On This Day
What Happened on February 7 in History
9 events that happened on February 7, oldest first. Every entry is written in our own words and links to its source.
The Young Republic and the Civil War Era
1795
The Eleventh Amendment is ratified, limiting lawsuits against states in federal courts.
The amendment answered the Supreme Court's 1793 decision in Chisholm v. Georgia, which had let a citizen of another state sue Georgia. It was the first amendment added after the Bill of Rights.
Source: constitutioncenter.org; archives.gov
1812
The strongest of the New Madrid earthquakes strikes the Mississippi Valley.
It was the last of three great shocks that began in December 1811 near New Madrid in present-day Missouri. The shaking made the Mississippi River appear to run backward for a time and was felt across much of the eastern United States.
Source: history.com; usgs.gov
The Early 1900s and the World Wars
1904
The Great Baltimore Fire breaks out and burns for about 30 hours.
The fire destroyed more than 1,500 buildings across downtown Baltimore. Fire companies from other cities could not help much because their hoses did not fit local hydrants, which led to national standards for fire equipment.
Source: history.com
The Cold War
1962
A U.S. embargo on nearly all trade with Cuba takes effect.
President John F. Kennedy ordered the ban on most imports from and exports to Cuba as relations with Fidel Castro's government broke down. The embargo has stayed in place in various forms ever since.
Source: history.com; presidency.ucsb.edu
1964
The Beatles arrive in New York for their first visit to the United States.
Thousands of fans met the band at the newly renamed John F. Kennedy International Airport. Two days later their appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show drew a record television audience and launched Beatlemania across America.
Source: history.com; archive.nytimes.com
1972
Richard Nixon signs a law requiring federal candidates to report their campaign contributions.
The Federal Election Campaign Act required candidates to disclose donors and spending. After the Watergate scandal, Congress strengthened the law in 1974 and created the Federal Election Commission to enforce it.
Source: presidency.ucsb.edu; georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov
1984
Astronaut Bruce McCandless makes the first untethered spacewalk, flying free with a jet backpack.
During the Challenger mission STS-41B, McCandless used the nitrogen-powered Manned Maneuvering Unit to move away from the shuttle with no safety line. Fellow astronaut Robert Stewart also tested the unit on the same flight.
Source: history.com; nasa.gov
The Modern Era
1992
European leaders sign the Maastricht Treaty, creating the European Union.
Signed in the Dutch city of Maastricht, the treaty set the path to a shared currency, the euro, and expanded cooperation on foreign policy and justice. It took effect in November 1993.
Source: history.com
2001
Space shuttle Atlantis lifts off carrying the U.S. laboratory Destiny to the International Space Station.
Mission STS-98 delivered the module that became the main American research lab aboard the station. Astronauts attached it during a series of spacewalks.
Source: nasa.gov