Delegates gathered in Philadelphia for the Constitutional Convention

Delegates gathered in Philadelphia for the Constitutional Convention

May 14, 2009 04:00:00 am

On May 14, 1787, delegates from each state begin to arrive in Philadelphia for the Constitutional Convention.

The last delegates arrived 10 days later, on May 24. Learn more about the Constitutional Convention.

THIS DAY @ LAW

Watergate burglary trial began

On January 8, 1973, seven men went on trial in Washington DC in connection with a June 17, 1972 break-in to Democratic Party headquarters in the Watergate Hotel. Read more about the Watergate burglary and cover-up.

France approves self-determination for Algeria

On January 8, 1961, voters in France overwhelmingly approved self-determination for Algeria. By a 75 percent margin, French citizens voted in favor of a referendum which allowed the colony of Algeria to determine its own future. On July 1, 1961, Algerians elected to become an independent nation by a near-unanimous margin. These events concluded nearly a decade of fighting in the French-Algerian War. Learn more about the history of the French-Algerian War.