1. On June 1, 1792, Washington, D.C. was designated the capital of the United States. The city was selected for its central location between the Northern and Southern states, as well as its proximity to the Potomac River for easy transportation of goods.
2. In 1813, the United States declared war on Great Britain, beginning the War of 1812. The conflict lasted three years and ended with the signing of the Treaty of Ghent in 1814.
3. On June 1, 1868, the Senate ratified the 14th Amendment to the United States Constitution, granting citizenship to all persons born or naturalized in the country. The amendment also provided equal protection under the law for all citizens.
4. In 1914, President Woodrow Wilson signed into law the Keating-Owen Child Labor Act, which prohibited the employment of children under the age of 16 in factories or mines. The law was declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court in 1918.
5. In 1961, President John F. Kennedy established the Peace Corps, a volunteer organization aimed at promoting peace and friendship between Americans and people of other countries. Since its establishment, over 235,000 volunteers have served in 141 countries around the world.