The “Jew Bill” is passed by the Maryland General Assembly, shepherded through the legislative process by a Christian, Thomas Kennedy of Hagerstown. Kennedy promotes this bill for several years before its passage as the first recognition of Jewish rights in the U.S.
It gives Jewish men all the rights of citizenship equal to Christians and quickly results in two Jewish businessmen, Jacob I. Cohen, Jr. and Solomon Etting, being elected to the Baltimore City Council.
Josiah Henson, born in Port Tobacco, escapes slavery, leads a community and learns to read and write. He becomes the model for the title character in Uncle Tom’s Cabin, a nationally popular anti-slavery story published in 1852.
Patty Cannon, female head of a notorious gang of slave catchers, is arrested in 1829 and indicted for the murder of four Black men. She dies in jail awaiting trial.
Wilbur Wright gives flying lessons at the College Park airstrip and civilian planes begin regular use. The airfield, opened in 1909, becomes the longest continuously used airport in the US. Photo shows a Wright airplane headed for reassembly after a crash.
We acknowledge the enduring presence of many American Indian tribes who once lived in Maryland and who now, having lost their lands, live in a diaspora. Read more.
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