Portal:United States/Anniversaries/May/May 18
- 1631 – In Dorchester, Massachusetts, John Winthrop takes the oath of office and becomes the first Governor of Massachusetts.
- 1652 – Rhode Island passes the first law in North America making slavery illegal.
- 1869 – The Public Credit Act is passed by Ulysses S. Grant, one of his first actions as President of the United States. The Act endorsed the payment of the national debt after the American Civil War in gold currency instead of greenbacks.
- 1896 – The United States Supreme Court rules in Plessy v. Ferguson that the "separate but equal" doctrine is constitutional.
- 1933 – President Franklin D. Roosevelt signs an act creating the Tennessee Valley Authority.
- 1980 – Mount St. Helens erupts (pictured) in Washington, United States, killing 57 people and causing $3 billion in damage.
On this day for the United States
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Events
- 1631 – In Dorchester, Massachusetts, John Winthrop takes the oath of office and becomes the first Governor of Massachusetts.
- 1652 – Rhode Island passes the first law in North America making slavery illegal.
- 1863 – American Civil War: The Siege of Vicksburg begins.
- 1869 – The Public Credit Act is signed by Ulysses S. Grant, one of his first actions as President of the United States.
- 1876 – Wyatt Earp starts work in Dodge City, Kansas.
- 1896 – The United States Supreme Court rules in Plessy v. Ferguson that separate but equal is constitutional.
- 1917 – World War I: The Selective Service Act of 1917 is passed, giving the President the power of conscription.
- 1926 – Evangelist Aimee Semple McPherson disappears while visiting a Venice, California, beach.
- 1933 – New Deal: President Franklin Delano Roosevelt signs an act creating the Tennessee Valley Authority.
- 1953 – Jackie Cochran becomes the first woman to break the sound barrier.
- 1958 – An F-104 Starfighter sets a world speed record of 1,404.19 mph (2,259.82 km/h).
- 1969 – Apollo program: Apollo 10 launched.
- 1980 – 1980 Mount St. Helens eruption: Mount St. Helens erupts in Washington, killing 57 people and causing $3 billion in damage.
- 1992 – The Archivist of the United States officially announces the 27th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
- 1998 – United States v. Microsoft: The United States Department of Justice and 20 U.S. states file an antitrust case against Microsoft.
- 2004 – Arizona Dimondback's pitcher, Randy Johnson, throws a perfect game against the Atlanta Braves.