1803 - What happened in 1803 ?

February 1803

Monday 14:

Chief Justice John Marshall declares that any act of U.S. Congress which conflicts with the Constitution is void.

Thursday 24:

The Supreme Court of the United States, in Marbury v. Madison, establishes the principle of judicial review.

March 1803

Tuesday 01:

Ohio is admitted as the 17th U.S. state.

April 1803

Monday 11:

French Foreign Minister Charles Talleyrand offers to sell all of the Louisiana Territory to the United States

Saturday 30:

Louisiana Purchase: The United States purchases the Louisiana Territory from France for $15 million, more than doubling – overnight – the size of the young nation.

May 1803

Wednesday 18:

Napoleonic Wars: The United Kingdom revokes the Treaty of Amiens and declares war on France.

July 1803

Monday 04:

The Louisiana Purchase is announced to the American people.

Tuesday 05:

The convention of Artlenburg leads to the French occupation of Hanover (which had been ruled by the British king).

Tuesday 26:

the Surrey Iron Railway, arguably the world's first public railway, opens in south London.

September 1803

Friday 23:

Battle of Assaye

October 1803

Thursday 20:

United States Senate ratifies the Louisiana Purchase

November 1803

Wednesday 30:

At the Cabildo building in New Orleans, Spanish representatives Governor Manuel de Salcedo and the Marqués de Casa Calvo, officially transfer Louisiana Territory to French representative Prefect Pierre Clément de Laussat. Just 20 days later, France transfers the same land to the United States as the Louisiana Purchase.

December 1803

Tuesday 20:

Louisiana Purchase completed