Here’s a brief look back in time on this day, February 28.
In 1861, the Colorado Territory is acquired through the Colorado Organic Act. Signed by 15th U.S. president James Buchanan, it comprised of pieces from the territories of Kansas, New Mexico, Utah, and Nebraska. Settlers arrived in troves upon the discovery of gold near Pike’s Peak a couple years prior in 1858. Colorado would gain statehood in 1876 as Reconstruction continues.
In 1878, the Bland-Allison Act is passed, requiring silver to be more circulated in coins. This was a big win for miners in the western territories, as the U.S. government becomes more reliant on them for minting currency following the Panic of 1873: aka the “Long Depression”. One of the speculated major causes of the Panic was the government ending its purchase of silver for minting currency, following Europe’s lead into the belief of making the minting process more simpler. The bimetallic standard (usage of gold and silver in currency) was a long-standing issue the American public wanted to institutionalize since it could prevent further economic spirals like the Panic from happening again. (Fun fact: the Bland-Allison Act is also colloquially known as “The Grand Bland Plan of 1878”. The writer got a good chuckle out of that).
In 1993, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF) serves a search warrant for David Koresh and several of his Branch Davidian followers. An apocalyptic breakaway sect of the Seventh Day Adventist Church, their Mount Carmel compound in Waco, TX, was the home of approximately 85 men, women, and children. The warrant was served based on the probable cause of the compound housing various automatic machine guns and explosives. However, the Branch Davidians were tipped off about the ATF’s arrival after a TV news reporter asked a mail carrier for directions to the compound right before the raid took place. That mail carrier was Koresh’s brother-in-law, prompting him to turn back and warn the others about the incoming officers. Armed and prepared, the Branch Davidians attacked the officers, killing four and injuring 16. In return, five Branch Davidians were killed during the shootout. The FBI would join the incident immediately afterwards, prompting a 51-day standoff.