August 11 - The Day in History

August 11 : General Interest 1934: Federal prisoners land on Alcatraz A group of federal prisoners classified as "most dangerous" arrives at Alcatraz Island, a 22-acre rocky outcrop situated 1.5 miles offshore in San Francisco Bay... read more American Revolution 1718 : Sir Frederick Haldimand born http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/sir-frederick-haldimand-born Automotive 1973 : "American Graffiti" released http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/american-graffiti-released Civil War 1864 : Confederate General Early abandons Winchester, Virginia http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/early-abandons-winchester-virginia Cold War 1984 : Reagan jokes about "outlawing" the Soviet Union http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/reagan-jokes-about-outlawing-the-soviet-union Crime 1980 : Carol Bundy confesses her connection to the "Sunset Slayer" http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/carol-bundy-confesses-her-connection-to-the-sunset-slayer Disaster 1856 : Hurricane submerges Louisiana resort http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/hurricane-submerges-louisiana-resort General Interest 1952 : Hussein succeeds to Jordanian throne http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/hussein-succeeds-to-jordanian-throne 1965 : Watts Riot begins http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/watts-riot-begins 1998 : Jonesboro schoolyard shooters guilty http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/jonesboro-schoolyard-shooters-guilty Hollywood 1973 : American Graffiti opens http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/american-graffiti-opens Literary 1921 : Alex Haley's birthday http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/alex-haleys-birthday Music 1973 : Hip Hop is born at a birthday party in the Bronx http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/hip-hop-is-born-at-a-birthday-party-in-the-bronx Old West 1806 : Meriwether Lewis is shot in the leg http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/meriwether-lewis-is-shot-in-the-leg Presidential 1984 : Reagan jokes about bombing Russia http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/reagan-jokes-about-bombing-russia Sports 1994 : Major leaguers walk off the job http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/major-leaguers-walk-off-the-job Vietnam War 1967 : U.S. pilots cleared to bomb Hanoi-Haiphong area http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/us-pilots-cleared-to-bomb-hanoi-haiphong-area 1970 : South Vietnamese troops assume responsibility for guarding border http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/south-vietnamese-troops-assume-responsibility-for-guarding-border 1972 : Last U.S. ground combat unit departs South Vietnam http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/last-us-ground-combat-unit-departs-south-vietnam World War I 1919 : Weimar Constitution adopted in Germany http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/weimar-constitution-adopted-in-germany World War II 1943 : Germans begin to evacuate Sicily http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/germans-begin-to-evacuate-sicily

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