Henry VIII becomes King of England

On April 21, 1509, King Henry VII died, leaving his son, Henry VIII, King of England. Henry VIII eventually seceded his nation from the Roman Catholic Church, becoming the first major European nation to do so. Henry then made himself head of the Church of England and dissolved Catholic monasteries throughout the country.

Learn more about Henry VIII.

THIS DAY @ LAW

US signed peace treaty with Germany ending World War I

On August 25, 1921, the United States, which never ratified the Versailles Treaty ending World War I, finally signed its own peace treaties with Germany, Austria and Hungary.

Former East Germany leader convicted of manslaughter for Berlin Wall policy

On August 25, 1997, Egon Krenz, the former of East Germany was convicted of manslaughter for promulgating a policy of shooting any East Germans who attempted to cross the Berlin Wall. Krenz was sentenced to six-and-a-half years in prison, of which he served four before being released into retirement from political life.