What Happened in May?

The British Parliament passed the Quartering Act, which required American colonies to provide lodging and supplies to British troops.

The British parliament passes the unpopular Tea Act. More

Louis XVI accedes to the throne of France, and his wife, Marie-Antoinette, becomes the queen consort; later they both were beheaded during the French Revolution. Louis XVI was executed by guillotine on 21 January 1793. Marie Antoinette's trial began on 14 October 1793; two days later, she was convicted by the Revolutionary Tribunal of high treason and executed by guillotine on 16 October 1793 at the Place de la Révolution.

Ben Franklin reveals his invention of bifocal eyeglasses in a letter, now in the Library of Congress, to his friend George Whatley. Franklin was having problems seeing both up-close and at greater distances and in the prior year, he created a method for placing differently-calibrated lenses into the same frame rather than constantly changing glasses. His new "double spectacles" had pairs of half-lenses arranged in a top-bottom configuration. Franklin commented that all he had to do was but move his eyes up or down, and the proper glass was always ready! Franklin never patented any of his inventions, and wanted to share them freely. More

The First Fleet, led by Captain Arthur Phillip, sets sail with 11 British ships to establish a penal colony in Australia, Botany Bay. The fleet consisted of two Royal Navy escort ships, six convict transports, and three store ships carrying supplies. Approximately 1,500 people, including convicts, crew, soldiers, and their families, were on board. The First Fleet's journey, took eight months and one week, arriving on January 26, 1788 - marked the beginning of European settlement in Australia.

The Constitutional Convention, a pivotal event in American history, begins in Philadelphia. It had  as its primary goal the creation of a stronger, more unified nation by revising or replacing the Articles of Confederation, which had proven insufficient. The convention, ended on September 17, 1987 and resulted in the drafting of the United States Constitution, which established a new federal government and laid the groundwork for the nation's future. More

South Carolina ratifies the Articles of Confederation becoming the 8th State. More

Rhode Island ratifies the Articles of Confederation becoming the 13th State. More

The first modern written constitution in Europe is adopted by the Great Sejm (Parliament) of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. The groundbreaking document aimed to strengthen the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth by introducing a constitutional monarchy, addressing political inequalities, and providing for a separation of powers but came as too little and too late. Still, the document became the world's second-oldest codified national constitution (after the US Constitution of 1789) 

American merchant sea captain Robert Gray, enters Grays Harbor (WA State) during his second exploration trip of the Pacific Northwest Coast. Gray is credited to be the first non-Native American to enter the Columbia River and Grays Harbor, both of which he named.

The NY Stock Exchange is born with the signing of the Buttonwood Agreement by 24 stockbrokers defining how stocks could be traded and establishing set commissions.

British Dr. Edward Jenner successfully demonstrates that inoculation with cowpox matter provides immunity against smallpox, marking the beginning of modern vaccination. He famously vaccinated James Phipps, a boy of age 8, with cowpox, and, then later tested his immunity by exposing him to smallpox. James Phipps did not contract smallpox, proving Jenner's discovery. More

The Lewis and Clark Expedition, set out from St. Louis, Missouri traveling up the Missouri River on a mission to explore and map the newly acquired western territory of the United States. The group consisted of around 30 members, including soldiers, interpreters, scouts, and others. Expand +

Future US President Andrew Jackson fatally shoots Charles Dickinson, American attorney and slave trader in a duel. An expert marksman, Dickinson fired the first shot, wounding Jackson in the chest. Despite this, Jackson managed to shoot and mortally wound Dickinson. Jackson recovered from his physical injuries but the bullet had lodged to close to his heart and could not be safely removed, so Jackson carried the bullet in his chest for the rest of his life. More

The Argentine Primera Junta is established on May 25, 1810 marking the beginning of Argentina's path to independence from Spain. Formal independence was declared on July 9, 1816.

The United States declared war on Great Britain, beginning the War of 1812. More

Norway's Constitution Day - Also known as Syttende Mai (May 17), is celebrated annually  to commemorate the signing of Norway's constitution in 1814. This event marked Norway's declaration of independence from Denmark and the beginning of its path toward sovereignty. The day is celebrated with parades, traditional clothing, and festive food. More

Japanese Emperor Kōkaku abdicates in favor of his son, Emperor Ninkō. This event marked a significant moment in Japanese history, as Kōkaku was the first emperor to remain on the throne past the age of 40 in two centuries. After abdicating, Kōkaku became a Daijō Tennō (retired emperor) and lived in the Sento Imperial Palace (Sakura Machi Palace) It is widely believed that the abdication  was a political move in an age of instability and Kokaku continued to be the power behind the throne until his death in 1840.

The Indian Removal Act was signed into law by President Andrew Jackson. The Act authorized the president to grant lands west of the Mississippi in exchange for Indian lands within existing state borders, clearing the way for further white settlements. A few tribes went peacefully, but many resisted the relocation policy. During the fall and winter of 1838 and 1839, the Cherokees were forcibly moved west by the United States government. Approximately 4,000 Cherokees died on this forced march, which became known as the "Trail of Tears." More

President Andrew Jackson signs the Indian Removal Act, authorizing the grant of lands west of the Mississippi River in exchange for Native American lands east of the river, leading to the forced removal of many Native American communities. One of them was the infamous "Trail of Tears," the forced removal of the  Cherokee Nation causing thousands of deaths. More