TODAY IN HISTORY

1778

During the American Revolutionary War, the United States won official recognition and military support from France with the signing of a Treaty of Alliance in Paris.

1788

Massachusetts became the sixth state to ratify the U.S. Constitution.

1815

The state of New Jersey issued the first American railroad charter to John Stevens, who proposed a rail link between Trenton and New Brunswick. (The line, however, was never built.)

1862

During the Civil War, Fort Henry in Tennessee fell to Union forces.

1899

A peace treaty between the United States and Spain was ratified by the U.S. Senate.

1911

Ronald Wilson Reagan, the 40th president of the United States, was born in Tampico, Illinois.

1922

Cardinal Archille Ratti was elected pope; he took the name Pius XI.

1933

The 20th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, the socalled “lame duck” amendment, was proclaimed in effect by Secretary of State Henry Stimson.

1993

Tennis Hall of Famer and human rights advocate Arthur Ashe died in New York at age 49.

1998

President Bill Clinton signed a bill changing the name of Washington National Airport to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. Carl Wilson, a founding member of The Beach Boys, died in Los Angeles at age 51.

2000

First lady Hillary Rodham Clinton launched her successful candidacy for the U.S. Senate.

2008

The Bush White House defended the use of the interrogation technique known as waterboarding, saying it was legal — not torture as critics argued — and had saved American lives.

2013

The U.S. Postal Service proposed eliminating Saturday mail delivery, an announcement that immediately drew protests from some lawmakers. At least nine people were killed by a tsunami that smashed into villages in the Solomon Islands, flattening dozens of homes in the South Pacific island chain. Toy maker Hasbro Inc. announced that Monopoly fans had voted online to add a cat token to the board game, replacing the iron.