This Day in History: September


2: September 22, 1862: Lincoln Issues the Emancipation Proclamation
Discover how President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation reflected not only his desire to ensure a Union victory in the Civil War, but also his deepening conviction that the end of American slavery was the very will of God.


4: September 2, 1945: Japan Surrenders
Though the war in Europe had ended in April, Japan continued to hold out for several more months. Faced with the choice of either invading Japan or using the deadly new atomic bomb, US President Harry S. Truman made the momentous decision that would lead to the end of World War II.

5: September 15, 1890: Agatha Christie Is Born
In her many novels, stories, and plays, Agatha Christie would create some of the world’s most popular detectives, including Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple. Christie redefined the mystery genre, and her gift for shocking plot twists helped make her the best-selling fiction author of all time.