. Well-known amendments includes abolition of slavery and extensions of voting rights. The American constitution is both the shortest and the oldest constitution still in use. “We the people” is possible also the best-known fraise of any constitution.

A copy of the original constitution can be found at http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/constitution_zoom_1.html

September 16th

On this day – 16th of September 1920 –The Wall Street bombing happened

Terrorism is not a new phenomenon and on September 16th in 1920 was Wall Street an offer for an attack. A bomb went off outside Wall Street, killing 38 people. Another 140 people were injured in the attack, making it the deadliest terrorist attack up to that point. No one was charged for the attack, but Italian anarchist or communists was thought to be the most likely suspect at the time.

September 8th

On this day - 8th of September 1974 -Richard Nixon  was pardoned for his involvement in the Watergate scandal

The Watergate scandal was a political scandal where the administration of president Nixon was caught surveilling offices of political opponents.  The Nixon administration then tried to cover up both what was done and their involvement. When the scandal was uncovered it caused major problems and Nixon was nearly impeached. In the face of impeachment Nixon resigned as the president of the US on August 9th 1974. After the new administration came to office Gerald Ford, the new president, pardoned Richard Nixon on September 8th. The scandal is named after the Watergate complex in which the scandal was uncovered. Watergate has since become a synonym with political scandals.

September 4th

On this day – 4th of September 1781 - The city of Los Angeles was founded

Los Angeles was first founded as “El Pueblo de Nuestra Señora La Reina de los Ángeles de Porciúncula” by a group of 44 Spanish settlers in 1781. The name means "The Town of Our Lady the Queen of the Angels of the Porciúncula River" in English. The area continued to be relatively small Spanish city for the years followin this Spanish settlement and in 1820 was the population only around 650 people. New Spain becme independent from the Spanish empire in 1821 and the city became a part of Mexico. It was not until 1847 that it became a part of the US. The city is today today the second largest in the US and it is known for its Hollywood sign, its movie industry and "th walk of fame". 

August 26th

On this day - August 26th  1920 - women in the US was given the right to vote

The 19th amendment to the US constitution was on this day, the 26th of August in 1920 turned effective. From this day on the women had - after years of suffrage fights -finally gained the right to vote. The right to vote was given on a general basis and in all elections. It was not until 1928 that the women in UK gained the same. The American constitution is still being used to day, and it is therefore the oldest constitution that is still in use today.