On this day: Five events that shaped the world

Robert E. Lee surrenders brings an end to the American Civil war (1865)

In Appomattox Court House, Virginia, Confederate General Robert E Lee surrenders his 28,000 troops to Union General Ulysses S Grant effectively bringing an end to American Civil War. Forced to abandon the Confederate capital of Richmond, blocked from joining the surviving Confederate force in North Carolonia, and harassed constantly by Union cavalry, Lee had no other option.

Rita Moreno becomes the first Hispanic woman to win an Oscar (1962)

On April 9, 1962, Puerto Rican actress Rita Moreno becomes the first Hispanic woman to win an Oscar, for her role of Anita in West Side Story (1961). 

Moreno, who was born in Puerto Rico in 1931 and grew up in Long Island, New York, began acting at a young age, landing her first Broadway role at the age of 13

“Chicago Eight” plead not guilty to federal conspiracy charges (1969)

The Chicago Eight, indicted on federal charges of conspiracy to incite a riot at the1968 Democratic Conventions in Chicago, plead not guilty. The defendants included David Dellinger of the National Mobilization Committee (NMC); Rennie Davis and Thomas Hayden of the Students for a Democratic Society (SDS); Abbie Hoffman and Jerry Rubin, founders of the Youth International Party (“Yippies”); Bobby Seale of the Black Panthers and two lesser known activists, Lee Weiner and John Froines.

2003, Baghdad falls to US forces

On April 9, 2003, just three weeks into the invasion of Iraq, U.S. forces pull down a bronze statue of Saddam Hussein in Baghdad’s Firdos Square, symbolizing the end of the Iraqi president’s long, often brutal reign, and a major early victory for the United States.

Tipu Sultan drove British out of Badnore

On this day, Tipu Sultan fought with the British and drove them out of Badnore. The battle was part of the Second Anglo-Mysore war which was started by Tipu’s father Hyder Ali who died during the course of the battle.