This day in history - July 12

[seamusTX]

1862 - Congress authorized the Medal of Honor.

In the early summer of 1862, one General Benjamin Butler was in command of Union forces in occupied New Orleans. At that time, the women of New Orleans took to insulting Union soldiers, including dumping a chamber pot from a balcony onto the head of Admiral Farragut.

Among his many outrages, Butler issued an order that any native woman who insulted a a Union soldier by word or deed would be regarded and held liable as a prostitute.

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I have to say, not having a dog in that fight, that Japanese civilians were treated better during the occupation after WW II.

1909 - Congress passed the 16th Amendment (income tax) by a huge margin and sent it to the states for ratification.

1948 - Six Royal Air Force de Havilland Vampires became the first jets to cross the Atlantic.

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1984 - Geraldine Ferraro was chosen as the Democratic vice presidential candidate, the first woman to be on major-party national ticket.

- Jim