Today in history 52

Here are some historical events that occurred on February 12th:

1789: George Washington is unanimously elected as the first President of the United States by the Electoral College.

1809: Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President of the United States, is born in a log cabin in Kentucky.

1846: The Mexican-American War begins as the United States declares war on Mexico.

1862: The Homestead Act is signed into law by President Abraham Lincoln, allowing settlers to claim up to 160 acres of public land for free if they agree to live on it and farm it for five years.

1885: The first issue of the Washington Post newspaper is published.

1912: The 16th Amendment to the United States Constitution is ratified, authorizing the federal government to impose an income tax.

1947: The Truman Doctrine is announced by President Harry S. Truman, committing the United States to provide economic and military aid to Greece and Turkey to help them resist communist pressure.

1961: The United States launches the first communications satellite, Echo 1, into orbit.

1986: The United States and Vietnam establish diplomatic relations, 21 years after the end of the Vietnam War.

2011: The United States launches a military operation in Libya, known as Operation Odyssey Dawn, to enforce a United Nations resolution imposing a no-fly zone over the country.

I hope you find these events interesting!