United States History On This Date: May 14th

1607 — Jamestown Founded in Virginia

On this day, English settlers established Jamestown, the first permanent English colony in North America. Backed by the Virginia Company, the expedition sought gold and trade routes but found hardship instead—disease, hunger, and uneasy relations with the Powhatan Confederacy. Despite its early struggles, Jamestown became the seed of English America and the foundation of colonial Virginia.

1804 — Lewis and Clark Expedition Departs

From Camp Dubois near St. Louis, Meriwether Lewis and William Clark began their journey westward under President Jefferson’s orders to explore the Louisiana Purchase. Their Corps of Discovery set out to map the Missouri River, establish relations with Native nations, and seek a route to the Pacific. The expedition’s departure marked the opening of America’s continental frontier.

1863 — Battle of Jackson, Mississippi

Union forces under Ulysses S. Grant advanced on Jackson, Mississippi, capturing the city after fierce fighting. The victory severed Confederate supply lines and cleared the way for Grant’s siege of Vicksburg. Jackson’s fall demonstrated the Union’s growing control of the Mississippi corridor and deepened Southern anxiety as the war’s western theater turned decisively against them.

1908 — First Passenger Flight in America

At Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, Wilbur Wright carried mechanic Charles Furnas aloft in a powered airplane—the first passenger flight in American history. Though brief, the flight proved that controlled, sustained flight could safely carry more than one person. The event marked a turning point in aviation, transforming the Wrights’ invention into a practical tool for human travel.

1942 — Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps Established

Congress created the Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC), authorizing women to serve in non‑combat military roles during World War II. Thousands enlisted as clerks, mechanics, and radio operators, freeing men for combat duty. The WAAC’s formation represented a major step toward gender equality in military service and reshaped the wartime workforce across the United States.

The Lewis & Clark expedition used a 55-foot Keelboat, which could be sailed, rowed, poled like a raft, or cordelled (a towline especially used on keelboats).

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