President Thomas Jefferson, author of the phrase “Separation of Church and State,” asked Congress to ratify a treaty with the Kaskaskia Indians, which they did DECEMBER 3, 1803. Negotiated shortly after the Louisiana Purchase by future President William Henry Harrison, the Kaskaskia Indian Treaty stated: “And whereas the greater part of the said tribe have been baptized and received into the Catholic Church, to which they are much attached, the United States will give annually, for seven years, one hundred dollars toward the support of a priest of that religion, who will engage to perform for said tribe the duties…”

The Confederates won the Second Battle of Bull Run, crossed the Potomac River into Maryland and captured Harper’s Ferry. But the Confederate drive was halted at the Battle of Antietam, the bloodiest day of fighting in American history. In total, over a half million lost their lives in the Civil War. Abraham Lincoln decided to issue the Emancipation Proclamation.

“Oh, East is East, and West is West, And never the twain shall meet, Till earth and sky stand presently, At God’s great judgment seat” wrote Rudyard Kipling in Ballad of East and West. Born DECEMBER 30, 1865, in Bombay, India, he settled in Vermont and there he wrote Captains Courageous and The Jungle Books.

His death went unnoticed, as he died the same day John F. Kennedy was shot, but his works are some of the most widely read in English literature.He credits his Catholic friend and fellow writer, J.R.R. Tolkien, author of “Lord of the Rings,” as being instrumental in bringing him to faith in Christ.

During World War I, Britain was ineffective manufacturing explosives, until a breakthrough in synthesizing acetone was made by Jewish chemist Dr. Chaim Weizmann, who was born NOVEMBER 27, 1874. In gratitude, Britain issued the Balfour Declaration, establishing a Jewish homeland.

In order to thank God for the First Amendment, which was passed a week earlier by Congress, President George Washington issued the first National Thanksgiving Proclamation, 1789: “…Now, therefore, I do recommend…Thursday, the 26TH DAY of NOVEMBER…to be devoted by the People of these United States to the service of that great and glorious Being, who is the beneficent Author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be…”

Born a slave in New York in 1797, she spoke only Dutch until she was sold at age 11. Suffering hardships, her third master made her marry an older slave with whom she had five children. In 1827, she escaped to Canada. After New York abolished slavery, she returned as a domestic servant and helped with Elijah Pierson’s street-corner preaching. Her name was Sojourner Truth.

Sentenced as a galley slave on a French ship, John Knox was eventually released, met John Calvin, and returned to Scotland, where he confronted Mary, Queen of Scots, mother of England’s King James I. In 1560, John Knox led Scotland to establish the Presbyterian Church. Dying NOVEMBER 24, 1572, John Knox stated: “A man with God is always in the majority.”

His only son, 11-year-old Bennie, was killed when their campaign train rolled off its tracks. This happened to 14th President Franklin Pierce, who was born NOVEMBER 23, 1804. Elected to Congress at age 29, Franklin Pierce was a Senator at 33. Franklin Pierce ran for President against General Winfield Scott, whom he had served under during the War.

He resigned during the Mexican-American War, enlisted as a private and was eventually promoted to brigadier general.

Shots rang out as President John F. Kennedy was assassinated NOVEMBER 22, 1963, in Dallas, Texas. The youngest President ever elected, he was also the youngest to die, barely serving 1,000 days. The 46-year-old Kennedy was on his way to the Dallas Trade Mart to deliver a speech.