This Day in History: April 12

1204: 4th Crusade occupies and plunders Constantinople

In 1204, during the Fourth Crusade, a Western Christian army sacked and looted the city of Constantinople, capital of the Eastern Roman Empire. The Crusaders' actions resulted in the weakening and eventual downfall of the Byzantine Empire, which had already been weakened by decades of internal conflict.

1811: 1st US colonists on Pacific coast arrive at Cape Disappointment, Washington

The first American colonists to settle on the Pacific Coast arrived at Cape Disappointment, Washington, in 1811. The settlement was part of a larger effort by the United States to expand its territory and influence in North America.

1861: The American Civil War begins

The American Civil War began in 1861 when Confederate forces attacked Fort Sumter, a federal fort located in Charleston, South Carolina. The war lasted four years and resulted in the deaths of an estimated 620,000 soldiers and civilians. The conflict was primarily fought over the issue of slavery and the economic and political differences between the northern and southern states.

1872: Jesse James' gang robs a bank of $1,500 in Columbia, Kentucky, 1 dead

In 1872, the notorious outlaw Jesse James and his gang robbed a bank in Columbia, Kentucky, making off with $1,500 in cash. The robbery resulted in the death of one person and sparked a massive manhunt for James and his associates.

1927: Kuomintang leader Chiang Kai-shek begins counter revolution in Shanghai

In 1927, Chiang Kai-shek, the leader of the Chinese Nationalist Party (Kuomintang), launched a counter-revolution in Shanghai, China. The move was aimed at consolidating his power and suppressing the Chinese Communist Party, which had been gaining strength in the region.

1961: Russian cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin becomes the first person to orbit Earth (Vostok 1)

In 1961, Yuri Gagarin became the first human being to orbit the Earth aboard the Vostok 1 spacecraft. The historic flight lasted 108 minutes and marked a major milestone in the Cold War-era space race between the United States and the Soviet Union.

1981: The Space Shuttle blasts off into space for the first time

In 1981, NASA launched the Space Shuttle Columbia on its first orbital test flight. The Space Shuttle program represented a major advance in space travel technology, as the reusable spacecraft could transport cargo and astronauts into orbit and return them safely to Earth.

1988: The Last Emperor receives nine Academy Awards

The Last Emperor, a biopic about Puyi, the last Emperor of China, won all nine Academy Awards it was nominated for in 1988. The film was directed by Bernardo Bertolucci and was the first to receive such a sweep of awards since 1958's Gigi.