Southern Baptists – Today In Southern History
8 May 1845
On this date in 1845…
The Southern Baptist Convention formed in Augusta, Georgia after Southern churches separated themselves from the Northern-dominated Triennial Convention. Known for a policy of autonomy for individual churches, the Southern Baptist Convention eventually became the largest *non-Catholic denomination in the U.S.
*Southern Baptists do not consider themselves Protestants as Baptists were in existence prior to the Protestant Reformation.
Other Years:
1541- Spanish Conquistador Hernando de Soto reached the Mississippi River South of present-day Memphis on his exploratory trek across the American South.
1792 - The Militia Act establishes conscription under federal law in the US
1846 – General and future President Zachary Taylor of Virginia defeated a detachment of the Mexican army in a two-day battle at Palo Alto and Resaca de la Palma, the first major battle of the Mexican War.
1864 - Grants yankee forces arrived at Spotsylvania Court House, Virginia, to find Lee’s Confederates already there after the Battle of the Wilderness
1884 – Harry Truman who would become the 33rd U.S. President was born in Lamar, Missouri.
1886 – Confederate Army veteran Dr. John S. Pemberton sold his first Coca-Cola at Jacob’s Pharmacy in Atlanta, Georgia.
1915 – H.P. Whitney’s Regret became the first filly to win the Kentucky Derby.
1958 – U.S. President Eisenhower ordered the Arkansas National Guard out of Little Rock Central High School during the Arkansas desegregation crisis.
1961 – The first practical sea water conversion plant opened in Freeport, Texas.
1985 – “New Coke” was first released to the public on Coca-Cola’s 99th anniversary.
1999 – Nancy Mace became first woman cadet to graduate from The Citadel in Charleston, South Carolina.
Read ‘Why Know Southern History?’
There’s Plenty More to See At Our Sister Site ‘Southern Nation News’ for the best Southern News from Dixie Drudge
Copyright 2026, KnowSouthernHistory.Org