Today In History, May 10th
What happened today in history: Bacon's Rebellion begins in 1676, J. Edgar Hoover becomes FBI director in 1924, and more important events that happened on May 10th.
1676: Bacon’s Rebellion Begi
Bacon’s Rebellion begins in Virginia. Raids against Native American tribes in the area caused Virginia governor Sir William Berkeley to issue declarations in hopes of securing peace between Native Americans and colonists. However, a young man named Nathaniel Bacon Jr. gained the support of local anti-Native American militia groups and intimidated Berkeley into allowing him to raid Native American lands indiscriminately and drive them out of the colony entirely. On October 26, 1676, Bacon abruptly died of a disease brought on by body lice. After Bacon’s death, Berkeley regained control and hanged the major leaders of the rebellion.
1869: The Transcontinental Railroad Is Completed


Sir Winston Churchill becomes prime minster of Britain, representing the Conservative party. His nomination came after former prime minister Neville Chamberlain’s resignation. As prime minister, Winston Churchill successfully led Britain through World War II and inspired the British public through his radio and public speeches, as well as his impressive military background. He remained prime minister until his defeat in the 1945 general election. In 1951, he was selected to be prime minister once again and remained in office until 1955.
1994: Nelson Mandela Inaugurated As President Of South Africa

Nelson Mandela is inaugurated as the first president of South Africa. Before taking office, Mandela had spent 27 years as a political prisoner because of his efforts to fight apartheid, South Africa’s system of institutionalized racism. Amid growing domestic and international pressure to release Mandela from prison, South African leader F.W. de Klerk did just that in 1990. Four years later, in the country’s first-ever free and open democratic elections, Mandela won and quickly set about overhauling South Africa’s government and investigating past human rights abuses in order to bring an end to the era of apartheid.
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