On this September Day in History

September 1, 1939. Hitler's armies invaded Poland, igniting the start of World War Ii.

September 2, 1666. The Great Fire of London began, raging for three days.

September 3, 1783. The Treaty of Paris, ending the Revolutionary War, was signed by John Adams, Ben Franklin and John Jay.

My bondage and my freedom by Frederick Douglass

September 3, 1838.  Frederick Douglass began his escape from slavery.

September 5, 1774. The First Continental Congress assembled in Philadelphia.

September 5 -6, 1972. During the Summer Olympics being held in Munich, Germany, eleven members of the Israeli team were killed during an attack on the Olympic Village.The attackers were members of the Black September faction of the Palestinian Liberation Army.

September 7, 1940.  The German air force  began its Blitz bombing campaign against London.

September 8, 1565.  The first permanent settlement of European origin in America was founded  at St. Augustine, Florida.

September 8, 1900.  A hurricane struck Galveston, Texas with winds of 120 mph. Over 8,000 persons were killed, making it the worst natural disaster in U.S. history.

September 10, 1943.  Hitler's army marched into Rome.

September 11, 2001.  The worst terrorist attack in U.S. history took place, destroying the twin towers of the World Trade Center, and severely damaging the Pentagon. A total of four airplanes were used in the attack, and over 3,000 people were killed.

September 13, 1788.  New York City was named the first capital of the new United States government.

September 13, 1814.  In Baltimore, the Battle of Fort Henry was fought during the War of 1812. Observed by Francis Scott Key while aboard a ship, he was inspired to write the verses which later became "The Star Spangled Banner."

September 14, 1812.  During his Russian Campaign, Napoleon and his troops first entered Moscow,  with the retreating Russians setting the fire to the city.

September 14, 1901.  Eight days after being shot, President William McKinley died from wounds suffered during an assassination attempt at the Pan-American Exposition in Buffalo, New York.

September 14, 1975.  Elizabeth Ann Seton was canonized, becoming the first American saint

September 15, 1776.  During the Revolutionary War, British forces captured New York City.

September 15, 1935.  At their annual rally, the Nuremburg Laws were enacted by the Nazis, depriving German Jews of their rights of citizenship.

September 17, 1787.  The U.S. Constitution was unanimously approved at the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia.

September 17, 1862.  General Robert E. Lee and the Confederate armies were stopped at Antietam in Maryland by General George McClellan's Union forces. It was the bloodiest day in U.S. military history, with 26,000 men either dead, wounded or gone missing.

China : a history by John Keay

September 21, 1949. The formation of the People's Republic of China was proclaimed by its Communist leaders.

September 22, 1776.  During the Revolutionary War, Nathan Hale was executed without a trial after he was caught spying on British troops on Long Island, New York.

September 24, 1957.  The racial integration of public schools in Little Rock, Arkansas was enforced by the National Guard at the order of President Dwight Eisenhower.

September 26, 1960.  The first-ever televised presidential debate took place between the Democratic candidate John F. Kennedy and the Republican candidate Richard M. Nixon.

September 27, 1964.  After a 10-month investigation, the Warren Commission Report was issued. Their conclusion of  a lone gunman being responsible  for the assassination of President John F. Kennedy has been disputed by many investigators since November 22, 1963.

September 28, 1066. William of Normandy began his invasion of England.

California : a history by Kevin Starr

September 28, 1542.  California was discovered by Portuguese explorer Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo.

September 30, 1955.  Actor James Dean was killed in a car crash in California at age 24