A Day in the Past · history worksheet
On this day: 4 February
Name: Class: Date:
1. What happened on 4 February?
- AD 960 Emperor Taizu comes to power and starts China's Song dynasty
A Chinese general named Zhao Kuangyin took the throne and became Emperor Taizu. - 1789 George Washington is elected the first President of the USA
George Washington was elected the first President of the United States. - 1794 Revolutionary France abolishes slavery in all its lands
During the French Revolution, the French parliament abolished slavery in all the lands ruled by the French Republic. - 1868 Born: Constance Markievicz
Constance Markievicz was an Irish politician who campaigned for Irish independence and for women's right to vote. - 1945 Churchill, Roosevelt and Stalin meet at the Yalta Conference
The Yalta Conference began in Crimea, which was then part of the Soviet Union. - 1948 Ceylon, now Sri Lanka, becomes independent from Britain
The British colony of Ceylon became an independent country. - 2004 Facebook is founded by university students in America
Facebook was founded by Mark Zuckerberg and fellow students at Harvard College in the United States, including Eduardo Saverin. - 2008 London's Low Emission Zone starts to tackle air pollution
London's Low Emission Zone came into operation to cut harmful exhaust fumes from diesel vehicles.
2. How long ago?
This year is 2026. Work out how many years ago each thing happened.
| Year | What happened | Sum | Years ago |
|---|---|---|---|
| AD 960 | Emperor Taizu comes to power and starts China's Song dynasty | 2026 − 960 = | |
| 1794 | Revolutionary France abolishes slavery in all its lands | 2026 − 1794 = | |
| 1945 | Churchill, Roosevelt and Stalin meet at the Yalta Conference | 2026 − 1945 = | |
| 2004 | Facebook is founded by university students in America | 2026 − 2004 = |
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!
- George Washington is elected the first President of the USA
- Revolutionary France abolishes slavery in all its lands
- Churchill, Roosevelt and Stalin meet at the Yalta Conference
- Emperor Taizu comes to power and starts China's Song dynasty
4. Quick quiz
In which year did this happen: “London's Low Emission Zone starts to tackle air pollution”?
- A. 1794
- B. 1868
- C. 2008
In which year did this happen: “Churchill, Roosevelt and Stalin meet at the Yalta Conference”?
- A. 2004
- B. 1945
- C. 1967
Which of these happened first?
- A. Ceylon, now Sri Lanka, becomes independent from Britain
- B. London's Low Emission Zone starts to tackle air pollution
- C. Churchill, Roosevelt and Stalin meet at the Yalta Conference
5. Draw it!
Draw your favourite event from 4 February. Then write a sentence about why you chose it.
Answers for teachers
How long ago: 960 → 1,066 years; 1794 → 232 years; 1945 → 81 years; 2004 → 22 years.
Order: 1 = Emperor Taizu comes to power and starts China's Song dynasty (AD 960), 2 = George Washington is elected the first President of the USA (1789), 3 = Revolutionary France abolishes slavery in all its lands (1794), 4 = Churchill, Roosevelt and Stalin meet at the Yalta Conference (1945).
Quiz: 1. C (2008); 2. B (1945); 3. C (Churchill, Roosevelt and Stalin meet at the Yalta Conference).