United States History On This Date: May 2nd

1670 — Hudson’s Bay Company Receives Its Royal Charter

King Charles II grants the Hudson’s Bay Company its sweeping charter, giving it control over the immense northern interior known as “Rupert’s Land.” The company quickly becomes a dominant commercial and political force, shaping trade networks, diplomacy, and territorial claims. Its presence influences Indigenous alliances, fur‑trade competition, and the long-term development of the northern frontier.

1803 — News of the Louisiana Purchase Reaches Washington

American officials in Washington receive confirmation that the United States has secured the Louisiana Territory from France, doubling the nation’s size. Though the treaty will not be formally announced for weeks, the news signals a dramatic shift in national destiny. It sparks immediate debate over constitutional authority, western settlement, and the future balance between free and slaveholding states.

1863 — Battle of Chancellorsville Intensifies in Virginia

On the second day of the Battle of Chancellorsville, Confederate General Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson launches his daring flank attack against the Union XI Corps, routing the surprised Federals. The maneuver becomes one of the most celebrated in American military history. Yet the triumph is shadowed by tragedy, as Jackson is accidentally shot by his own men later that night.

1933 — FDR Creates the Federal Emergency Relief Administration (FERA) President Franklin D. Roosevelt establishes FERA to deliver direct aid to millions of unemployed Americans during the darkest years of the Great Depression. It becomes the first major federal relief program in U.S. history, distributing funds to states for food, clothing, and work projects. The agency marks a turning point in the government’s responsibility for economic welfare.

1863 Battle Of Chancellorsville By Kurz is a painting by Vintage Images