This Day in History

Here’s a look at some interesting events that took place on this day in history: 1861 – The Civil War begins with Confederate forces firing on Fort Sumter, in the harbor of Charleston, SC (More info) 1945 – President Franklin D. Roosevelt dies while in office (More info)

Here’s a look at some interesting events that took place on this day in history: 1814 – Napoleon Bonaparte abdicates his throne and is banished to the Mediterranean island of Elba (More info) 1945 – American forces liberate the Buchenwald concentration camp in Germany (More info)

Here’s a look at some interesting events that took place on this day in history: 1866 – The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, or ASPCA, is founded (More info) 1874 – The first Arbor Day results in over 1 million trees being planted (More info)

Here’s a look at some interesting events that took place on this day in history: 1865 – Robert E. Lee surrenders his army to Ulysses S. Grant, effectively ending the Civil War (More info) 1959 – NASA announces its first seven astronauts, later dubbed the “Mercury Seven” (More info)

Here’s a look at some interesting events that took place on this day in history: 1904 – Longacre Square in Manhattan is renamed Times Square after the New York Times (More info) 1935 – The Works Progress Administration is approved by Congress to help alleviate joblessness during the Great Depression (More info)

Here’s a look at some interesting events that took place on this day in history: 1862 – General Ulysses S. Grant and the Union Army defeat the Confederates near Shiloh, Tenn. (More info) 1940 – Booker T. Washington becomes the first African-American to be depicted on a US postage stamp (More info)

Here’s a look at some interesting events that took place on this day in history: 1830 – The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is organized by Joseph Smith, Jr. and others (More info) 1896 – The first modern Olympic Games are held in Athens, Greece (More info)

Here’s a look at some interesting events that took place on this day in history: 1792 – President George Washington casts the first presidential veto (More info) 1922 – The American Birth Control League, forerunner of Planned Parenthood, is incorporated (More info)