1807: Congress passes legislation prohibiting the importation of slaves.

1836: Texas declares independence from Mexico, naming David Burnet as provisional president and Sam Houston as the commander in chief of all Texan forces.

1877: Congress affirms the electoral college choice of Republican Rutherford Hayes as president of the US, who brought an end to Reconstruction.

1972: The US launches Pioneer 10 -- the world's first outer-planetary probe -- on its mission to Jupiter.

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