Congress passed Judiciary Act of 1789

Congress passed Judiciary Act of 1789

September 24, 2009 04:00:00 am

On September 24, 1789, Congress instituted a three-tiered federal judicial structure topped by a Supreme Court with the passage of “An Act to establish the Judicial Courts of the United States”, later known as the Judiciary Act of 1789.

Learn more about the Act from the National Archives.

THIS DAY @ LAW

France abolishes slavery

On February 4, 1794, the legislature of France abolished slavery throughout the territories of the French Republic. The practice was then reinstituted by Napoleon in 1804, before being banned permanently in 1814 after Bonaparte was exiled to Elba. As of 2001, slavery is defined as a "crime against humanity" by French law.

Civil rights activist Rosa Parks born

On February 4, 1913, late civil rights activist Rosa Parks—who became famous in 1956 for refusing to give up her seat to a white man and go to the back of a Montgomery Alabama bus—was born in Tuskegee, Alabama. Learn more about Rosa Parks.