Today in history 18

Here are some historical events that occurred on March 18th throughout history:

1789: The first Congress of the United States meets in New York City, with 65 members of the House of Representatives and 26 members of the Senate.

1834: The United States Senate votes to acquire Florida from Spain for $5 million.

1865: The SS Sultana, a steamboat carrying over 2,000 passengers, including many Union prisoners of war, explodes and sinks in the Mississippi River, killing over 1,800 people.

1913: The 17th Amendment to the United States Constitution is ratified, requiring the direct election of Senators.

1937: The first flight of the DC-3 airliner takes place, marking a significant milestone in commercial aviation.

1965: The United States launches the Ranger 8 spacecraft, which is designed to impact the Moon's surface and return images of the impact.

1982: The United States and China sign a joint communiqué, marking the beginning of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

1990: The United States launches the Hubble Space Telescope, which is designed to study the universe in visible, ultraviolet, and near-infrared light.

2008: The United States House of Representatives passes the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, a stimulus package aimed at addressing the Great Recession.

These are just a few of the many historical events that have occurred on March 18th.