Events
- 1846 – Mexican–American War: The United States declares war on Mexico.
- 1861 – American Civil War: Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom issues a "proclamation of neutrality" which recognizes the breakaway states as having belligerent rights.
- 1864 – American Civil War: Battle of Resaca – the battle begins with Union General Sherman fighting toward Atlanta.
- 1865 – American Civil War: Battle of Palmito Ranch – In far south Texas, more than a month after Confederate General Lee's surrender, the last land battle of the Civil War ends with a Confederate victory.
- 1880 – In Menlo Park, New Jersey, Thomas Edison performs the first test of his electric railway.
- 1939 – The first commercial FM radio station in the United States is launched in Bloomfield, Connecticut. The station later became WDRC-FM.
- 1958 – During a visit to Caracas, Venezuela, Vice President Richard M. Nixon's car is attacked by anti-American demonstrators.
- 1958 – Velcro's trade mark is registered.
- 1960 – Hundreds of UC Berkeley students congregate for the first day of protest against a visit by the House Un-American Activities Committee. 31 students are arrested, and the Free Speech Movement is born.
- 1980 – An F3 tornado hits Kalamazoo County, Michigan. President Jimmy Carter declares it a federal disaster area.
- 1985 – Philadelphia police storm MOVE headquarters to end a stand-off, killing 11 MOVE members and destroying the homes of 250 city residents.