Jeffries and Blanchard
Dr. John Jeffries and Jean-Pierre Blanchard made the first balloon flight across the English Channel in 1785. Jeffries, an American physician and meteorologist, and Blanchard, a French aviation inventor, flew from Dover, England, to Calais, France. They almost dropped into the English Channel and had to jettison almost everything to keep themselves in the air. Legend indicates that Blanchard even threw his trousers overboard!
Presidential elections occurred in the United States for the first time in 1789. Basically George Washington ran unopposed. He received 69 electoral votes. John Adams won 34 electoral votes. Therefore, according to the Constitution at that time, Washington became president, and Adams became vice president. Children can check out an absolutely amazing website and see ANY presidential election result at: http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/.
Fountain Pen Patent
Fountain pen improvement was patented by William B. Purvis in 1890. His improvement, patent number 419,065, provided an ink reservoir inside the pen so that writers did not have to carry a bottle of ink around. Children can check out his design at: William B. Purvis.
George Washington
George Washington gave the first State of the Union message in 1790. The Constitution requires that the president “shall from time to time give to the Congress information of the state of the union, and recommend to their consideration such measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient.” Washington chose to deliver this message via a speech. So did John Adams. However, from Jefferson to Taft the messages were reports, often lengthy and detailed, delivered to Congress. Washington’s State of the Union message suggested that the military be strengthened and that a standard set of weights and measures be developed. Children can read his message, and find all the other State of the Union messages, at an amazing website: http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=29431
Amendment Eleven to the Constitution was adopted in 1798. States could not be sued by people from another state or by other countries.
Battle of New Orleans
Battle of New Orleans took place in 1815. Great Britain and the United States were still fighting in the War of 1812. The battle began around December 12, 1814. The British wanted to seize New Orleans and control the Mississippi River region. Of course, the Americans wanted to retain ownership of the city and the river. General Andrew Jackson’s American troops crushed the British. However, both sides later found out that a peace treaty had been signed two weeks prior to the battle. Andrew Jackson became a real hero! Older children can read copies of original documents at: Archives. Children can also view the America’s Library site and listen to a rendition of “Eighth of January” at: Battle of New Orleans. Here is an interesting note about history. This battle was so popular in the United States, and Andrew Jackson became so popular in the United States, that January 8th was actually a national holiday as important as July 4th until around 1845!
Herman Hollerith’s 1890 Tabulating Machine
Herman Hollerith patented his tabulating machine in 1889. This machine, instrumental in calculating census data, was a precursor to today’s computers. Children can view his patent at: http://www.google.com/patents/US395782. Idea: Children could make a timeline of inventions important to the development of the computer.
Connecticut State Flag
Connecticut became the fifth state in the United States by ratifying the Constitution in 1788. The state’s name means, “beside the long tidal river.” Connecticut is forty-eighth in size, but it is the twenty-ninth most populous state. Hartford is the state capital, but Bridgeport is the state’s largest city. Children could visit an Internet site at: Connecticut. Idea: The state’s song is Yankee Doodle. Children could play the song on kazoos.
Jean Pierre Blanchard made the first balloon flight in the United States in 1793. President George Washington and other officials watched the 46 minute flight, staged in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He landed in New Jersey. Children can read an extensive article on the flight at: Blanchard. Children could also read The First Air Voyage in the United States: The Story of Jean-Pierre Blanchard by Alexandra Wallner.
Fisk School
Fisk School opened in 1866. The school’s population was comprised of African Americans because at the time most of them were being denied access to education. General Clinton B. Fisk provided the building in Nashville, Tennessee. The first students ranged in age from 7 to 70. Fisk School became Fisk University in 1867. Children can learn more at: Fisk School.