It’s the first day of March! Here’s a brief look back in time on this day, March 1.
In 1781, Maryland becomes the final colony to ratify the Articles of Confederation, establishing the United States of America’s first set of formal laws. At this time, the U.S. consisted of thirteen colonies. The doctrine created a “league of friendship” among the colonies, while also enabling each to be represented by a member of Congress instead of a population-based approach. The U.S. Constitution, which is the official framework of federal legislature, becomes ratified about 7 years later in 1788.
In 1872, the Yellowstone National Park Protection Act is signed into law by 18th U.S. president Ulysses S. Grant. It established – you guessed it – Yellowstone National Park. Treasured by Native Americans for its exquisite beauty and geysers, the Act preserved the land from any mining, logging and hunting activities.
In 1932, the “Crime of the Century” occurs as the son of Charles and Anne Lindbergh, Charles Lindbergh Jr, is kidnapped. Lindbergh Sr. was one of the most famous aviators in American history, having earned his place after making the first non-stop flight from New York to Paris, France, in the Spirit of St. Louis. Investigators were stumped as to who had carried out the crime. Everyone in the country began their search for the 20-month old Lindbergh Jr.; even infamous mobster Al Capone had offered to use his sources in the criminal underworld to find him while he served his prison sentence for federal tax evasion. A ransom note demanding $70,000 was sent to the family three days later. Several more would follow afterwards. Unfortunately, Lindbergh Jr. was accidentally found in a shallow grave a few miles near the Lindbergh home. The murder wouldn’t be solved until a couple years later in 1934 when German immigrant Bruno Hauptmann was charged and convicted of the crime. He was given the death sentence, later being executed by electric chair in New Jersey State Prison in 1936.