One Day, So Many Historical Moments, June 17 in American History

The events recorded on "This Day In History" aren't something we share every day.  Most days have something of interest going on but not all days carry the importance of the history of June 17th. This day has more than enough historical baggage to be well worthy of a reminder.

Get our free mobile app

A Gift For Us To Mark Our Gift To You

In 1885 the Statue of Liberty arrived in New York City from France. It is the icon of freedom and liberty for Americans and the welcome wagon to the millions of foreign-born who want to come here and create the kind of personal success for which America has become known.  You can debate if the "American Dream" is still achievable, but the Green Goddess in the harbor still holds that promise.

Fun Fact:

It took 4 months to reassemble the 350 pieces when they arrived in New York. The monument was officially unveiled in October 1886.

 

Court Rules God Out Of Order

It was in 1963 when many people thought the beginning of the end was first launched with the U..S. Supreme Court striking down rules requiring the recitation of the Lord's Prayer or reading of Bible verses in public schools.  Critics will say when kids can't read, when kids drop out, or when schools are shot up, don't cry "Heaven help us!", because America has already tragically escorted "Heaven" out of the building.

Exposing The Tricks Of Tricky Dick

In 1972, confidence in government and respect for the Office of the President took a hit from which we have not and may not ever fully recover when five burglars broke into the  Democratic National Committee offices in the Watergate building and were arrested while trying to install eavesdropping equipment. In the end, this led to the resignation of President Richard Nixon in what has become known as the Watergate scandal.

The Juice Was Set Loose

From politics to a mesmerizing pop culture event when in 1994, O.J. Simpson was charged with murder in the killings of his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend, Ronald Goldman. Simpson led police on a "slow-speed chase" for 60 miles that was telecast live to the nation before he surrendered at his estate. O.J. references are still part of who we are and what we say even today.

Finally, a 2015 article about America's race relations written in the Atlantic starts this way:

U.S. race relations were on a downward slide as 2015 began. The previous November, a Ferguson, Missouri, grand jury declined to indict Darren Wilson in the fatal shooting of Michael Brown. The case propelled the issue of police violence—and racism—into the national spotlight. But it was just one of many.

Downward slide indeed.  On June 17th, nine people were killed in a racially-driven attack at a historic Black church in South Carolina. Twenty-one-year-old Dylann Roof, who is white, opened fire during a Bible study.  Race relations In the Country continue at low tide.  June 17th was quite a day in History and the impacts are still felt today.