Tuesday, December 20, 2016

American History for Dec. 20th

Not much to connect with in the news today, so here is some history.
Happy Dec. 20th!

In 1803 the Louisiana Purchase was completed.
Louisiana: European Explorations and the Louisiana Purchase
“The Louisiana Purchase is a landmark event in American history, one that had a lasting impact not only on the size of the United States, but also on its economic, cultural, and political makeup. Before President Thomas Jefferson's administration purchased the territory in 1803, parts or all of the territory had been under the control of various Native American nations.  From the 16th century onwards the Spanish and later the French controlled the territory.”
In 1941 The Flying Tigers engaged in their First Battle.
Image of a crew working on Flying Tiger plane from the Library of Congress 

Flying Tigers of WWII
“The Flying Tigers were officially called the American Volunteer Group, and were known for their planes with iconic shark faces on them.  They were equipped and recruited in the spring and summer of 1941, with the express purposed of aiding the Chinese in theater against the Japanese. The group trained at a Royal Air Force airfield in Burma that fall, but it was not until after the Pearl Harbor attack on 07 December 1941 that the group went into combat.  They were led by Lieutenant General Claire Lee Chennault (September 6, 1893 – July 27, 1958).”

Image of Jimmy Stewart from Madame Tussaud’s Wax Museum in Hollywood CA, from the Library of Congress

In 1946 It’s A Wonderful Life was released in New York. The film was added to the National Film Registry in 1990.


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