Today in Legal History: Jamestown Settlement, Constitutional Convention, Israel Reborn
On this day in 1607, the first permanent British settlement in North America was established as men landed by the Virginia Charter Company on Jamestown Island, in what is now Virginia, began building a fort. More details are provided by the Library of Congress.
On this day in 1787, a total of 55 delegates from all 13 then-existing American states except Rhode Island began converging on Philadelphia where a convention was planned to begin drafting the U.S. Constitution. A total of 35 were lawyers, or had legal training, the National Archives explains.
On this day in 1948, citizens of the newly-proclaimed country of Israel celebrated the rebirth of the Jewish state after a 2,000-year hiatus, even as war began the same day with Arab neighbors due to the end of British rule. Next day coverage was provided by the New York Times.
