Sunday · September 27, 2026
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American history, reported as it happened
Made for the 250th
On this day › September 9

What happened on September 9 in American history

September 9 is the 252nd day of the year (the 253rd in leap years). Patriot Compass has published 6 stories from September 9 spanning 1776 to 1966. Among them: in 1776, Congress makes it official: the union is now called the United States; and in 1850, California enters the Union, skipping territorial status altogether.

1776

Congress makes it official: the union is now called the United States

A two-word change in the record books quietly retires "United Colonies" for good.
1850

California enters the Union, skipping territorial status altogether

Fillmore's signature caps a two-year rush from Mexican territory to free state, no in-between step required.
1942

A Japanese submarine surfaces off Cape Blanco and launches a floatplane over Oregon

A fire lookout spots the plane from Mount Emily before its bombs even hit the ground.
1957Member story · 1776 Club

Eisenhower signs the first civil rights law since Reconstruction

The bill survived Strom Thurmond's 24-hour filibuster only after Senate Democrats stripped its strongest voting protections.
1965Member story · 1776 Club

Johnson signs a new cabinet department into being, and names it for the cities

The Department of Housing and Urban Development becomes the federal government's eleventh cabinet agency.
1966Member story · 1776 Club

Johnson signs the first federal auto safety law; Detroit will now answer to Washington

In the Rose Garden, the president compares a weekend of highway deaths to a weekend of combat losses.