U.S. President Abraham Lincoln declares state of insurrection, calls for 75,000 volunteer troops 160 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 15 1861)

1860s, American Civil War, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'The Civil War - 1 - Savasin Sebebi (1861)' (Apr. 15, 1861, at 52:54)

(Monday, April 15, 1861; during the American Civil War) — Three days after the Confederate attack on Fort Sumter, South Carolina, U.S. President Abraham Lincoln declared a state of insurrection today and called on the states to provide 75,000 militiamen to retake federal property and to suppress the rebellion by seven Southern slave states.
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‘All for You’ by Janet Jackson peaks at #1 in USA 20 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 14 2001)

2000s, Popular Music 2000s

(Saturday, April 14, 2001) — “All for You” by Janet Jackson was the #1 song on today’s Billboard‘s Hot 100 singles chart for the first of seven consecutive weeks (April 14/21/28, May 5/12/19/26, 2001).
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‘I’ve Been Thinking About You’ by Londonbeat peaks at #1 in USA 30 years ago#OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 13 1991)

1990s, Popular Music 1990s

(Saturday, April 13, 1991) — “I’ve Been Thinking About You” by Londonbeat was the #1 song on today’s Billboard‘s Hot 100 singles chart for one week.
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John Lennon records ‘God Save Oz’ demo 50 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 13 1971)

1970s, Popular Music 1970s, The Beatles 1970s


Video: 'God Save Us (Demo)'

(Tuesday, April 13, 1971) — Former Beatle John Lennon recorded a demo today of his song “God Save Oz,” written with the hope of raising defense funds for the editors of the British-based Oz magazine, who were facing a conviction for contributing to the delinquency of minors.
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NASA’s first space shuttle rockets into orbit with two astronauts aboard 40 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 12 1981)

1980s, space exploration


Video: 'NBC News Coverage of STS-1 The 1st Space Shuttle Mission' (25 videos; launch is on video #6 at 3:07)

(Sunday, April 12, 1981, 7:00:03 a.m. EST) — The world’s first reusable spacecraft, the space shuttle Columbia, with two crew members, astronauts John W. Young and Robert L. Crippen, lifted off this morning from Pad A, Launch Complex 39, at the Kennedy Space Center on Merritt Island, Florida.
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American Civil War begins as Confederate troops fire on Fort Sumter in South Carolina’s Charleston Harbor 160 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 12 1861)

1860s, American Civil War, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'Fort Sumter: Animated Battle Map'

(Friday, April 12, 1861, 4:30 a.m. local time; during the Battle of Fort Sumter, part of the American Civil War) — The American Civil War, a civil war fought between northern states loyal to the Union and southern states that had seceded to preserve the enslavement of black people, began early today when secessionist forces attacked Fort Sumter in the harbor of Charleston, South Carolina.
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Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin becomes first human blasted into outer space 60 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 12 1961)

1960s, Cold War, space exploration


Video: 'Yuri Gagarin: First Man In Space | Chasing the Moon | American Experience | PBS'

(Wednesday, April 12, 1961, at 12:07 p.m. Alma-Ata Time; during the Space Race and the Cold War) — Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin, 27, became the first human to go into outer space today, launched from Baikonur Cosmodrome Site No.1, a spaceport in an area of southern Kazakhstan leased to Russia, aboard the Vostok 1 spacecraft.
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‘Don’t Stand So Close to Me’ by The Police peaks at #10 in USA 40 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 11 1981)

1980s, Popular Music 1980s

(Saturday, April 11, 1981) — “Don’t Stand So Close to Me” by The Police peaked today at #10 on Billboard‘s Hot 100 singles chart for three weeks. Continue reading ‘Don’t Stand So Close to Me’ by The Police peaks at #10 in USA 40 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 11 1981) →

‘Kiss on My List’ by Hall & Oates peaks at #1 in USA 40 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 11 1981)

1980s, Popular Music 1980s

(Saturday, April 11, 1981) — “Kiss on My List” by Daryl Hall and John Oates was the #1 song on today’s Billboard Hot 100 singles chart for the first of three consecutive weeks (April 11/18/25, 1981).
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Former Nazi Adolf Eichmann goes on trial in Israel for role in The Holocaust 60 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 11 1961)

1960s, The Holocaust


Video: 'Eichmann Trial Complete' (86 clips)

(Tuesday, April 11, 1961, 9:01 a.m. Israel Standard Time; during the Eichmann trial) — Adolf Eichmann, the former Nazi charged with delivering millions of Jews to extermination camps during The Holocaust, went on trial today in Israel before a special tribunal of the Jerusalem District Court.
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