- 1630 – The city of Boston, Massachusetts is founded.
- 1787 – The U.S. Constitution is signed in Philadelphia.
- 1849 – Abolitionist Harriet Tubman escapes from slavery.
- 1862 – Civil War: Union forces led by Gen. George McClellan attacked Confederate troops led by Gen. Robert E. Lee near Antietam Creek in Maryland. McClellan blocked Lee’s advance on Washington but fell short of victory.
- 1939 – Soviet troops invaded Poland, 16 days after Nazi Germany moved into the country.
- 1954 – Lord of the Flies by William Golding is first published.
- 1976 – NASA unveiled the first space shuttle, the Enterprise.
- 1978 – The Camp David Accords are signed by Israel and Egypt.
