Henry V Becomes King of England (1413)

Henry was knighted by Richard II in 1399 and created prince of Wales when his father, Henry IV, usurped the throne the same year. Although his early recklessness was celebrated—and probably exaggerated—by Shakespeare, Henry became a great popular hero. He lifted England from the near anarchy of his father’s reign to civil order and a high spirit of nationalism. His main interest, however, was in gaining control of lands in France—lands that he sincerely believed to be his right. Did he succeed? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Krak des Chevaliers Conquered (1271)

One of the most important preserved medieval military castles in the world, the Krak des Chevaliers in Syria was the headquarters of the Knights Hospitaller during the Crusades. The largest Crusader fortress in the Holy Land, it could hold up to 2,000 soldiers and included a chapel, a storage facility, and two stables that could accommodate up to 1,000 horses. Though it is estimated that the Hospitallers could have withstood a siege for five years, the fortress was captured in 1271. How? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Thomas D’Arcy McGee Is First Canadian Politician to Be Assassinated (1868)

Thomas D’Arcy McGee was a journalist, Canadian Father of Confederation, and the only Canadian victim of political assassination at the federal level. Patrick J. Whelan, a Fenian sympathizer, was convicted and hanged for the murder, but many now suspect that he was simply a scapegoat and not the killer. The bullet that took McGee’s life had been in the possession of the Library and Archives Canada but was recently reported missing. Where was McGee murdered? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Opening of the First Modern Olympic Games (1896)

In 1894, after efforts by Frenchman Pierre de Coubertin to revive the ancient Greek Olympics, the newly established International Olympic Committee appointed the Greek capital of Athens as the host city for the first modern international Olympic Games. Held between April 6 and 15, 1896, the games drew athletes from 14 countries for several athletic events, including the first modern marathon. Though women were not allowed to compete, one woman protested the day after the marathon by doing what? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Battle of the Ice (1242)

The Teutonic Knights attacked the Republic of Novgorod in 1242 as part of their Northern Crusades, which were directed against pagans and Eastern Orthodox Christians rather than Muslims in the Holy Land. Waged on the frozen surface of Lake Peipus, which now sits on the border of Estonia and Russia, the Battle of the Ice proved disastrous for the knights. Though some historians consider the battle a major turning point in the Northern Crusades, others believe it was only a minor skirmish. Why? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Zulfikar Ali Bhutto of Pakistan Executed (1979)

Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, founder of the Pakistan Peoples Party, served as president of Pakistan from 1971 to 1973 and as prime minister from 1973 to 1977. In the 1970 parliamentary elections, Bhutto’s party won a majority of seats in West Pakistan, but East Pakistan’s Mujibur Rahman won an overall majority. The power struggle that followed led to a civil war in which East Pakistan, now Bangladesh, gained its independence and Bhutto rose to become president of Pakistan. Why was he executed in 1979? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

The Super Outbreak: 148 Tornadoes in 13 States (1974)

The largest tornado outbreak on record for a single 24-hour period, the Super Outbreak occurred on April 3 and 4, 1974. During that time, nearly 150 tornadoes swept across 13 central and eastern US states as well as Ontario, Canada, severely damaging approximately 900 square miles (2,330 sq km) along a total combined path length of 2,600 miles (4,180 km). The outbreak brought more violent tornadoes than had ever been observed, including 23 F4 tornadoes and how many F5s? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

First Congresswoman in US History Takes Her Seat (1917)

Sometimes referred to as the “Lady of the House,” Jeannette Rankin was the first woman to be elected to the US House of Representatives and the first female member of Congress. Just days into her term, she drew the ire of the press by voting, along with 56 others, against the resolution to enter WWI. In 1940, Rankin was again elected to Congress and once again voted against entering a world war, though this time she was the only Congress member to do so. What was the Jeanette Rankin Brigade? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Netherlands Becomes First Country to Allow Same-Sex Marriage (2001)

In 1997, a Dutch parliamentary commission tasked with investigating the advisability of same-sex unions concluded that same-sex couples should be given the right to enter into civil marriages. Legislation was finalized in late 2000, and at the stroke of midnight on April 1, 2001, four same-sex couples were married by the mayor of Amsterdam, making the Netherlands the first nation to legally recognize same-sex marriages. How many same-sex couples took advantage of the new law in that first year? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

The Eiffel Tower Is Inaugurated (1889)

Among the most recognized and visited structures in the world, the Eiffel Tower was built beside the Seine River in Paris between 1887 and 1889 as the entrance arch for the Exposition Universelle, a World’s Fair marking the centennial celebration of the French Revolution. Named after its designer, engineer Gustave Eiffel, the tower was constructed by 300 workers who joined together 18,038 pieces of puddled iron using 2,500,000 rivets. How many people died during the tower’s construction? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary