1. THE HISTORY PLACE

2. THIS MONTH IN HISTORY

3. JANUARY

JANUARY 10

January 10 

January 10, 1776 – Common Sense, a fifty page pamphlet by Thomas Paine, was published. It sold over 500,000 copies in America and Europe, influencing, among others, the authors of the Declaration of Independence.

January 10, 1861 – Florida became the third state to secede from the Union in events leading up to the American Civil War.

January 10, 1863 – The world’s first underground railway service opened in London, the Metropolitan line between Paddington and Farringdon.

January 10, 1878 – An Amendment granting women the right to vote was introduced in Congress by Senator A.A. Sargent of California. The amendment didn’t pass until 1920, forty-two years later.

January 10, 1912 – The flying boat airplane, invented by Glenn Curtiss, made its first flight at Hammondsport, New York.

January 10, 1920 – The League of Nations officially came into existence with the goal of resolving international disputes, reducing armaments, and preventing future wars. The first Assembly gathered in Geneva ten months later with 41 nations represented. More than 20 nations later joined, however, the U.S. did not join due to a lack of support for the League in Congress.

January 10, 1922 – Arthur Griffith was elected president of the newly formed Irish Free State.

January 10, 1946 – The first meeting of the United Nations General Assembly took place in London with delegates from 51 countries. The U.N. superseded its predecessor, the League of Nations.

January 10, 1984 – The U.S. and Vatican established full diplomatic relations after a break of 116 years.