This day in history: 3 april

1043: Edward the Confessor was crowned King of England, marking the beginning of a significant period in English history.
1559: The Peace of Cateau-Cambrésis was finalized, ending the Italian Wars between France and Spain. This treaty shaped European politics by establishing Spanish dominance in Italy.
1865: During the American Civil War, Union forces captured Richmond, Virginia, the capital of the Confederate States.
1948: U.S. President Harry S. Truman signed the Marshall Plan into law. This initiative aimed to rebuild European economies after World War II and prevent the spread of communism. Over $12 billion was distributed to Western European nations.

1860: The Pony Express began its first mail delivery service, connecting St. Joseph, Missouri, to Sacramento, California. This revolutionary system reduced mail delivery time to just ten days but lasted less than two years due to the advent of the telegraph.
1865: Union forces captured Richmond, Virginia, the capital of the Confederate States of America, marking a major turning point in the American Civil War.
1948: President Harry S. Truman signed the Marshall Plan into law, allocating $12 billion to rebuild European economies after World War II and prevent the spread of communism.
1973: Martin Cooper of Motorola made the first-ever public mobile phone call on a Manhattan sidewalk, heralding the mobile communication revolution.
1996: Theodore Kaczynski, known as the Unabomber, was arrested after nearly two decades of sending letter bombs that killed three people and injured 23 others.

1948: The Jeju Uprising began in South Korea. This tragic event involved violent clashes between South Korean government forces and leftist groups on Jeju Island, resulting in the deaths of thousands of civilians. The uprising was triggered by opposition to elections organized by the United Nations Temporary Commission on Korea.

1930: Ras Tafari was proclaimed Emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia. His reign marked a pivotal era in Ethiopian and African history, as he became a symbol of African independence and resistance to colonialism.
1996: Five members of South Africa’s Afrikaner Resistance Movement (AWB) were sentenced to 26 years in prison for their role in bombings aimed at disrupting the country’s first democratic elections in 1994.
2010: The African Renaissance Monument was inaugurated in Dakar, Senegal. This towering statue symbolizes Africa’s cultural and economic revival and stands as the tallest monument in Africa.