A Day in the Past · history worksheet
On this day: 6 April
Name: Class: Date:
1. What happened on 6 April?
- 1320 The Scots reaffirm their independence by signing the Declaration of Arbroath
- 1580 One of the largest earthquakes recorded in the history of England, Flanders…
- 1773 Born: James Mill
- 1776 American Revolutionary War: Ships of the Continental Navy unsuccessfully…
- 1809 Napoleonic Wars: British forces captured the French frigate Niémen in the Bay…
- 1812 Peninsular War: After a three-week siege, the Anglo-Portuguese Army, under the…
- 1926 Born: Ian Paisley
- 1930 At the end of the Salt March, Gandhi raises a lump of mud and salt and…
2. How long ago?
This year is 2026. Work out how many years ago each thing happened.
| Year | What happened | Sum | Years ago |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1320 | The Scots reaffirm their independence by signing the Declaration of Arbroath | 2026 − 1320 = | |
| 1773 | Born: James Mill | 2026 − 1773 = | |
| 1809 | Napoleonic Wars: British forces captured the French frigate Niémen in the Bay… | 2026 − 1809 = | |
| 1926 | Born: Ian Paisley | 2026 − 1926 = |
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!
- American Revolutionary War: Ships of the Continental Navy unsuccessfully…
- Napoleonic Wars: British forces captured the French frigate Niémen in the Bay…
- One of the largest earthquakes recorded in the history of England, Flanders…
- The Scots reaffirm their independence by signing the Declaration of Arbroath
4. Quick quiz
In which year did this happen: “American Revolutionary War: Ships of the Continental Navy unsuccessfully”?
- A. 1930
- B. 1776
- C. 1926
In which year did this happen: “Napoleonic Wars: British forces captured the French frigate Niémen in the Bay”?
- A. 1580
- B. 1953
- C. 1809
Which of these happened first?
- A. Peninsular War: After a three-week siege, the Anglo-Portuguese Army, under the
- B. American Revolutionary War: Ships of the Continental Navy unsuccessfully
- C. Napoleonic Wars: British forces captured the French frigate Niémen in the Bay
5. Draw it!
Draw your favourite event from 6 April. Then write a sentence about why you chose it.
Answers for teachers
How long ago: 1320 → 706 years; 1773 → 253 years; 1809 → 217 years; 1926 → 100 years.
Order: 1 = The Scots reaffirm their independence by signing the Declaration of Arbroath (1320), 2 = One of the largest earthquakes recorded in the history of England, Flanders… (1580), 3 = American Revolutionary War: Ships of the Continental Navy unsuccessfully… (1776), 4 = Napoleonic Wars: British forces captured the French frigate Niémen in the Bay… (1809).
Quiz: 1. B (1776); 2. C (1809); 3. B (American Revolutionary War: Ships of the Continental Navy unsuccessfully).