#15: April 6 -12
#15 “This Week in American History” Blog Series
Read the Introduction to the blog series…
This Week in History!
April 8, 1974 – Hank Aaron Hits a Home Run into History!
On April 8, 1974, baseball history was made! Hank Aaron hit his 715th home run, breaking the legendary Babe Ruth’s record. The crowd in Atlanta, Georgia, went wild as the ball soared over the fence. Hank Aaron wasn’t just a powerful hitter—he was also a symbol of strength and determination. Fun Fact: Even after hitting 755 home runs in his career, Hank Aaron was more proud of his record for most career runs batted in (RBIs), which shows how much he helped his team!
Listen to Episode 66: Take Me Out to the Ballgame!
April 9, 1865 – The War Ends with a Handshake
On April 9, 1865, something very important happened—the Civil War began to come to an end. General Robert E. Lee, who led the Confederate army, met with General Ulysses S. Grant, the leader of the Union army, at a place called Appomattox Court House in Virginia. They talked peacefully, and General Lee agreed to stop fighting. Even though they had been enemies, the soldiers from both sides showed respect and kindness to one another. Fun Fact: General Grant let the Confederate soldiers keep their horses so they could ride home and start farming again.
Listen to Episode 117: Robert E. Lee, the (real) Man Without a Country
April 10,1912 – Titanic Sets Sail on a Historic Journey
On April 10, 1912, the Titanic left port in England, ready for its very first trip across the Atlantic Ocean. People were so excited to be on the “unsinkable” ship, which was known for its size and luxury. Many Americans were on board, hoping to start new lives or return home. Although the ship sank just a few days later, the story of the Titanic has become one of the most famous in history. Fun Fact: The Titanic was so long, it would take almost four city blocks to fit its full length!
Listen to Episode 57: One Cold Night in April – the Story of the Titanic
April 11, 1970 – Apollo 13: The Moon Mission with a Brave Return
On April 11, 1970, NASA launched Apollo 13 into space with a goal to land on the moon. But a few days into the mission, something went wrong—a part of the spaceship broke! The astronauts stayed calm and worked with the NASA team on Earth to figure out how to get back safely. It was a scary time, but everyone cheered when the astronauts returned home safely. Their teamwork and courage made history! Fun Fact: The famous words “Houston, we’ve had a problem” came from the Apollo 13 mission!
Listen to Episode 70: Houston, We Have a Problem!
April 12, 1861 – The Civil War Begins—and So Do the Drums of Battle
On April 12, 1861, the first shots of the Civil War were fired at Fort Sumter in South Carolina. This marked the beginning of a long and difficult war between the North (the Union) and the South (the Confederacy). The country was divided over many issues, including states’ rights and slavery. As the war began, people of all ages got involved—even young boys! Many of them served as drummer boys, playing important rhythms to help give commands during battles, such as when to march, charge, or retreat. Drums were a key way for officers to communicate with their troops, especially when the battlefield was loud and chaotic. Fun Fact: One of the most famous drummer boys was Johnny Clem, who joined the Union Army when he was just 9 years old and later became a sergeant!
April 6 -12
This Week in American History
Enjoy this printable resources featuring activity and coloring pages and a short history summary for each historical event. Remember, you can get this printable as well as the other upcoming resources in this series and many other bonuses by becoming a member on our Patreon platform.
