April 12

Friday 12, 2002:

Coup d'Etat against Hugo Chávez in Venezuela

Saturday 12, 1980:

Terry Fox began his trans-Canada marathon to raise money for cancer research (Marathon of Hope) by dipping his artificial leg in the Atlantic Ocean at St. John's, Newfoundland, aiming to dip it again in the Pacific Ocean at Vancouver, British Columbia.

Monday 12, 1926:

By a vote of 45 to 41, the United States Senate unseats Iowa Senator Smith W. Brookhart and seats Daniel F. Steck, after Brookhart had already served for over one year.

Thursday 12, 1923:

Kandersteg International Scout Centre came into existence.

Friday 12, 1861:

American Civil War: The war begins with Confederate forces firing on Fort Sumter, in the harbor of Charleston, South Carolina