Four Star General Benjamin O. Davis, the first African American to become an Air Force General, died at age 89. He was the fourth African American to graduate from West Point. He led the Tuskegee Air Men. His father, Benjamin O. Davis. Sr. was the first African American Army General.

Daniel Louis (“Satchmo”) Armstrong born in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Booker T. Washington established Tuskegee Institute. Also founded in 1881 were Spelman College, Morris Brown College, and Bishop College.

Declaration of Independence adopted. A section denouncing the slave trade was deleted.