On this day in history - November 6

What Happened On This Day – November 6

• 1999 Australian republic referendum

  The referendum was held to amend the Australian constitution, which would have made the country a republic with a president as its head of state. If the referendum had passed, Australia would no longer have been a constitutional monarchy.

• 1985 Palace of Justice is Seized in Colombia

  25 guerrillas from the 19th of April Movement or the M-19 took over the Palace of Justice which houses the Colombian Supreme Court. They took 300 people hostage. The ensuing fight between the rebels and the government's forces left more than 100 people, including 11 Supreme Court justices dead.

• 1962 United Nations passes resolution to condemn Apartheid in South Africa

  The UN General Assembly asked its member states to stand up against apartheid and to cut off relations with South Africa in order to make a point. Apartheid was an official policy of racial discrimination and segregation followed in South Africa. Despite the UN Resolution, it remained governmental policy until 1994, when democratic general elections were held in the country.

• 1947 Meet the Press makes its TV debut

  The longest running TV news show was first hosted by journalist and creator Martha Rountree and aired on NBC.

• 1861 Jefferson Davis elected as president of Confederate States of America

  The senator from Mississippi was the provisional president of the Confederacy since February 1861. Despite being an effective president, his popularity waned as the Confederate government experienced losses during the Civil War. He was captured by Northern Soldiers in 1865 and imprisoned for 2 years.