Today in History: June 18, War of 1812 begins
Today is Wednesday, June 18, the 169th day of 2025. There are 196 days left in the year.
Today in history:
On June 18, 1812, the War of 1812 began as the United States Congress approved, and President James Madison signed, a declaration of war against Britain.
Also on this date:
In 1778, American forces entered Philadelphia as the British withdrew during the Revolutionary War.
In 1815, Napoleon Bonaparte was defeated in the Battle of Waterloo as British and Prussian troops defeated the French Imperial Army in Belgium.
In 1979, President Jimmy Carter and Soviet President Leonid Brezhnev signed the SALT II strategic arms limitation treaty in Vienna.
In 1983, astronaut Sally Ride became America's first woman in space as she and four other NASA astronauts blasted off aboard the space shuttle Challenger on a six-day mission.
In 1986, 25 people were killed when a twin-engine plane and helicopter carrying sightseers collided over the Grand Canyon.
In 1992, the U.S. Supreme Court, in Georgia v. McCollum, ruled that criminal defendants could not use race as a basis for excluding potential jurors from their trials.
In 2018, President Donald Trump announced he was directing the Pentagon to create the Space Force as an independent branch of the United States armed forces.
In 2020, the Supreme Court, in the case of Department of Homeland Security v. Regents of the University of California, rejected by a 5-4 decision President Donald Trump's effort to end legal protections for more than 650,000 young immigrants.
In 2023, the submersible vessel Titan, on an expedition of view the wreckage of the Titanic in the North Atlantic Ocean, imploded, killing all five people aboard.
Today's Birthdays: Musician Paul McCartney is 83. Actor Carol Kane is 73. Actor Isabella Rossellini is 73. Singer Alison Moyet is 64. Football Hall of Famer Bruce Smith is 62. Hockey Hall of Famer Martin St. Louis is 50. Actor Alana de la Garza is 49. Country musician Blake Shelton is 49. Football Hall of Famer Antonio Gates is 45.
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Astrology horoscope for the strawberry moon for your zodiac sign Aries (March 21 - April 19) Spread your wings and expand your horizon, Aries! "You may feel invigorated to switch up your routine and move in new directions," Thomas said. "Some of you may decide to focus on a long-distance travelling journey or international business or relations. If involved in the media or eager to be, you may also see opportunities to grow now." Taurus (April 20 - May 20) It's time to reassess your relationships, Taurus! "If you've been feeling unfulfilled, you could speak up or instead decide to part ways," Thomas explained. "Another way this could affect you is around financial matters, bringing a shift or the arrival of a bonus, venture capital, new credit line, inheritance, or settlement. Assets and investments are favored." Gemini (May 21 - June 20) Transformation or chaos are approaching, Gemini! 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