On August 6, 1945, the United States becomes the first and only
nation to use atomic weaponry during wartime when it dropped an
atomic bomb on the Japanese city of Hiroshima. Approximately
80,000 people were killed as a direct result of the blast, while
another 35,000 were injured. At least another 60,000 would be
dead by the end of the year from the effects of the fallout.

Though the dropping of the atomic bomb on Japan marked the end
of World War II, many historians argue that it also ignited the Cold
War.

A view of the New York City skyline, as seen from the Empire State Building on September 10, 2001.

A storm passes over New York City on the evening of September 10, 2001.

On September 11, 2001, 19 militants associated with the Islamic extremist
group al Qaeda hijacked four airplanes and carried out suicide attacks
against targets in the United States. Two of the planes were flown into
the twin towers of the World Trade Center in New York City, a third plane
hit the Pentagon just outside Washington, D.C., and the fourth plane
crashed in a field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. Almost 3,000 people
were killed during the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

On August 24, 1814, during the War of 1812 between the United States and
England, British troops entered Washington, D.C. and burned the White
House in retaliation for the American attack on the city of York in Ontario,
Canada, in June 1813.

When the British arrived at the White House, they found that President
James Madison and his first lady Dolley had already fled to safety in
Maryland. Soldiers reportedly sat down to eat a meal made of leftover
food from the White House scullery using White House dishes and silver
before ransacking the presidential mansion and setting it ablaze.

President James Madison and wife Dolly.

ROSS SIMPSON

The last steel beam that was standing from one of the World
Trade Centre towers is driven up West Street between rows
of New York City Fire and Police Department officers.   

   
In New York, a ceremony was held to officially mark the end
of the clean up from the World Trade Center terrorist attacks
on September 11, 2001.