Aztec Calendar Stone
Aztec stone calendar was discovered in Mexico City in 1790. The huge stone, weighing almost 25 tons and measuring over eleven feet in diameter, was probably carved around 1479. It was buried soon after the Spanish arrived. The stone demonstrated how the Aztec 52-year calendar cycle worked. Children could also see how to make a simple calendar stone at:
Aztec Calendar Stone.
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
US Census was taken for the first time in 1790. The results of the census are used to make many decisions, including the number of representatives each state receives. Children can visit a great website at: http://www.census.gov.
First United States patent law was formalized in 1790. Last year alone the United States Patent Office issued almost 187,000 patents. Children could visit the very interesting Patent Office website at: http://www.uspto.gov/kids/.
Rhode Island Flag
Rhode Island became the thirteenth state in the United States by ratifying the Constitution in 1790. Its name relates back to the island of Rhodes. It was the last of the original thirteen colonies to join the Union. The smallest of all the states, it manufactures jewelry, silver and textiles. Providence is the state capital, and the state nicknames are the Ocean State and Little Rhody. Children could visit an Internet site at: Rhode Island.
Copyright Law was established in 1790. Children could learn more at: http://www.copyrightkids.org/.
District of Columbia Flag
District of Columbia was formed in 1790 when President Washington authorized the construction of a new capital. The United States government continued to work from Philadelphia until 1800. Idea: Children could find out how the land was acquired for the District of Columbia. They could learn more at: District of Columbia.
First US Patent
First United States patent was approved in 1790. Inventor Samuel Hopkins received patent X000001 for his potash process. The patent office had not even been created yet, so President George Washington, Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson, and Attorney General Edmund Randolph signed the document.
Census was taken in the United States for the first time in 1790. Idea: Children could take a mock census in their classrooms. Children could also learn more at: https://www.census.gov/schools/.
Coast Guard was founded in 1790. Currently over 43,000 people serve in the Coast Guard.