On this date:
In 1690, the first paper money in America was issued by the colony of Massachusetts. (The currency was used to pay soldiers fighting a war against Quebec.)

In 1783, Spain recognized US independence.

In 1809, the territory of Illinois was created.

In 1865, President Lincoln and Confederate Vice³ President Alexander H. Stephens held a shipboard peace conference off the Virginia coast. (The talks deadlocked⁴ over the issue of Southern autonomy.)

In 1913, the 16th Amendment⁵ to the Constitution, providing for a federal income tax, was ratified⁶.

In 1916, Canada's original Parliament Buildings, in Ottawa, burned down.

In 1917, the United States broke off diplomatic relations with Germany, which had announced a policy of unrestricted submarine warfare⁷.

In 1924, the 28th president of the United States, Woodrow Wilson, died in Washington at age 68.

In 1930, the chief justice of the United States, William Howard Taft, resigned for health reasons.

In 1989, Alfredo Stroessner, president of Paraguay for more than three decades, was overthrown⁸ in a military coup⁹.

Ten years ago: The parliament of Bulgaria elected economist¹⁰ Andrei Lukanov to replace a hard-line Communist as premier¹¹.

Five years ago: The space shuttle "Discovery" blasted off with a woman, Air Force Lieutenant¹² Colonel Eileen Collins, in the pilot's seat for the first time in NASA history. At the O.J. Simpson trial in Los Angeles, prosecution¹³ witness Denise Brown wept on the stand as she described the humiliation¹⁴ and abuse of her sister, Nicole Brown Simpson, at the hands of the former football star.

One year ago: The Clinton administration told Congress a NATO-led peacekeeping force could be needed in Kosovo for three to five years and might include up to 4,000 American troops.