1803
Louisiana Purchase Completed
The United States formally took possession of the Louisiana Territory from France, effectively doubling the size of the young nation. The $15 million purchase was finalized in New Orleans.
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All Events
1860
South Carolina Secedes from the Union
South Carolina became the first state to secede from the United States following the election of Abraham Lincoln. This act was a direct catalyst for the American Civil War.
1951
First Electricity from Nuclear Power
The Experimental Breeder Reactor I (EBR-I) in Idaho became the world's first nuclear power plant to generate usable electricity, lighting four light bulbs. It demonstrated the peaceful potential of atomic energy.
1995
NATO Begins Peacekeeping in Bosnia
NATO launched its Implementation Force (IFOR) to enforce the Dayton Peace Accords, marking the alliance's first major ground operation. This ended the Bosnian War and began a long-term stabilization mission.
2007
Queen Elizabeth II Becomes Longest-Reigning British Monarch
Queen Elizabeth II surpassed Queen Victoria to become the oldest reigning monarch in British history. She achieved this milestone at the age of 81.