Political Awareness

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September has often been a month of profound change in the United States. It has brought moments of triumph, tragedy, and transformation.

California Joins the Union

On September 9, 1850, California became the 31st state in the Union. Two years earlier, Mexico had ceded the territory to the U.S. in the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. In return, Mexico received $15 million. At the time, Mexico saw California as a quiet land of small mission towns and did not resist giving it up.

However, only nine days before the treaty was signed, gold was discovered. This discovery launched the California Gold Rush. Within a year, the population grew to over 60,000—enough for statehood.

California entered directly as a free state under the Compromise of 1850, skipping the usual territorial stage. This fueled debates about slavery but also marked the beginning of California’s rise. Today, California is an economic powerhouse. If it were a country, it would rank as the fourth-largest economy in the world.

The Emancipation Proclamation

On September 22, 1862, President Abraham Lincoln issued the preliminary Emancipation Proclamation. This announcement prepared the way for the full proclamation on January 1, 1863. Lincoln declared:

“That on the first day of January, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, all persons held as slaves within any State, or designated part of a State, the people whereof shall then be in rebellion against the United States, shall be then, thenceforward, and forever free.” —Abraham Lincoln, September 22, 1862

At that point, the Civil War had lasted more than two years. By linking the war to the end of slavery, Lincoln gave it a new moral purpose.

The war ended with the ratification of the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments, which abolished slavery, granted citizenship, and extended voting rights. Lincoln’s words changed the nation’s course for decades to come.

Nixon and the Watergate Pardon

On September 8, 1974, President Gerald Ford announced a pardon for former President Richard Nixon. The decision followed the Watergate scandal, where Nixon’s aides had tried to plant listening devices in Democratic offices.

When the cover-up came to light, impeachment loomed. Nixon resigned on August 9, 1974, and Ford became president. Only a month later, Ford granted Nixon a “full, free, and absolute pardon.”

The choice divided the nation. Many Americans saw it as a way to move forward, while others felt Nixon escaped justice. Even Ford’s press secretary resigned in protest. Ford later testified before Congress about his decision. Although controversial at the time, many historians now view the pardon as a step toward national healing.

September 11, 2001

On September 11, 2001, the United States experienced the deadliest terrorist attack in its history. The extremist group Al-Qaeda hijacked four commercial planes and carried out coordinated suicide missions. Nearly 3,000 people were killed.

• At 8:45 a.m., American Airlines Flight 11 hit the North Tower of the World Trade Center.

• At 9:03 a.m., United Airlines Flight 175 struck the South Tower. Both towers collapsed within two hours.

• At 9:45 a.m., American Airlines Flight 77 crashed into the Pentagon, killing 189 people.

• At 10:10 a.m., passengers on United Flight 93 fought hijackers, causing the plane to crash in a Pennsylvania field. Investigators believe the hijackers planned to target the White House or the Capitol.

The attacks shocked the world and reshaped American policy. President George W. Bush soon declared a “War on Terror.” The U.S. invaded Afghanistan to dismantle Al-Qaeda and remove the Taliban. The war lasted 20 years, with U.S. forces leaving in 2021. In 2003, the U.S. also invaded Iraq, although international support was limited.

A Lasting Legacy

September has been a month of turning points. From California’s statehood and Lincoln’s proclamation to Nixon’s pardon and the tragedy of 9/11, each event changed the United States in lasting ways. These moments of struggle and progress continue to shape the nation’s history.