US HistoryThis Day in American History

September 1

1775King 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 HistoryThis Day in American History

September 1

1807Aaron 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 HistoryThis Day in American History

September 1

1985Wreck 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 HistoryThis Day in American History

September 1

1998Federal 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.