2003: Saddam Hussein Captured
On December 13, 2003, U.S. forces captured former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein, who was found hiding in a small underground bunker beneath a farmhouse in Adwar, near his hometown of Tikrit. His capture marked a pivotal moment in the Iraq War, offering a symbolic victory for coalition forces and underscoring the collapse of his oppressive regime. Hussein, who ruled Iraq with an iron fist for nearly 24 years, was later tried and executed for crimes against humanity, including the mass killings of his own people.
1862: Union Defeat at Fredericksburg
On this day in 1862, Union forces under Maj. Gen. Ambrose Burnside launched a series of futile assaults against fortified Confederate positions during the Battle of Fredericksburg in the American Civil War. Over 12,000 Union soldiers were killed, wounded, or missing in one of the most one-sided battles of the war. The Confederate victory bolstered Southern morale and exposed critical flaws in Union strategy, emphasizing the deeply entrenched nature of the conflict that would continue for three more years.
1937: The Nanjing Massacre Begins
December 13, 1937, marked the beginning of the Nanjing Massacre, one of the darkest chapters of the Second Sino-Japanese War. Over the course of six weeks, Japanese forces killed an estimated 200,000 to 300,000 civilians, prisoners of war, and Chinese soldiers in the city of Nanjing. These atrocities included mass executions, widespread sexual violence, and wanton destruction. The massacre became a symbol of the brutalities of war and is commemorated today as a reminder of the necessity of accountability in international conflicts.
2014: Protests Against Police Violence
On December 13, 2014, thousands of demonstrators marched in cities across the United States, including New York and Washington, to protest the killing of unarmed Black men by white police officers. The protests were part of the growing Black Lives Matter movement, which emerged as a response to systemic racism and police brutality. The marches reflected a turning point in modern American civil rights advocacy, igniting national conversations about race, justice, and policing policies.
2019: Articles Of Impeachment Against The 45th President Approved
On this date in 2019, the House Judiciary Committee approved two articles of impeachment against the 45th president of the U.S. The charges—abuse of power and obstruction of Congress—stemmed from allegations that the president pressured Ukraine to investigate his political rival while withholding military aid. This marked only the third time in U.S. history that a president faced impeachment, showcasing the deterioration of the constitutional framework of accountability for executive misconduct.
2022: Respect for Marriage Act Signed
On December 13, 2022, President Joe Biden signed the Respect for Marriage Act into law, providing federal protections for same-sex and interracial marriages. The legislation was hailed as a landmark victory for civil rights, ensuring that such unions would be legally recognized across the United States even if the Supreme Court revisited earlier decisions. Biden’s declaration that the law struck a blow against hate in all its forms highlighted its significance in the ongoing struggle for equality and inclusivity in American society.
December 13th, A Day Of A Lost Compass
On this day, in 1937, Japanese soldiers had a frenzie, massacring up to 300,000 unarmed civilians in Nanjing, China. The massacre served no practical purpose in Japan’s war with China. It only brought excessive suffering to the people of China, and a blot on the reputation of the Japanese military.
On this day, in 2014, thousands of demonstrators in U.S. cities joined “Justice For All” rallies to bring attention to a trend in police departments’ overuse of deadly force on unarmed black men. The rallies contributed greatly to the public’s growing awareness of the injustice, however they did little to prevent the injustice from continuing.
On this day in 2003, U.S. forces captured Saddam Hussein near his hometown of Tikrit in Iraq, and it was hailed as a victory. This was a day when America flipped its compass. The administration of George W Bush perpetrated one of the biggest scams in American History when it persuaded the American people that war in Iraq was necessary because Iraq posed a threat. When military forces entered Iraq, they found no weapons of mass destruction. They found an army that was ill-equipped to carry out a threat against its neighbors, no less the U.S. Saddam Hussein was a viscious tyrant who deserved to be ousted by his own people, if possible, or by the neighboring countries which he had threatened. But when U.S. forces pulled him out of a hole, it did not make the U.S. any safer, and it did not serve the interests of the American public.
Today in History: December 20
A Look Back At Today, December 20
The Louisiana Purchase was completed.
“It’s a Wonderful Life” premiered at the Globe Theater.
The United States launched Operation Just Cause.
The United States Space Force was established.
Today in History: December 19
Today in History: December 19
In 1777, General George Washington led an army of more than 12,000 soldiers to Valley Forge.
In 1972, Apollo 17 splashed down in the Pacific, concluding the Apollo program.
In 2011, North Korean announced the death of Kim Jong Il and proclaimed Kim Jong Un as the leader.
In 2022, the House Jan. 6 Committee urged the Justice Department to bring criminal charges against the previous president
Today in History: December 18
Today in History: December 18
In 1865, the 13th Amendment to the Constitution, abolishing slavery, was proclaimed in effect.
In 1892, Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s ballet “The Nutcracker” publicly premiered in St. Petersburg, Russia; although now considered a classic, it received a generally negative reception from critics.
In 1957, the Shippingport Atomic Power Station in Pennsylvania, the first nuclear facility to generate electricity in the United States, went on line. (It was taken out of service in 1982.)
In 2011, the last convoy of heavily armored U.S. troops left Iraq, crossing into Kuwait in darkness in the final moments of a nearly nine-year war.
Today in History: December 17
Today in History: December 17
In 1903 The Wright brothers’ flight redefined the possibilities of travel and opened the skies to human exploration.
In 1933 The first NFL championship laid the foundation for professional football’s evolution into a national pastime.
In 1989 “The Simpsons” redefined animated television, blending humor with social commentary to leave an indelible mark on entertainment.
In 1992 NAFTA reshaped North American trade, fostering economic ties while sparking debates on globalization.
In 2014 The U.S.-Cuba rapprochement signaled a pivotal moment in the post-Cold War world, rekindling hopes for reconciliation.
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