April 1 - The Day in History

April 1 : General Interest
1700: April Fools tradition popularized

On this day in 1700, English pranksters begin popularizing the annual tradition of April Fools' Day by playing practical jokes on each other... read more


American Revolution
1789 : First U.S. House of Representatives elects speaker
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/first-us-house-of-representatives-elects-speaker

Automotive
1993 : The "Polish Prince" killed in plane crash
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/the-polish-prince-killed-in-plane-crash

Civil War
1865 : Confederates suffer at Battle of Five Forks
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/battle-of-five-forks

Cold War
1948 : Soviets stop U.S. and British military trains
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/soviets-stop-us-and-british-military-trains

Crime
1800 : Weeks' trial sheds light on early procedure
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/weeks-trial-sheds-light-on-early-procedure
1924 : Beer Hall Putsch secures Hitler's rise to power
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/beer-hall-putsch-secures-hitlers-rise-to-power

Disaster
1946 : Alaskan earthquake triggers massive tsunami
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/alaskan-earthquake-triggers-massive-tsunami

General Interest
1621 : The Pilgrim-Wampanoag peace treaty
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/the-pilgrim-wampanoag-peace-treaty
1918 : RAF founded
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/raf-founded
1924 : Hitler sent to Landsberg jail
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/hitler-sent-to-landsberg-jail

Hollywood
1963 : Soap operas General Hospital and The Doctors premiere
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/soap-operas-general-hospital-and-the-doctors-premiere

Literary
1816 : Jane Austen declines royal writing advice
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/jane-austen-declines-royal-writing-advice

Music
1984 : Marvin Gaye is shot and killed by his own father
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/marvin-gaye-is-shot-and-killed-by-his-own-father

Old West
1877 : Discoverer of Tombstone begins prospecting
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/discoverer-of-tombstone-begins-prospecting

Presidential
1970 : Nixon signs legislation banning cigarette ads on TV and radio
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/nixon-signs-legislation-banning-cigarette-ads-on-tv-and-radio

Sports
1985 : Villanova beats Georgetown for NCAA basketball championship
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/villanova-beats-georgetown-for-ncaa-basketball-championship

World War I
1918 : British Royal Air Force is founded
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/british-royal-air-force-is-founded

World War II
1945 : U.S. troops land on Okinawa
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/us-troops-land-on-okinawa