MOMENTS IN TIME

The History Channel

• On Sept. 9, 1776, the Continental Congress formally declares the name of the new nation to be the “United States” of America. It replaced the term “United Colonies,” which had been in general use.

• On Sept. 3, 1783, the American Revolution officially comes to an end when representatives of the United States, Great Britain, Spain and France sign the Treaty of Paris. The signing signified America’s status as a free nation, as Britain formally recognized the independence of its 13 former American colonies.

• On Sept. 7, 1936, Charles Harden Holley is born in Lubbock, Texas. Writing and performing under the name Buddy Holly, he would have an influence on rock ‘n’ roll that would far outlast his tragically shortened career. He left behind a legacy that includes “That’ll Be The Day,” “Peggy Sue,” “Not Fade Away,” It’s So Easy,” “Everyday,” “Oh Boy!” and “Maybe Baby.”

• On Sept. 6, 1943, a new high-speed train traveling between New York City and Washington, D.C., derails, killing 79 people and seriously injuring 100 more. The Congressional Limited traveled at an unprecedented speed of 65 mph.

• On Sept. 4, 1957, Ford Motor Company unveils the Edsel, the first new automobile brand produced by one of the Big Three car companies since 1938. One reporter called it “an Oldsmobile sucking a lemon.” In addition, at highway speeds the famous hood ornament had a tendency to fly off and into the windshield.

• On Sept. 5, 1972, during the 1972 Summer Olympics at Munich, Germany, a group of Palestinian terrorists storms the Olympic Village apartment of the Israeli athletes, killing two and taking nine others hostage. The terrorists were part of a group known as Black September.

• On Sept. 8, 1986, “The Oprah Winfrey Show” is broadcast nationally for the first time. It went on to become the highest-rated talk show in TV history. By 2008, “The Oprah Winfrey Show” had an estimated weekly audience of some 46 million viewers in the United States and was broadcast around the world in 134 countries.

(c) 2012 King Features Synd., Inc.