US History
This Day in American History
September 1
1775
King George refuses Olive Branch Petition - Richard
Penn and Arthur Lee, representing the Continental
Congress, present the so-called Olive Branch Petition to
the Earl of Dartmouth on this day in 1775. Britain’s King
George III, however, refused to receive the petition,
which, written by John Dickinson, appealed directly to
the king and expressed hope for reconciliation.
US History
This Day in American History
September 1
1807
Aaron Burr acquitted - Former U.S. vice president
Aaron Burr is acquitted of plotting to annex parts of
Louisiana and Spanish territory in Mexico to be used
toward the establishment of an independent
republic.
US History
This Day in American History
September 1
1985
Wreck of the Titanic found - Seventy-three years
after it sunk to the North Atlantic ocean floor, a joint
U.S.-French expedition locates the wreck of the RMS
Titanic. The sunken liner was about 400 miles east
of Newfoundland in the North Atlantic. American
Robert D. Ballard headed the expedition, which
used an experimental, unmanned submersible.
US History
This Day in American History
September 1
1998
Federal legislation makes airbags mandatory - On
September 1, 1998, the Intermodal Surface
Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 finally goes
into effect. The law required that all cars and light
trucks sold in the United States have air bags on
both sides of the front seat.