A Day in the Past · history worksheet
On this day: 3 January
Name: Class: Date:
1. What happened on 3 January?
- 1521 Pope Leo X excommunicates Martin Luther
Pope Leo X issued an official document that excommunicated the German priest Martin Luther, cutting him off from the Catholic Church. - 1833 Britain reasserts its rule over the Falkland Islands
Captain James Onslow arrived at the Falkland Islands in the ship Clio to reassert British sovereignty, meaning Britain's right to rule them. - 1868 The Meiji Restoration returns power to Japan's emperor
The Tokugawa shogunate, the military government that had ruled Japan since 1603, was abolished. - 1870 Work begins on the Brooklyn Bridge in New York
Construction began on the Brooklyn Bridge in New York City, United States. - 1883 Born: Clement Attlee
Clement Attlee was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1945 to 1951, just after the Second World War. - 1892 Born: J. R. R. Tolkien
J. R. R. Tolkien was an English writer and a professor at the University of Oxford who studied the history of languages. - 1958 The West Indies Federation is formed in the Caribbean
Several Caribbean islands that were part of the British Empire, including Jamaica, Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago, joined together as the West Indies Federation. - 1977 Apple Computer officially becomes a company
Apple Computer was incorporated, which means it was officially set up as a company, by Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak.
2. How long ago?
This year is 2026. Work out how many years ago each thing happened.
| Year | What happened | Sum | Years ago |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1521 | Pope Leo X excommunicates Martin Luther | 2026 − 1521 = | |
| 1868 | The Meiji Restoration returns power to Japan's emperor | 2026 − 1868 = | |
| 1883 | Born: Clement Attlee | 2026 − 1883 = | |
| 1958 | The West Indies Federation is formed in the Caribbean | 2026 − 1958 = |
3. Put them in order
Write 1 next to the oldest event, then 2, 3 and so on up to the newest. Use list 1 to help you!
- The Meiji Restoration returns power to Japan's emperor
- Britain reasserts its rule over the Falkland Islands
- Pope Leo X excommunicates Martin Luther
- Work begins on the Brooklyn Bridge in New York
4. Quick quiz
In which year was J. R. R. Tolkien born?
- A. 1892
- B. 1941
- C. 1777
In which year was Clement Attlee born?
- A. 1883
- B. 1833
- C. 1941
Which of these happened first?
- A. Britain reasserts its rule over the Falkland Islands
- B. Apple Computer officially becomes a company
- C. Pope Leo X excommunicates Martin Luther
5. Draw it!
Draw your favourite event from 3 January. Then write a sentence about why you chose it.
Answers for teachers
How long ago: 1521 → 505 years; 1868 → 158 years; 1883 → 143 years; 1958 → 68 years.
Order: 1 = Pope Leo X excommunicates Martin Luther (1521), 2 = Britain reasserts its rule over the Falkland Islands (1833), 3 = The Meiji Restoration returns power to Japan's emperor (1868), 4 = Work begins on the Brooklyn Bridge in New York (1870).
Quiz: 1. A (1892); 2. A (1883); 3. C (Pope Leo X excommunicates Martin Luther).