This Day in Historee

On this day in 1971, Charles Manson and three of his followers were found guilty of the murders of actress Sharon Tate and six others. The murders, which took place in 1969, were some of the most notorious in American history and captivated the nation's attention. Manson and his followers were sentenced to life in prison.

On this day in 1794, President George Washington signed a law establishing the United States Military Academy at West Point. Located in New York, West Point has trained some of the United States' most talented and capable military leaders and remains one of the most prestigious military academies in the world.

On this day in 1776, Thomas Paine's influential political pamphlet 'Common Sense' was published in Philadelphia. The pamphlet, which argued for American independence from Great Britain, had a profound impact on the American Revolution and is considered one of the most important documents in American history.

On this day in 1865, the Confederate States of America held their last cabinet meeting, effectively ending the Civil War. The Confederacy, made up of 11 southern states, had seceded from the Union in order to protect the institution of slavery. Union forces captured the Confederate capital of Richmond and pursued a negotiated settlement, leading to the end of the war on April 9, 1865.

On Dec. 22, 1867, the Treaty of Cession was signed, transferring ownership of Alaska from Russia to the US. Initially seen as a cold, barren wasteland, Alaska proved to be rich in resources and played a vital role in the US' economic and strategic development. Today, it is home to diverse cultures and communities.