United States History On This Date: April 13th

1776 — Continental Congress Moves Toward Independence

On April 13, delegates in the Continental Congress intensified their debates over breaking from Britain. The discussions marked a decisive shift toward the formal push for independence that would culminate in July.

1861 — Fort Sumter Bombarded; Civil War Begins

The second day of Confederate fire on Fort Sumter unfolded in Charleston Harbor. News raced across the country, igniting public reaction in both North and South and marking the undeniable start of the Civil War.

1873 — The Colfax Massacre

In Louisiana, political tensions during Reconstruction erupted into violence as white paramilitary groups attacked Black freedmen defending a courthouse. The massacre became one of the deadliest episodes of Reconstruction and exposed the fragility of federal enforcement in the postwar South.

1976 — The $2 Bill Reintroduced

To commemorate the nation’s bicentennial, the U.S. Treasury reissued the $2 bill featuring Thomas Jefferson. Though never widely circulated, it remains a symbolic nod to the Founding era.

1776 Continental Congress moves toward Independence