First they bought up what France still possessed
From the Brits they secured the Northwest
Took from Mexico, too
But they weren’t yet quite through
Jimmy Gadsden took care of the rest

Event: The United States signs a treaty to acquire land from Mexico in the Gadsden Purchase, the last significant acquisition of territory in the continental U.S.
Year: 1853
Learn more: Gadsden Purchase

On the rooftop, a thunderous clatter
Kerchiefed Ma knew the thrust of the matter
“It’s St. Nich’las agin!
Raisin’ all o’ that din
He’s just lucky we don’t own a ladder!”

Event: “A Visit from St. Nicholas” (aka “‘Twas the Night Before Christmas”) is published in the Troy, NY Sentinel
Year: 1823
Learn more: A Visit from St. Nicholas

Did he set out to let freedom ring?
Or’d he just want to kill the old king?
While he Commonwealth brought
In the Lands Ire and Scot
Not too many in praise of him sing

Event: Oliver Cromwell is named Lord Protector of the Commonwealth of England, Scotland, and Ireland, which, if you ask Oliver Cromwell, is totally not the same thing as being king
Year: 1653
Learn more: Oliver Cromwell
English Civil War

Ones and zeroes are all the comps need
But to poor human brains they’re not keyed
And all coders should know
It’s to Hopper they owe
For she taught the computer to read

Event: Birth of Rear Admiral Grace Hopper, inventor of the first compiler and instrumental in the development early high-level programming languages
Year: 1906
Learn more: Grace Hopper
Compiler
High-level programming language

On its steps the old bird woman sits
Later on, it would live through the Blitz
There atop Ludgate Hill
You can see it now still
An enduring old symbol for Brits

Event: St. Paul’s Cathedral in London is consecrated
Year: 1697
Learn more: St. Paul’s Cathedral (London)