February 1, 1790 - The U.S. Supreme Court held its first session. This took place in New York City. The presiding judge was Chief Justice John Jay.

February 1, 1861 - Overriding the objections of its own governor, Sam Houston, the state of Texas secedes from the Union and its stance on slavery.

February 1, 1862 - "The Battle Hymn of the Republic" is published for the first time in the Atlantic Monthly. It was written by Julia War Howe.

February 1, 1887 - 120 acres of California land is subdivided in preparation for the development called Hollywood.

February 1, 1919 - The founding principles of the League of Nations are agreed upon by the United States, United Kingdom, Italy, and France.

February 1, 1943 - Japanese forces begin evacuating the island of Guadalcanal during World War II. More than 25,000 Japanese and 1,600 Americans were killed during the long fight to control the island.

-----  Thank you for visiting Today in American History from the American Patriot Web!  -----

 

February 1, 1960 - The Woolworth's lunch counter in Greensboro, North Carolina refuses to serve four African-American students. They state a sit-in, which is copied throughout the South in the next several days. In all, more than 1,600 people are arrested.

February 1, 1960 - The Minuteman intercontinental ballistic missile is test fired for the first time by the U.S.

February 1, 1964 - Martin Luther King, Jr. is arrested, along with 700 civil rights demonstrators, during a march in Selma, Alabama.

February 1, 2003 - The U.S. space shuttle Columbia is destroyed in its attempt to reenter the atmosphere. All seven astronauts are killed as the craft disintegrates.

 

"We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools." -