1865: The 13th Amendment is Proclaimed in Effect
On this day in 1865, Secretary of State William H. Seward declared the 13th Amendment to the United States Constitution officially in effect, abolishing slavery in the nation. This monumental amendment immediately liberated over 100,000 enslaved individuals and marked the culmination of decades of abolitionist efforts. The 13th Amendment not only ended the institution of slavery but also redefined the meaning of freedom and equality in America, laying a critical foundation for future civil rights movements.
1892: Premiere of Tchaikovsky’s Ballet “The Nutcracker”
Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s ballet, “The Nutcracker,” premiered on December 18, 1892, in St. Petersburg, Russia. Although initially met with mixed reviews from critics, the ballet has since become a beloved holiday classic, celebrated for its enchanting music and whimsical story. The work’s iconic score, featuring pieces like the “Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy,” has made it a cornerstone of Western classical music and a global symbol of festive cheer.
1957: The Shippingport Atomic Power Station Begins Producing Electricity
The United States entered the atomic age on December 18, 1957, with the activation of the Shippingport Atomic Power Station in Pennsylvania. As the first nuclear facility to generate electricity for commercial use, it represented a pivotal moment in energy history. This pioneering plant demonstrated the potential of nuclear power as a sustainable energy source, although it was decommissioned in 1982. The Shippingport project set the stage for future advancements in nuclear energy worldwide.
2011: U.S. Troops Complete Withdrawal from Iraq
In the pre-dawn hours of December 18, 2011, the last convoy of U.S. troops left Iraq, crossing into Kuwait and ending nearly nine years of military involvement. The war, which began in 2003, resulted in significant political and social changes in Iraq but also sparked widespread controversy over its human and economic costs. This historic withdrawal symbolized the conclusion of a deeply divisive chapter in American foreign policy.
Today in History: December 29
A Look Back At Today: December 29
The Wounded Knee massacre took place
Germany dropped incendiary bombs on London, setting off “The Second Great Fire of London”
Vaclav Havel assumed the presidency of Czechoslovakia
Thomas Becket, the Archbishop of Canterbury, was slain in Canterbury Cathedral
Today in History: December 28
A Look Back At Today: December 28
The Lumière brothers held the first public showing of their films in Paris.
An earthquake followed by a tsunami devastated the Italian cities of Messina and Reggio Calabria
San Francisco’s Municipal Railway began operations
The Endangered Species Act was signed into law
The U.S. war in Afghanistan came to a formal end
Today in History: December 27
A Look Back At Today: December 27
Charles Darwin set sail on the ship HMS Beagle
Former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto was assassinated
“Peter Pan” opened in London.
Radio City Music Hall opened in New York
The International Monetary Fund was formally established
Soviet forces seized control of Afghanistan
American naturalist Dian Fossey was murdered
Today in History: December 26
A Look Back At Today: December 26
The tsunami of 2004 devastates southeast Asia
Winston Churchill spoke to the U.S. Congress
First celebration of Kwanzaa
The Soviet Union was dissolved
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