United States History On This Date: April 12th

1861 — The Civil War Begins with the Bombardment of Fort Sumter

At 4:30 a.m., Confederate batteries opened fire on Fort Sumter in Charleston Harbor, beginning the American Civil War. Major Robert Anderson’s small Union garrison held out for 34 hours before surrendering. The attack unified the North, triggered Lincoln’s call for 75,000 volunteers, and set the nation on a four‑year path of devastating conflict.

1945 — President Franklin D. Roosevelt Dies; Harry S. Truman Becomes President

Franklin D. Roosevelt died suddenly in Warm Springs, Georgia, after more than 12 years in office. Vice President Harry S. Truman was sworn in the same day, inheriting the final months of World War II, the decision over the atomic bomb, and the early architecture of the postwar world.

1955 — The Salk Polio Vaccine Is Declared Safe and Effective

After nationwide trials involving more than a million children, Dr. Jonas Salk’s polio vaccine was officially pronounced safe, potent, and ready for mass distribution. The announcement sparked celebrations across the country and marked the beginning of the end for one of the most feared diseases in American life.

1981 — The First Space Shuttle, Columbia, Completes Its Maiden Flight

NASA’s Space Shuttle Columbia (STS‑1) successfully returned to Earth after its first orbital mission, demonstrating the viability of a reusable spacecraft. Piloted by John Young and Robert Crippen, the mission marked a new era in American spaceflight and laid the groundwork for decades of shuttle operations.

Space Shuttle (STS-1) lifts off from Cape Kennedy on its maiden flight