Confederate rebels’ voting rights restored under amnesty

On May 22, 1872, President Ulysses S. Grant signed the General Amnesty Act, allowing all but about 500 Southern male voters denied voting rights as a punishment for rebellion under the XIVth Amendment to regain their right to vote and hold office. General amnesty was finally made universal on June 6, 1898.

THIS DAY @ LAW

Massachusetts instituted death penalty for heresy

On November 4, 1646, the Massachusetts General Court approved a law requiring all members of the colony to recognize the Bible as the Word of God, under penalty of death.  

Israel PM Yitzhak Rabin assassinated

On November 4, 1995, Yigal Amir shot and killed Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin in response to the Oslo Accords peace agreement with the Palestine Liberation Organization. Amir was tried and given a life sentence for the murder. Learn more about the trial of Yigal Amir from the New York Times.