A Day in the Past · history worksheet
On this day: 16 August
Name: Class: Date:
1. What happened on 16 August?
- 1513 War of the League of Cambrai: English and Imperial forces defeated French…
- 1777 American Revolutionary War: American forces routed British and German troops…
- 1812 War of 1812: American General William Hull surrenders Fort Detroit without a…
- 1858 U.S. President James Buchanan inaugurates the new transatlantic telegraph…
- 1913 Completion of the Royal Navy battlecruiser HMS Queen Mary
- 1920 In the United Kingdom, the Blind Persons Act received royal assent
- 1930 The first British Empire Games are opened in Hamilton, Ontario, by the…
- 1962 The English rock band the Beatles fired their drummer Pete Best, replacing him…
2. How long ago?
This year is 2026. Work out how many years ago each thing happened.
| Year | What happened | Sum | Years ago |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1513 | War of the League of Cambrai: English and Imperial forces defeated French… | 2026 − 1513 = | |
| 1812 | War of 1812: American General William Hull surrenders Fort Detroit without a… | 2026 − 1812 = | |
| 1913 | Completion of the Royal Navy battlecruiser HMS Queen Mary | 2026 − 1913 = | |
| 1930 | The first British Empire Games are opened in Hamilton, Ontario, by the… | 2026 − 1930 = |
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!
- War of the League of Cambrai: English and Imperial forces defeated French…
- American Revolutionary War: American forces routed British and German troops…
- War of 1812: American General William Hull surrenders Fort Detroit without a…
- U.S. President James Buchanan inaugurates the new transatlantic telegraph…
4. Quick quiz
In which year did this happen: “The English rock band the Beatles fired their drummer Pete Best, replacing him”?
- A. 1920
- B. 1888
- C. 1962
In which year did this happen: “American Revolutionary War: American forces routed British and German troops”?
- A. 1777
- B. 1888
- C. 1930
Which of these happened first?
- A. U.S. President James Buchanan inaugurates the new transatlantic telegraph
- B. American Revolutionary War: American forces routed British and German troops
- C. The English rock band the Beatles fired their drummer Pete Best, replacing him
5. Draw it!
Draw your favourite event from 16 August. Then write a sentence about why you chose it.
Answers for teachers
How long ago: 1513 → 513 years; 1812 → 214 years; 1913 → 113 years; 1930 → 96 years.
Order: 1 = War of the League of Cambrai: English and Imperial forces defeated French… (1513), 2 = American Revolutionary War: American forces routed British and German troops… (1777), 3 = War of 1812: American General William Hull surrenders Fort Detroit without a… (1812), 4 = U.S. President James Buchanan inaugurates the new transatlantic telegraph… (1858).
Quiz: 1. C (1962); 2. A (1777); 3. B (American Revolutionary War: American forces routed British and German troops).