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September 5, 1905 The Russo-Japanese War (1904-05) focused on the imperialist desire both countries had, wanting control over the Manchurian Peninsula and Korea. Russia had been fighting for Manchuria since the Grand Prince of Moscow, Ivan the Terrible's conquest of 1.5 million square miles of land in the 16th century. Japan had only recently emerged… Continue reading Treaty by the Sea

September 1, 1836 After growing up in New York state in the early 1800's, Narcissa Prentiss was swept away by the Second Great Awakening in America. Shortly after turning down one marriage proposal, she agreed to another. Dr. Marcus Whitman and Narcissa were married in February of 1836 and left the following day, en route… Continue reading Arriving in Walla Walla

June 14, 1777 The Second Continental Congress (not to be confused with the FIRST Continental Congress) resolved that the Stars and Stripes would be the official flag of the United States of America on this day in 1777. Although we often associate the Betsy Ross creation with our first flag (you know the one with… Continue reading Adopting the Stars and Stripes

June 11, 1837 Tension between the Irish Americans and the British Americans had been running high for quite some time on the eastern seaboard, leading to a brawl in the streets of Boston that is still considered to be the worst rioting the town has ever seen. On June 11, 1837, firefighters were returning to the… Continue reading Riot on Broad Street

May 31, 1913 May 31, 1913 marks the day that William Jennings Bryan announced the ratification of the Seventeenth Amendment to the United States Constitution. From this point forward, United States Senators would no longer be elected by their respective state legislatures. Instead, they would be elected by popular vote. Looking back from our vantage… Continue reading Conflicted from the Start