The battle cry “fifty-four forty or fight” mean was the slogan of U.S. expansionists who wanted to fix the boundary of the Oregon country (the Pacific Northwest) at latitude 54° 40′ N., in the middle of what is now British Columbia in Canada.
The belligerent slogan was associated with the presidential campaign of James K. Polk in 1844.
Despite the bluster, Polk’s administration agreed to fix the boundary at 49° N. in 1846.
For late 19th-century immigrants from Europe, to travel to America in “steerage” meant a passage below decks, near the ship’s steering gear. The price for these uncomfortable but low-fare accommodations was about $15.
William C. Durant found the General Motors Corporation in 1908, in Flint, Michigan.
President Richard Nixon was charged with three counts of impeachment. On July 30, 1974, the House Judiciary Committee charged the U.S. president with three counts related to the Watergate case: obstructing justice; abuse of power; and defying the House Judiciary Committee subpoenas.
Europeans discovered Alaska in the 18th century. Vitus Bering, a Dane working for the Russians, and Alexei Chirikov discovered Alaska and the Aleutian Islands in 1741.
The name “Alaska” comes from an Aleutian word meaning “mainland,” distinguishing it from the islands on which the Aleutian people lived.
Jay Loeb and R. Evans were the composers of the popular World War II song “Rosie the Riveter”. Rosie the Riveter was a nickname for civilian working women during World War II, particularly those who worked in war-related industries.