AP March 6 in History
Today, March 6, is the 65th day of the year (66th day in leap year) on the Gregorian Calendar. The Zodiac sign for individuals born on this day is Pisces.
Ghana was known as the Gold Cost before it gained its independence from the U.K.http://africanhistory.about.com/b/2006/03/06/ghana-achieves-independence-6-march-1957.htmPortugese people traveled to Ghana in the 15th century and mined for gold. These travelers called the place Mina, which meant mine, and the English colonists changed the name to the Gold Cost. The Portugese traded and sold ivory, slaves, as well as gold from a castle they built in 1482. The Dutch moved in later on and eventually captured the castle in the 1600s.http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/history/
On March 6, 1957, Ghana became the first African nation to gain their independence from European colonists. Kwame Nkrumah, an African nationalist, who became the Secretary General of the Fifth Pan-African Congress. He was on the road to obtaining a law degree, but he veered off his path in order to push forward Ghana's independence. He was the man who chose the name Ghana, and he did this to stay in keeping with Africa's medieval past.http://africanhistory.about.com/b/2006/03/06/ghana-achieves-independence-6-march-1957.htm
People from Ghana now celebrate March 6 as their Independence Day by taking the day off of work and attending celebrations. Some even travel to the capital of Ghana to visit Kwame Nkrumah, who is now their country's Prime Minister.http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/march/6/newsid_2515000/2515459.stm
The 2000s
2010: Faqir Mohammed, the Taliban commander of Pakistan is killed by a US drone strike
2007: The highest jackpot ever is reached in Mega Millions at $370 million
2003: 103 people die when an Air Algrie flight crashes at the Tamanrasset Airport in Alegeria
The 1990s
1998: Matt Beck, who worked for a lottery company, kills 4 people in Conneticut
1995: The premier of the Howard Stern Show in Phoenix, Arizona
1991: President Bush Sr. announced that the Cold War had ended
The 1980s
1988: Orville Moodey shoots 63 people at a golf tournament
1987: Ecuador experienced an earthquake that kills 100 people
1983: The U.S. Football League (USFL) begins its first season
The 1970s
1970: The Beatles release their song, Let it Be, in the United Kingdom
The 1930s
1933: National bank holiday implemented by Franklin D. Roosevelt
The 1800s
1896: First horseless carriage
1861: The establishment of the Confederate Army
1836: Mexicans beat the Texans at the Alamo
Holidays and Observances
Territory of Norfolk Island - Foundation Day
Australia - World Day of Prayer
Famous Birthdays
1972: Shaquille O'Neal - NBA center for the Cleveland Cavaliers
1959: Tom Arnold - actor
1946: David Jon Gilmour - rock guitarist
1945: Rob Reiner - actor and director
1931: Willie Mays - baseball centerfielder - hall of fame
Famous Deaths
2000: John Colicos - actor in the original Battlestar Gallactica
1997: Michael Manley - Jamaican Prime Minister
1979: Charles Wagenheim - actor in Gunsmoke
1947: Ludwig Weber - composer
1932: John Philip Sousa - composer