American History By The Day: May 20th

The Civil War - The Confederacy:  On this day in 1861 the state of North Carolina votes to secede from the Union.

Post Civil War America - Law:  On this day in 1895 Pollock v. Farmers' Loan and Trust Company the Supreme Court finds that the income tax clause of the Wilson-Gorman Tariff Act of August 27th, 1894 is unconstitutional on the grounds that it is a direct tax on only a section of the counrty.  The clause had stipulated an income tax on incomes over $4,000.  Fifteen years earlier the Court had upheld the income tax as constitutional.

Twentieth Century America - International:  On this day in 1902 the United States withdraws its troops from the island of Cuba as its first President is installed.

Twentieth Century America - Aviation:  On this day in 1927 Charles A Lindbergh's gasoline-stuffed Spirit of St. Louis limps off the runway of Roosevelt Field in New York barely clearing the telephone lines.  Inside a sleepy Lindbergh had with him only a few sandwiches, a quart of water, and some letters of introduction that were unnecessary to say the least.  His arrival in Paris 33 1/2 hours later was met by a wave of shouting French citizens who greeted the astonished flier with a delirious enthusiasm that would mark his appearances everywhere for some time.

Source:  The Almanac of American History, Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr.

Charles A. Lindbergh's Spirit of St. Louis at Le Bourget Field moments after landing on May 21st, 1927