On this day in 1862, The United States issued the "greenback," America's first true paper money, with all bills the same color and size, whatever the denomination ($1 to $1,000).
On this day in 1910, D.W. Griffith, an American film director who pioneered the use of close-ups, traveling shots and modern editing techniques, discovered a small town called Hollywood in which to shoot his movie "In Old California."
On this day in 1912, Yuan Shih-kai was installed in Peking (Beijing) as provisional president of the Republic of China.
On this day in 1922, Mahatma Gandhi was arrested, tried for sedition, and sentenced to six years imprisonment by the British government of India.
On this day in 2000, the Nasdaq Composite stock market index peaked at 5132.52, signaling the beginning of the end of the dot-com boom.
On this day in 2011, U.S President Barack Obama appointed Gary Locke as ambassador to China, making him the first American of Chinese descent to hold that job.