General George Washington, on 4 Feb 1777, personally commissioned and issued orders to Nathaniel Sackett to build a network to gather early warning on British plans.

A year later, that vision evolved into what we now call the Culper Spy Ring, one of the most successful… pic.twitter.com/8lnpmgrW6K

— History Dame (@history_dame) February 4, 2026

#OTD in #history 1789, #GeorgeWashington was elected our 1st #POTUS. He led the #USA to independence; then forewent the chance to be king. Americans therefore elected him to our highest office because, as @KenBurns put it, “he understood that the actual highest office is citizen” pic.twitter.com/73kIb9Odxr

— US Capitol Historical Society (@CapitolHistory) February 4, 2026

Today in 1778, France officially recognizes the newly established United States with the signing of the Treaty of Alliance. The pact opens up the War of Independence to direct French (and later Spanish and Dutch) intervention saving America’s precarious rebellion against Britain pic.twitter.com/wdENpzPLH9

— Military History Now (@MilHistNow) February 6, 2026

1799 USS Constellation captures French frigate L'Insurgent off Nevis, West Indies. This is the first time an American naval vessel defeated and captured an foreign enemy vessel. We almost don't count it today since it was French, but the French were sort of a 'big deal' back then…
1825 After no presidential candidate received a majority of electoral votes, the United States House of Representatives elects John Quincy Adams President of the United States.
1861 Confederate Provisional Congress declares that all laws under the US Constitution were consistent with constitution of Confederate states. Jefferson Davis & Alexander Stephens elected president & vice president of the Confederacy.
1950 Second Red Scare: Senator Joseph McCarthy accuses the United States Department of State of being filled with Communists, a man ahead of his time.