France Celebrates Fête de la Fédération

 Events
Jul 142025
 

Flag of France

France celebrates Fête de la Fédération, also known as Bastille Day. In 1789 the Bastille fell to the rioting people, marking the beginning of the French Revolution. France is a bit smaller than Texas, and the Mediterranean Sea, the Bay of Biscay, and the English Channel all border the country. Almost 66 million people live in France. Paris is the capital. Idea: Charles Dickens’s A Tale of Two Cities gives great insight into the French Revolution. Children could learn more at: France.

Treasury Department Was Created by Congress in 1789

 Events
Sep 022025
 
Treasury Building in Washington, D.C., with Statue of Alexander Hamilton in Front

Treasury Building in Washington, D.C., with Statue of Alexander Hamilton in Front

Treasury Department was created by Congress in 1789. Alexander Hamilton was the first Secretary of the Treasury. Most historians feel he expertly guided the department through its infancy into a well-established part of the government. The Treasury Department is responsible for:

  • Making currency
  • Collecting taxes, duties, and money owed to the government
  • Paying US government bills
  • Monitoring national banks
  • Publishing reports on state of treasury

Over 100,000 people work in the Treasury Department. Children could visit the department’s website at: Treasury Department. Who is the current secretary of the treasury?

United States Post Office Was Created in 1789

 Events
Sep 222025
 

United States Post Office and the office of Postmaster General were created by Congress in 1789. Today the Post Office employs 700,000 people to deliver 213 billion items per year. It “delivers mail by planes, hovercraft, trains, trucks, cars, boats, ferries, helicopters, subways, bicycles, mules and feet.” It employs about 68,000 veterans, making it one of the largest employers of veterans. Children could find some interesting fun facts about the post office at Post Office.

1940 Rural Postman Delivering Mail along Creeks and Roads near Jackson, Kentucky

1940 Rural Postman Delivering Mail along Creeks and Roads near Jackson, Kentucky

United States Congress Met to Enact Bill of Rights in 1789

 Events
Sep 252025
 

First United States Congress met in 1789. One of their first acts was to start the process to adopt the Bill of Rights. Congress told George Washington to submit copies of the Bill of Rights to all the states so that each state could begin its ratification process. New Jersey on November 20, 1789, became the first state to ratify the document. The Bill of Rights was finally adopted on December 15, 1791, when Virginia ratified the amendment. Older children can find out more at: Bill of Rights.

Washington Created His First Cabinet in 1789

 Events
Sep 262025
 

washington-cabinetGeorge Washington established his first cabinet in 1789.

  • Thomas Jefferson became Secretary of State.
  • John Jay was appointed the first Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.
  • Samuel Osgood was the first Postmaster.
  • Edmund J. Randolph was made Attorney General.
  • Henry Knox had become Secretary of War on September 12, 1789. The position was renamed Secretary of Defense in 1949.

Today the President’s cabinet is comprised of the Vice President and fifteen heads of departments. Children can learn more at: https://www.whitehouse.gov/administration/cabinet.

Happy Birthday, North Carolina!

 Events
Nov 212025
 
Thumbnail for version as of 07:52, 20 January 2012

North Carolina Flag

North Carolina became the twelfth state of the United States by ratifying the Constitution in 1789. Its founders named the state after Charles I. Carolus means Charles in Latin. The state’s nicknames are the Tar Heel State and Old North State. Raleigh is the state capital. The state ranks 28th in size and 9th in population. In colonial times the state raised rice and tobacco. Leading sources of income today are tobacco, textiles, and furniture. The Wright Brothers flew their first airplane in Kittyhawk, North Carolina. Children could learn more at: North Carolina. They could also find out what a tar heel is.

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