This Month in History: Gettysburg, San Juan Hill, Moon Landing, and More

This year marks the 50-year anniversary of the Apollo 11 Expedition. This journey was the first in the history of humanity to land people on the moon. On July 19, President Trump met with Apollo 11 astronauts Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins to commemorate their brave expedition. According to President Trump, the plan is to put Americans back on the moon by 2024. Vice President Pence states that the goal is to establish a permanent moon base. July is the month in which American patriotism culminates. Independence Day, the battle of Gettysburg, and the moon landing are just three of the events that occurred during this month’s past. Let’s take a look at each of these.

July 1, 1898

The Battle of San Juan Hill is fought. Following the sinking of the USS Maine in Havana Harbor, the US declared war on Spain. On July 1, several regiments under the command of Colonel Theodore Roosevelt led an attack on two hills controlled by Spanish forces. Roosevelt’s main regiment, the “Rough Riders,” along with the Buffalo Soldiers, gained recognition at the battles of San Juan Hill and Tea Kettle Hill. The war ended not long after with an American victory. As a result, the Philippines and Guam were ceded to the US.

July 2, 1964

President Lyndon B. Johnson signs the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Though the 13th, 14th, and 15th amendments to the Constitution had guaranteed civil rights to African-Americans, many states still used local laws to discriminate. Following the signing of the 1960 Civil Rights Act by President Eisenhower, states still used local laws to discriminate in public areas. The signing of the 1964 Civil Rights Act formally and officially prohibited segregation in the public and in employment.

July 3, 1863

The Battle of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, comes to an end. Spanning three days, this was the turning point of the Civil War. Until then, Confederate forces in the East had won almost every major battle. With an overwhelming victory at Chancellorsville, Virginia, just two months earlier, General Robert E. Lee decided to advance North. On July 1, the day ended with a minor Confederate victory, though Union troops were reinforced upon the arrival of General John Buford and his cavalry. Union soldiers also managed to take much of the high ground surrounding Gettysburg.

July 2 witnessed one of the most heroic incidents of the war. Under the command of Colonel Joshua Chamberlain, Union troops successfully repelled several waves of a Confederate attack. With ammunition running low, the soldiers made the brave decision to charge, bayonet-first, down Little Round Top. This halted the Confederate advance and won the day for the Union.

On July 3, General Lee ordered Generals Pickett and Pettigrew to attack a Union position, which was fortified behind a rock wall and across an open field. Known as “Pickett’s Charge,” this marked the official end of the battle. Most of the soldiers who participated in the charge were killed, wounded, or captured. Lee made the decision to retreat and the Confederate Army never fully recovered. In just under two years, Lee would surrender to General Grant at Appomattox Courthouse, Virginia, signaling the war’s end.

July 4, 1776 – Independence Day

On July 4, 1776, Continental Congress officially adopts the Declaration of Independence. The previous month, Congress had appointed the Committee of Five to draft the Declaration. This document would announce to the world that the American colonies were severing ties with the British Empire, in order to secure their own future. The Declaration of Independence stated that the natural rights of the colonists were being violated by the crown, and that Americans had a moral right and obligation to seek a better path. Some of the signers of the Declaration would give their lives for their country. Others would lose wives or children. Many of them, however, would play significant roles in both the conflict and our politics. And they would ultimately shape the fabric of the new nation.

July 4, 1872

Calvin Coolidge is born in Plymouth Notch, Vermont. After graduating from Amhurst College in 1895, he became a lawyer not long after. By 1898, he had opened his own law office. Coolidge’s resume was impressive. After working as a lawyer, he served as a Massachusetts state representative from 1907-1908; Mayor of Northampton, MA, from 1910-1911; MA state senator from 1912-1915; President of the MA state senate from 1914-1915; Lt. Governor of MA from 1916-1919; Vice President from 1921-1923; and president from 1923-1929. A member of the Republican Party, Coolidge believed in a very limited federal government. He passed away on January 5, 1933.

July 5, 1852

Frederick Douglass delivers his “What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?” speech. Often mistakenly viewed as an anti-American speech, Douglass used this piece to rally support for abolition. He praised the founding fathers, Declaration of Independence, and Constitution, while asserting that individual liberty for all – regardless of race – was a key component to the American founding. Douglass defended the founders and their principles from Democrats, who insisted that they held a constitutional right to own slaves. Likewise, he defended their reputation from radical abolitionists, who vilified them. Delivered in Rochester, New York, this was one of Douglass’ many famous speeches.

July 5, 1926

President Calvin Coolidge delivers his “Inspiration of the Declaration” speech. Standing in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Coolidge dedicated these words to the 150th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. In the speech, he rejects progressivism, stating that it interferes with humanity’s natural rights by granting the government too much power over the individual. To commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Declaration, a sesquicentennial coin was created, featuring George Washington and Calvin Coolidge.

July 6, 1946

George W. Bush is born in New Haven, Connecticut. After graduating from Yale University in 1968 and Harvard Business School in 1975, he worked in the oil industry. He later co-owned the Texas Rangers baseball team. A member of the Republican Party, Bush served as governor of Texas from 1995-2000, and then as president from 2001-2009. The 2000 Election is often considered to be the closest in US history, as Bush won by only five electoral votes. During his presidency, he faced the attacks of September 11, 2001, and as a result, declared a War on Terrorism. The Iraq War and War in Afghanistan would also begin under his administration. He is one of four surviving former presidents.

July 7, 1981

Sandra Day O’Connor becomes the first female US Supreme Court justice. A member of the Republican Party, she was appointed by President Reagan, and served on the Supreme Court from 1981-2006. O’Connor was born in El Paso, Texas, and she also served as the first female Senate Majority Leader of the Arizona State Senate. In 2009, President Obama awarded her with the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

July 9, 1755

The Braddock Expedition comes to an end. This is often considered to be one of the most disastrous British defeats of the 18th century. Under the command of General Edward Braddock, British troops set out to capture Fort Duquesne from French troops, located within an area that now rests in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. A young George Washington was also present, and this is where he first gained a reputation as a military leader. The expedition was ambushed by French and Native forces near Pittsburgh, leading to the Battle of the Monongahela. Braddock was killed and the expedition resulted in failure.

July 11, 1804

Alexander Hamilton is mortally wounded in a duel with Vice President Aaron Burr. Following a bitter rival between the two, Burr confronted Hamilton over remarks that he had previously written, considering them to be slanderous. Burr challenged Hamilton to a duel, to which he accepted. On July 11, the two crossed the Hudson River into New Jersey. When the duel began, Hamilton purposely fired above Burr’s head, while Burr’s returning shot hit Hamilton. He died the next day, and in 1808, philosopher Jeremy Bentham referred to Burr as “little better than a murderer.”

July 13, 1863

The New York City Draft Riots begin. Following the passing of conscription by Congress, many working-class men in Manhattan grew angry. Consisting mainly of Irish immigrants, the riot eventually turned into a race riot, with Irish workers attacking African-Americans. President Lincoln issued troops from Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, to suppress the mob. Roughly 120 people were killed, and this has been considered one of the worst race riots in US history.

July 16, 1969

Apollo 11 is launched from Kennedy Space Center at Cape Canaveral, Florida. This was the first manned spaceflight to land humans on the moon. Commanded by Neil Armstrong, the world watched as America would go on to lead humanity into the stretches of space. On July 20, the Lunar Module Eagle would land on the moon in the Sea of Tranquility.

July 17, 1945

The Potsdam Conference begins. Held in Germany, the “Big Three” leaders – Harry Truman, Winston Churchill, and Joseph Stalin – met to discuss peace treaties, as well as division of power in Europe and surrender for Japan. The US and USSR would emerge as the two remaining world superpowers. On July 26, the Potsdam Declaration was signed, with Truman, Churchill, and Chiang Kai-shek of China as signatories. The declaration stated that if Japan did not unconditionally surrender, they would be met with total destruction.

July 19, 1848

The Seneca Falls Convention opens in Seneca Falls, New York. Held in the Wesleyan Chapel, this was, in the words of its promoters, “A convention to discuss the social, civil, and religious condition and rights of women.” Organized by Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Quakers from the area, a Declaration of Grievances was written, with Stanton using the Declaration of Independence as a model. Frederick Douglass also attended the convention.

July 20, 1969

The Apollo 11 crew lands on the moon. Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Michael Collins landed the Lunar Module Eagle in the Sea of Tranquility. Just six hours later, Armstrong descended to the surface. A US flag was planted, and Armstrong issued one of history’s most famous phrases: “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.” Though the age of space exploration had begun roughly a decade earlier with the use of satellites, this marked the first moment in history in which a person stepped foot on another celestial body. We greatly thank Armstrong, Aldrin, Collins, and all of our space pioneers.

July 21, 1861

The First Battle of Bull Run is fought. Three months following the start of the Civil War at Fort Sumter, South Carolina, Union and Confederate troops met near Bull Run Creek in Prince William County, Virginia. Thinking the battle would be nothing more than a small skirmish, some politicians decided to bring their wives and view the event from a distance. What resulted was a battle much bloodier than anyone predicted, and it signaled that the war would not be over soon. Resulting in a Confederate victory, this is where General “Stonewall” Jackson earned his namesake.

July 23, 1982

The Twilight Zone Accident occurs in Santa Clarita, California. During filming of the Twilight Zone movie, actor Vic Morrow was portraying a soldier crossing a river while carrying two Vietnamese children and being pursued by two US helicopters. As he crossed the river, one of the helicopters experienced a failed rotor. The helicopter fell onto the three, killing them instantly. The disaster lead to new safety requirements within the film industry.

July 24, 1866

Tennessee becomes the first state to be readmitted to the union during Reconstruction. Beginning as early as 1864, the Reconstruction process began, during which southern states were readmitted into the Union. Tennessee, the first state, was restored after ratifying the 14th Amendment. The final states to rejoin the union did so in 1870. Three constitutional amendments were added during this era of US history: the 13th, which abolished slavery; the 14th, which granted citizenship to freed slaves; and the 15th, which granted citizens of color the right to vote.

July 25, 1759

Fort Niagara is captured by British forces. Located on the banks of the Niagara River in western New York, this fort was constructed by the French in 1678, when it was named Fort Conti. It served as a major French stronghold until its capture. The fort would then remain in British hands until the end of the American Revolution. It was reoccupied by the British in 1813, and remained that way until the Treaty of Ghent. Fort Niagara remains one of the longest-operated forts in the US.

July 27, 1942

The First Battle of El Alamein comes to an end. This marked a turning point for the North African Campaign of World War II, as Allied forces halted the advancement of Erwin Rommel’s troops. As a result, German and Italian forces were repealed from Egypt. Winston Churchill stated, “Before El Alamein, we never had a victory. After El Alamein, we never had a defeat.”

July 27, 1953

The Korean War comes to a stalemate. After three years of conflict, the Korean Armistice Agreement was signed. Though it ended the war’s fighting, it resulted in the establishment of the Demilitarization Zone. South Korea remained a capitalist state, while North Korea was continued under a communist regime. For over 60 years, tension in the Korean Peninsula remained high. In June 2018, President Trump met with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, in what was the first of its kind. In June 2019, Trump made history again, this time as the first US president to step across the DMZ.

July 28, 1914

Austria-Hungary declares war on Serbia, starting World War I. One month following the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria, the largest conflict known to humanity at the time broke out. What followed was chain reaction of nations declaring war, and the empires of the world would soon clash in what was unlike anything seen before. World War I introduced much new technology to the battlefield, the like of which had never been seen before, including machine guns, poisonous gas, zeppelins, and armored vehicles. The US would enter the war in April 1917.

July 29, 1958

President Dwight D. Eisenhower signs the National Aeronautics and Space Act into law, creating NASA. Not long before, the Soviet Union had launched Sputnik 1, the world’s first space satellite. NASA was established with a distinctly civilian orientation, encouraging peaceful applications in space science.

July 30, 1956

President Dwight D. Eisenhower authorizes “In God We Trust” as the national motto. Originally approved by a joint resolution of Congress, this would replace the original US motto, “E Pluribus Unum.” It is also found on the Florida State Seal, and it has been used on money since 1864, when it appeared on the two-cent piece.

July 31, 1991

President George H. W. Bush and Mikhail Gorbachev sign the first Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty. This marked the beginning of signed legal documentation designed to bring a formal end to the Cold War. It was originally drafted by President Reagan on June 29, 1982. START I expired on December 5, 2009, and was followed by a second START, signed by President Obama and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev on April 8, 2010.

Reflections

Several significant events are to be found throughout American history during the month of July. We honor Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, Michael Collins, and all of our space pioneers. Without them, the reaches of space would remain virtually untouched. Because of their bravery, we can look to the future for further manned missions into our solar system. Alongside this, we can thank presidents Eisenhower and Kennedy for making space exploration a part of America’s agenda. We remember the great orations of Frederick Douglass and Calvin Coolidge, and how their patriotism continues to inspire us. Every month is patriotic when you’re an American, but July is when patriotism reaches full culmination. May we never forget our nation’s heritage.