July 4, 1890 marked the 114th anniversary of American independence, and it was a busy month in the United States. On July 2, the Sherman Antitrust Act became U.S. law, prohibiting monopolistic business practices. The following day, Idaho was admitted to the Union, becoming the 43rd state. On Independence Day, the country adopted a new flag with 43 stars to mark Idaho’s statehood (which also marked the additions of North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana and Washington as states in 1889).
Less than a week later, however, Wyoming became a U.S. state. While Wyoming’s statehood wasn’t a surprise, the 44-star flag wouldn’t be introduced until July 4, 1891, as all new designs were adopted on Independence Day.
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