Today in History: 1787 -- The United States Constitution is Signed

In May, 1787, eleven years after the signing of the Declaration of Independence and four years after the end of the American Revolutionary War, a Convention was called to amend the Articles of Confederation, the document that had been the basis for American law and government since America's independence from Britain. After much discussion and debate, by mid-June, the Convention decided that to amend the articles would not be enough. At this time, the goal became to write an entirely new constitution that would establish a new government for the country. The Constitutional Convention was formed. By September 17, the Constitution had been written and signed by the members of the Convention. Although the Convention proposed that only nine out of thirteen states were needed to ratify the Constitution, Benjamin Franklin gave a speech on the day of the signing urging unanimity, saying: "Much of the strength & efficiency of any Government in procuring and securing happiness to the people, depends, on opinion, on the general opinion of the goodness of the Government, as well as of the wisdom and integrity of its Governors. I hope therefore that for our own sakes as a part of the people, and for the sake of posterity, we shall act heartily and unanimously in recommending this Constitution."

Indeed, three years later the constitution was ratified by all thirteen states and a new government was established in the United States that still stands today.

Read more about this great document in Democracy For Beginners.

Today in History: 1901 -- Anarchist Leon Czolgosz shoots President William McKinley

Leon Czolgosz, born on May 5, 1873 in Alpena Michigan, was a recluse throughout his life, disillusioned by what he saw as a cat and mouse relationship between the upper and lower class in the American Capitalist society, and was heavily influenced by socialist and anarchist thinkers such as Emma Goldman and Alexander Berkman. On August 31, 1901, Czolgosz moved to Buffalo, NY where he rented a room near the Pan-American Expo. He went to the expo on September 6th concealing a gun in his pocket and shot the president twice at point blank range. President McKiney died seven days later.

Czolgosz's last words before being executed were "I killed the president because he was an enemy to the good people - the working people."

Czolgoz was never an active participant of any anarchist group and many anarchists found his aggresive and violent behavior to be detrimental to the movement, however, after his execution, Emma Goldman publicized her approval of his actions.

Learn more about Anarchism in our book, Anarchism For Beginners.

Today In HIstory -- 1921: FDR Contracts Polio

On August 10, 1921, a 39 year old FDR fell mysteriously ill while vacationing at Campobello Island, New Brunswick. Roosevelt was not diagnosed with poliomyelitis for another two weeks as symptoms including fever, protracted symmetric ascending paralysis of the upper and lower extremities, facial paralysis, bladder and bowel dysfunction, numbness, and dysesthesia gradually worsened.


Learn more about our 32nd president in our new book, FDR And The New Deal For Beginners, out now.

Today in History: 1995 -- Comet Hale-Bopp is Discovered

On this day, July 23, in 1995, astronomers Alan Hale and Thomas Bopp discovered Comet Hale-Bopp. The comet became visible to the naked eye one year after its discovery, increasing in brightness through late 1996 and into 1997. It is arguably the most widely observed comet of the twentieth century and one of the brightest seen in decades. It was visible to the naked eye for 18 months and came to be known as the Great Comet of 1997.

Read more about comets in Astronomy For Beginners, our graphic non-fiction title that answers many mysteries of the universe in terms that are readable and fun.