In 1776, British forces occupied New York city during the American Revolution.
In 1789, the U.S. Department of Foreign Affairs was renamed the Department of State.
In 1821, independence was proclaimed for Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and El Salvador.
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"For a nation which has an almost evil reputation for bustle, bustle, bustle, and rush, rush, rush, we spend an enormous amount of time standing around in line in front of windows, just waiting."