TODAY’S HISTORY LESSON – APRIL 8
1525 Albert von Brandenburg, the leader of the Teutonic Order, assumes the title “Duke of Prussia” and passed the first laws of the Protestant church, making Prussia a Protestant state.
1789 The U.S. House of Representatives holds its first meeting.
1832 Some 300 American troops of the 6th Infantry leave Jefferson Barracks, St. Louis, to confront the Sauk Indians in what would become known as the Black Hawk War.
1864 The U.S. Senate passed the 13th Amendment (S.J. Res. 16) by a vote of 38 to 6.
1886 William Ewart Gladstone introduces the first Irish Home Rule Bill into the British House of Commons.
1898 British General Horatio Kitchener defeats the Khalifa, leader of the dervishes in Sudan, at the Battle of Atbara.
1913 Opening of China’s 1st parliament takes place in Peking (now Beijing)
1913 The 17th Amendment is ratified, requiring direct election of senators.
1935 The Works Progress Administration (WPA) is approved by Congress.
1946 The League of Nations assembled for the last time.
1952 President Truman orders the seizure of U.S. steel mills to prevent a strike.
1959 One of the first modern programming languages is created The Common Business-Oriented Language or COBOL was primarily designed by a woman, Grace Hopper.
1962 Bay of Pigs invaders get thirty years imprisonment in Cuba.
1977 The Clash release their debut album of the same name The British combo around lead vocalist Joe Strummer is considered one of the most influential early punk rock bands.
1986 Actor Clint Eastwood was elected mayor of Carmel, California.
1988 Former U.S. President Reagan aid Lyn Nofzinger was sentenced to prison for illegal lobbying for Wedtech Corp.
2004 Darfur conflict: The Humanitarian Ceasefire Agreement is signed by the Sudanese government and two rebel groups
2005 Over 4 million people pay their last respects to Pope John Paul II
** history.net, onthisday.com, infoplease.com, timeanddate.com, thepeoplehistory.com, on-this-day.com **
