📺This Week In History - Shots Fired At Kent State

Welcome back History Nerds,

We’re very excited to bring you another edition of the LOL History Newsletter, and we’re actually on-time this week! Strap in, this week is a bit of a more serious one— covering the Kent State tragedy and Nelson Mandela becoming Africa’s First Black President. We wish there was more fun topics to cover this week, but frankly there was a ton of depressing stuff! So, as always, we put our own twist on things to make it enjoyable at the very least.

Did You Know? On April 3, 1860, the Pony Express officially launched, promising lightning-fast mail delivery from Missouri to California in just 10 days—at a time when most mail took weeks. Riders were lightweight teenagers, some as young as 14, galloping through wild terrain, dodging bandits, and braving snowstorms. The whole thing lasted just 18 months before the telegraph made it obsolete—but for a brief moment, it was the Wild West’s version of FedEx.

During Your History Lesson You’ll Learn About:

• Napoleon Bonaparte Dies

• When Protest Turned to Tragedy at Kent State

• Nelson Mandela Becomes Africa’s First Black President

• The Hindenburg: When Air Travel Went Down in Flames

Napoleon’s Death Ends an Era of Revolution and Empire

On May 5, 1821, Napoleon Bonaparte drew his final breath on the remote island of Saint Helena, closing a chapter that had reshaped Europe and the world. Exiled far from the battlefields and thrones he once dominated, the former French emperor succumbed to illness at 51, his body weakened but his legend already immortal. His death marked the end of a tumultuous era—one of revolutionary ideals, sprawling empires, and relentless wars that redrew maps and redefined power. For a man who had risen from modest Corsican roots to crown himself emperor, it was a quiet, almost anticlimactic end to a life that burned with ambition.

Napoleon’s story wasn’t just about conquest; it was about revolution’s double-edged sword. He seized power in 1799, riding the chaos of the French Revolution to establish order, reform France’s laws, and spread ideas of liberty and equality—often at the point of a bayonet. His Napoleonic Code, a legal framework born in 1804, modernized civil law and influenced nations far beyond France’s borders, from Europe to Latin America. Yet his hunger for dominance led to campaigns that bled Europe dry, from the sun-scorched sands of Egypt to the frozen retreats of Russia. By 1815, after his defeat at Waterloo, the powers of Europe banished him to Saint Helena, determined to cage the man who had upended their world.

What made Napoleon’s death a turning point was its finality. His era had been a whirlwind of upheaval—kings toppled, borders shifted, and revolutionary ideals clashed with imperial ambition. With his passing, Europe exhaled, settling into a conservative order under the Congress of Vienna, designed to prevent another Napoleon from rising. But his shadow lingered. The Napoleonic Wars had sparked nationalist movements, planted seeds of independence in colonies, and shown that a single man could bend history to his will.

When Protest Turned to Tragedy at Kent State

On May 4, 1970, a student protest against the Vietnam War at Kent State University took a tragic turn when the Ohio National Guard opened fire on unarmed demonstrators. In just 13 seconds, they fired nearly 70 rounds, killing four students and wounding nine others. Some of the students shot weren’t even part of the protest—they were just walking to class. The shootings shocked the country and sparked even more protests, as Americans wrestled with the fact that young people were being killed not just overseas, but on their own college campuses.

The event became a tipping point in public opinion about the war. Photos from that day—especially the one of a young woman screaming over a victim’s body—were plastered across front pages and burned into the national memory. What happened at Kent State wasn’t just a tragedy—it became a symbol of how divided, volatile, and out of control things had become in America. The message was loud and clear: the war wasn’t just costing lives in Vietnam—it was tearing the country apart at home.

Nelson Mandela Redefines a Nation

On May 10, 1994, Nelson Mandela took the oath of office as South Africa’s first Black president, standing before a joyful crowd in Pretoria. At 75, and after 27 years in prison, his rise from prisoner to president was a powerful symbol of resilience and hope. His inauguration didn’t just mark the start of a new government—it ended the racist system of apartheid that had divided the country for decades, enforcing segregation and violence against Black South Africans.

Mandela’s leadership was remarkable not only because of what he overcame but because of how he chose to lead. Instead of seeking revenge, he promoted reconciliation, working with former enemies to build a united nation. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission, led by Archbishop Desmond Tutu, encouraged victims and perpetrators to share their stories, helping the country face its painful past. Mandela’s dream of a “Rainbow Nation” was bold—he believed healing would come through truth, not punishment.

South Africa’s transformation also had global roots. For years, people around the world had protested apartheid, boycotted South African goods, and supported the fight for justice. Mandela’s victory was the result of both local resistance and global solidarity. His presidency inspired others worldwide, showing that change is possible through perseverance, forgiveness, and moral courage. That historic day in 1994 wasn’t just about one man—it was about a country choosing unity over division.

The Hindenburg: When Air Travel Went Down in Flames

On May 6, 1937, the German airship Hindenburg was gliding into Lakehurst, New Jersey, finishing its first transatlantic trip of the year. It was a floating luxury hotel—800 feet long, with dining rooms, lounges, and even a smoking room (yes, on a hydrogen-filled blimp). Crowds gathered to watch it land, expecting a smooth arrival. Instead, they witnessed one of the most infamous disasters in aviation history. As the crew lowered the mooring lines, the ship suddenly burst into flames, collapsed midair, and crashed to the ground in under a minute.

The fire spread so fast that most people didn’t stand a chance. Of the 97 people on board, 36 were killed, along with one person on the ground. The horrifying scene was captured live on film and radio, including the unforgettable words: “Oh, the humanity!” The Hindenburg had been a symbol of cutting-edge travel—until it became a symbol of just how dangerous packing a giant balloon with highly flammable hydrogen really was.

After the crash, the dream of commercial airships went up in smoke. Plans for future zeppelins were scrapped, and the aviation world shifted its focus to airplanes—faster, safer, and far less likely to explode on landing. The Hindenburg disaster didn’t just end an era of luxury airships—it marked a dramatic turning point in how humans dared to conquer the skies.

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See You Next Time!

We hope that you enjoyed this edition of the LOL History newsletter! See you next week!

— Evan & Derek - LOL History Co-Founders