Events with tag - Legislation

July 30, 1619

First House of Burgesses Established

The House of Burgesses, America's first legislative assembly, was established in Jamestown, Virginia, marking a pivotal moment in colonial democracy and laying the foundation for representative government in the United States.

April 10, 1790

First US Patent System

The United States established its first federal patent system through the Patent Act of 1790, creating a standardized framework for protecting intellectual property rights under the supervision of Thomas Jefferson.

May 28, 1830

Indian Removal Act

The Indian Removal Act of 1830 was a devastating U.S. legislation that forced Native American tribes to leave their ancestral lands in the Southeast for territories west of the Mississippi River, resulting in thousands of deaths during the infamous Trail of Tears.

December 6, 1865

Thirteenth Amendment Ratification

The Thirteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was officially ratified, marking the formal abolition of slavery throughout the United States. This historic amendment passed after intense political negotiations and required approval from three-fourths of the states.

September 6, 1869

Avondale Mine Disaster

The Avondale Mine Disaster of 1869 was America's first major coal mining catastrophe, claiming 110 lives when a fire in the only shaft entrance trapped miners underground. This tragic event led to the first mining safety laws in Pennsylvania and revolutionized industrial safety standards.

June 2, 1924

Indian Citizenship Act

A landmark legislation that granted full U.S. citizenship to approximately 125,000 Native Americans who previously lacked this status, marking a pivotal moment in American civil rights history.

March 9, 1933

Emergency Banking Act

The Emergency Banking Act of 1933 was a landmark legislation passed during the Great Depression that gave the federal government and Federal Reserve expanded powers to stabilize the failing banking system and restore public confidence.

June 16, 1933

Glass-Steagall Act

The Glass-Steagall Act of 1933 was a groundbreaking financial regulation that separated commercial and investment banking in response to the 1929 stock market crash. It established the FDIC and remained in effect until 1999.

June 18, 1934

Indian Reorganization Act

The Indian Reorganization Act of 1934 was a pivotal legislation that ended the destructive allotment era and restored Native American tribal sovereignty. It provided framework for tribal self-governance, land restoration, and cultural preservation.

July 5, 1935

Wagner Act Passage

The Wagner Act, also known as the National Labor Relations Act, was signed into law, revolutionizing American labor rights by protecting workers' ability to unionize, engage in collective bargaining, and strike without employer retaliation.

August 14, 1935

Social Security Act

The Social Security Act of 1935 was landmark legislation that created America's social welfare system during the Great Depression. Signed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, it established retirement benefits, unemployment insurance, and aid for vulnerable citizens.

May 3, 1940

Constitution Day History

Constitution Day, originally established as 'I Am an American Day' in 1940, evolved into a national observance celebrating the signing of the U.S. Constitution and promoting constitutional education across America.

September 16, 1940

US Military Draft in WW2

The Selective Training and Service Act of 1940 established America's first peacetime military draft, requiring men aged 21-35 to register for service, eventually mobilizing over 10 million men for World War II.

March 11, 1941

Lend-Lease Act

The Lend-Lease Act, signed into law by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, authorized the United States to provide military aid and supplies to Allied nations during World War II. This pivotal legislation effectively ended American neutrality and transformed the U.S. into the 'Arsenal of Democracy.'

July 2, 1964

Civil Rights Act Signing

President Lyndon B. Johnson signs the historic Civil Rights Act of 1964, marking a watershed moment in American history by outlawing discrimination and segregation across public spaces, employment, and federally funded programs.

December 30, 1969

Federal Coal Mine Safety Act

Landmark legislation that transformed workplace safety in American coal mining industry, establishing comprehensive safety standards and mandatory inspections following the tragic Farmington Mine disaster of 1968.

October 18, 1972

Clean Water Act and Mississippi River

The Clean Water Act of 1972 marked a pivotal moment in Mississippi River's environmental protection, establishing comprehensive federal regulations for water pollution control and transforming the river's management through strict pollutant discharge limitations.

October 17, 1988

Indian Gaming Regulatory Act

The Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA) was passed by Congress, establishing the first comprehensive federal framework for tribal gaming operations in the United States. This landmark legislation balanced tribal sovereignty with federal oversight and has led to a $34 billion gaming industry supporting hundreds of tribal communities.

November 16, 1990

NAGPRA Enactment

The Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act became law, marking a pivotal moment in protecting Indigenous cultural heritage by establishing legal guidelines for the recovery and return of Native American cultural items, including human remains and sacred objects.

May 7, 1992

27th Amendment Ratification

The 27th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was ratified after an unprecedented 203-year delay, becoming the most recent constitutional amendment. It prevents Congress from implementing immediate pay raises for its members.

March 23, 2010

Obamacare Signed Into Law

President Barack Obama signs the Affordable Care Act, a comprehensive healthcare reform law aimed at providing millions of Americans with access to affordable health insurance and improving the overall healthcare system.