15 Star Flag
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Flown from May 1, 1795 - April 3, 1818
The Fifteen Star Flag became official on May 31st, 1795. It was authorized by the Flag Act of January 13, 1794, adding 2 stripes and 2 Stars. This flag was the only U.S. Flag to have more than 13 stripes. Two stars were added for the admission of Vermont (the 14th State on March 4th, 1791) and Kentucky (the 15th State on June 1st, 1792, and was to last for 23 years.
Politics and Government
The Treaty of Greenville is signed between the United States and Native American tribes, ending the Northwest Indian War (1795).
June 1, 1796: Tennessee is admitted as the 16th state of the United States.
June 25, 1798: The U.S. Congress passes the Alien and Sedition Acts.
March 4, 1801: Thomas Jefferson is inaugurated as the third President of the United States.
March 3, 1803: Ohio becomes the 17th state to join the Union.
The United States acquires the Louisiana Territory from France in the Louisiana Purchase (1803).
The Embargo Act is enacted, prohibiting American ships from trading with foreign nations, leading to economic challenges (1807).
June 30, 1804: The Twelfth Amendment to the United States Constitution is ratified, changing the procedure for electing the president and vice president.
June 22, 1807: The Chesapeake-Leopard Affair escalates tensions between the United States and Great Britain.
January 1, 1808: The U.S. Congress bans the importation of slaves, although domestic slavery continues.
The War of 1812 begins between the United States and Great Britain, resulting in conflicts and the burning of the White House (1812-1815)
The first Seminole War begins as U.S. forces clash with Seminole warriors in Florida (1817-1818).
April 3, 1818: The Illinois Territory is created, paving the way for Illinois to become a state.
Education
May 7, 1800: President John Adams approves the use of the Library of Congress by the public.
The United States Military Academy at West Point is founded, training officers for the U.S. Army (1802)
January 25, 1819: Thomas Jefferson founds the University of Virginia in Charlottesville.
Science, Technology and Medicine
May 14, 1804: The Lewis and Clark Expedition set out to explore the western territories of the United States.
October 26, 1805: The Lewis and Clark Expedition arrived back in St. Louis after their exploration of the western territories.
Thomas Jefferson's "polygraph," a copying machine, is patented (1806)
Robert Fulton launches the first commercially successful steamboat, the Clermont, on the Hudson River (1807)
Dr. Ephraim McDowell performs the first successful ovariotomy, a pioneering surgery in reproductive health (1809).
The Boston Female Medical Society is founded, advocating for medical education and professional opportunities for women (1816).
Dr. Benjamin Rush publishes "A Treatise on the Medical Jurisprudence of Insanity," advancing the understanding of mental health and legal implications (1817).
Arts, Culture and Literature
The first circus in the United States, Ricketts' Circus, opens in Philadelphia, setting the stage for a popular entertainment industry (1793).
The Transylvania University library fire destroys a significant collection of early American writings and artifacts (1803).
Edgar Allan Poe is born, later becoming a significant figure in American literature with his macabre and Gothic works (1809).
The American Colonization Society is founded, advocating for the colonization of free African Americans in Africa (1816).
November 10, 1818: Abigail Adams, former First Lady, passes away.
March 6, 1817: The New York Stock Exchange is founded on Wall Street.
Washington Irving publishes "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" and "Rip Van Winkle," becoming a prominent figure in American literature (1819)
Sports
International Events
Napoleon Bonaparte crowns himself Emperor of the French, consolidating his power and influence (1804).
The Argentine War of Independence begins against Spanish colonial rule (1810).
May 22, 1813: Richard Wagner, the German composer, is born.
The Congress of Vienna convenes to reshape European political boundaries after the Napoleonic Wars (1814-1815).
The Battle of Waterloo marks the final defeat of Napoleon Bonaparte, leading to his exile (1815).
Simón Bolívar leads the struggle for independence in South America, contributing to the liberation of multiple countries (early 1800s).
The Treaty of Ghent ends the War of 1812 between the United States and Great Britain (1814).
The Battle of Trafalgar takes place, securing British naval supremacy during the Napoleonic Wars (1805).
The United Kingdom and the United States sign the Rush-Bagot Treaty, limiting naval armament on the Great Lakes (1817).
The Spanish American wars of independence lead to the establishment of multiple independent nations in Latin America (early 1800s).