This Day In History, September 17th.
Five Historical Events That Happened on September 17th
1787: The United States Constitution is signed.
1862: The Battle of Antietam occurs during the American Civil War.
1908: The first Ford Model T vehicle is constructed.
1978: Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin and Egyptian President Anwar Sadat sign the Camp David Accords in the presence of US President Jimmy Carter.
Occupy Wall Street started in New York City's Zuccotti Park in 2011.
1787: Signing of the United States Constitution
The United States Constitution was signed by 39 delegates at Independence Hall in Philadelphia on September 17, 1787. The United States Constitution provided the structure for the federal government of the United States, describing its powers and restrictions, as well as its citizens' rights and freedoms. It succeeded the Articles of Confederation, which had been in operation since 1781 but had been judged insufficient for managing the country. Constitution Day is currently observed throughout the United States to commemorate the signing of the Constitution.
1862: Battle of Antietam during the American Civil War
During the American Civil War, the Battle of Antietam (also known as the Battle of Sharpsburg) took place on September 17, 1862. It was fought at Sharpsburg, Maryland, and was the war's first significant action on Union soil. The Union Army was headed by General George B. McClellan, while the Confederate Army was led by General Robert E. Lee. The combat was particularly violent, with both sides suffering over 23,000 casualties. Despite his numerical disadvantage, Lee was able to repel Union assaults and withdraw his army across the Potomac River. The fight was seen as a strategic triumph for the Union because it allowed President Lincoln to issue the Emancipation Proclamation, which proclaimed all slaves in Confederate-held territory free.
1908: The first Ford Model T automobile is completed
The first Ford Model T car was constructed on September 17, 1908, at the Ford Piquette Avenue Plant in Detroit, Michigan. The Model T, popularly known as the "Tin Lizzie," was built from 1908 to 1927 and was supposed to be a cheap automobile for the public. It was the first automobile to be mass-produced utilizing assembly line techniques, which allowed for faster and lower-cost production. The Model T was also noted for its durability and dependability, and it helped to shape the American vehicle industry. Over 15 million Model Ts had been produced by the time production ended in 1927.
1978: Camp David Accords are signed by Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin and Egyptian President Anwar Sadat, with US President Jimmy Carter as a witness
The Camp David Accords were signed on September 17, 1978, by Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin and Egyptian President Anwar Sadat in the presence of US President Jimmy Carter. The Accords were the outcome of discussions held at Camp David, the presidential retreat in Maryland, and constituted a significant step in the Middle East peace effort. The Accords laid the groundwork for a peace treaty between Egypt and Israel, addressing topics such as the future of the Sinai Peninsula and the creation of diplomatic ties between the two nations. The Accords cleared the stage for Egypt and Israel to negotiate a formal peace treaty in 1979, putting an end to decades of hostility between the two countries.
2011: The Occupy Wall Street movement begins in New York City's Zuccotti Park
The Occupy Wall Street movement began on September 17, 2011 in New York City's Zuccotti Park. The movement immediately expanded to other cities across the United States and around the world as a protest against economic disparity, corporate greed, and the role of money in politics. The demonstrators, dubbed the "99 percent," contended that the top 1% of affluent individuals and businesses wielded far too much power and influence, while the majority of people struggled to make ends meet. The movement influenced subsequent social movements such as Black Lives Matter and the Fight for $15 minimum wage campaign, and it spurred a national discourse about income inequality and economic fairness. Occupy Wall Street demonstrators camped out in public locations for several months, organizing marches and demonstrations to demand change.