Unusual Tuesday Holiday

[loracs]

One hundred and fifty eight years ago today, California became the 31 state in the union.  It was a hotly debated issue because it was tied up with several other issues regarding all the land recently ceded to the US from Mexico.  There were border disputes and the question of slavery - would it be legal or illegal in these areas, as well as the status of slave markets in Washington DC and pending fugitive slave laws.  These issues divided by North and South, not along party lines (Whigs and Democrats.)  Further pressure was applied because of the California gold rush in 1848.  The population and wealth grew so quickly, without a stable government, California was a lawless land.  US military leaders told President Taylor California should be made a state as soon as possible, without the usual intermediate status of territory.  Taylor agreed, but it was all held up in Congress with the other issues.  The South pushing one direction, the North the other.  A compromise was crafted, but Taylor opposed it.  On July 9, 1850, President Taylor died of typhoid fever.  Elevated to president, Milliard Filmore supported the compromise and California became a free state a few months later.  Wow, politics moved much faster than today. 

So that is why I am off today.  I don't think it's a state holiday.  Until I started working for the city, I was only vaguely aware of statehood admission days.  The Union negotiates paid holidays, so in addition to the usual suspects, they added Admissions Day.  It's the only paid holiday besides turkey day, xmas and new years, that is not moved to a Monday for the 3-day holiday option.  It's kind of weird having a Tuesday off.  Next year (if it's not a leap year), Admissions Day will be on Wednesday, a non-hump day week.  Something to look forward to? 

Comments

[tracytreefrog.livejournal.com]

Glad you are getting a day to be silly!~

[auntysocial.livejournal.com]

L.A. city employees used to get Admission Day off, too. It was a favorite holiday, because so few other people got it, places were delightfully uncrowded. Unfortunately, the city traded it for the day after Thanksgiving. This would have been nice, but the Saturday after Thanksgiving was still a work day, for those who worked on Saturdays. Have a great day!

[(Anonymous)]

Nitpick to be polite: 1848; 1850.

No need to thank me.