Here’s a brief look back in time on this day, March 3.
In 1820, Congress passes the Missouri Compromise: a bill dividing the slave states from free states. In this bill, Missouri was admitted as a slave state, and Maine as a free state to maintain an equal number on both sides. The Parallel 36°30′ North served as the main divider between free and slave states beyond that point, forming on the border between Tennessee and Kentucky. The act is rendered unconstitutional by the Supreme Court as part of the Dred Scott v. Sandford (1857) decision, which ruled slaves as non-U.S. citizens and therefore cannot expect protection from the courts.
In 1875, the first recorded game of indoor ice hockey is played in Montreal, Quebec. This was also the first instance of a wooden puck to be used, replacing the traditional lacrosse ball in field hockey. Per usual, this first game of hockey ended in a brawl between some of the players and spectators. Reports indicate the fight broke out over the rink’s usage, as members of the local Skating Club believed future hockey games would cause damage to the rink. While an unintended tradition, fights remain a commonplace in professional and amateur ice hockey matches.
In 1931, Congress, along with 31st U.S. President Herbert Hoover, establishes The Star Spangled Banner as the country’s national anthem. It’s derived from a poem penned by American lawyer Francis Scott Key as he witnesses Great Britain’s bombardment of Fort McHenry in 1814. Its metric and rhythm is believed to be inspired by a British song called The Anacreontic Song.