History

The week before Christmas notable historical events

 

Pre-20th Century Events

  • December 16, 1773: Boston Tea Party
    American colonists protested British taxation by dumping tea into Boston Harbor, an event that escalated tensions leading to the American Revolution.
  • December 17, 1903: First Flight by the Wright Brothers
    Orville and Wilbur Wright made the first controlled, sustained flight of a powered, heavier-than-air aircraft at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina.
  • December 18, 1865: Thirteenth Amendment Ratified
    The U.S. officially abolished slavery when the Thirteenth Amendment to the Constitution was declared ratified.
  • December 24, 1814: Treaty of Ghent Signed
    This treaty ended the War of 1812 between the United States and Britain.

20th Century Events

  • December 20, 1957: Elvis Presley Drafted into the U.S. Army
    The “King of Rock and Roll” received his draft notice, marking a turning point in his career.
  • December 21, 1988: Lockerbie Bombing
    Pan Am Flight 103 exploded over Lockerbie, Scotland, due to a terrorist bombing, killing 270 people.
  • December 24, 1968: Apollo 8 orbits the Moon
    NASA’s Apollo 8 crew became the first humans to orbit the Moon, giving a Christmas Eve broadcast that included the famous reading from the Book of Genesis.

Cultural Events

  • December 19, 1843: Publication of “A Christmas Carol” by Charles Dickens
    This beloved Christmas story was first published in London, shaping modern holiday traditions.
  • December 22, 1942: Release of “White Christmas”
    Bing Crosby’s iconic song was first performed in the film Holiday Inn. It became one of the best-selling singles of all time.

Recent Events

  • December 23, 2001: Invention of Wikipedia Announced
    Larry Sanger and Jimmy Wales announced the creation of Wikipedia, which would revolutionize how information is shared.
  • December 19, 2011: Kim Jong-il’s Death
    The North Korean leader passed away, leading to the rise of his son, Kim Jong-un.

These events highlight the diverse and impactful happenings that occurred during the days leading up to Christmas throughout history. Let me know if you’d like more details on any of these!