This Day In History — “Twas the Night Before Christmas” is published

December 23 1783 George Washington resigned as commander-in-chief of the U.S. Army. 1788 Maryland voted to cede a 100-square-mile area for the District of Columbia.…

View More This Day In History — “Twas the Night Before Christmas” is published

This Day In History — Congress passes Embargo Act

December 22 1772 Construction of the first schoolhouse west of the Allegheny Mountains was started in Schoenbrunn, Ohio, by Moravian missionaries. 1807 The U.S. Congress…

View More This Day In History — Congress passes Embargo Act

This Day In History — First game of basketball is played

December 21 1620 The Pilgrims landed at Plymouth, Massachusetts. 1891 The first basketball game, invented at Springfield College in Massachusetts by James E. Naismith, was…

View More This Day In History — First game of basketball is played

This Day In History — Louisiana Purchase is made

December 20 1790 Samuel Slater built the nation’s first cotton mill in Pawtucket, R.I. 1803 The United States purchased the Louisiana territory from France for…

View More This Day In History — Louisiana Purchase is made

This Day In History — “A Christmas Carol” is published

December 19 1732 Benjamin Franklin began publishing Poor Richard’s Almanac. 1776 Thomas Paine published his first American Crisis essay, in which he wrote, “These are…

View More This Day In History — “A Christmas Carol” is published

This Day In History — 13th Amendment Abolishes Slavery

December 18 1737 Violin maker Antonio Stradivari died in Cremona, Italy. 1787 New Jersey became the third state to ratify the U.S. Constitution. 1865 Slavery…

View More This Day In History — 13th Amendment Abolishes Slavery

This Day In History — Wright Brothers Take Flight

December 17 1777 France recognized American independence. 1903 Orville and Wilbur Wright made the first flight in a heavier-than-air plane at Kitty Hawk, N.C. 1944…

View More This Day In History — Wright Brothers Take Flight

This Day In History — The Boston Tea Party takes place

December 16 1653 Oliver Cromwell became lord protector of England, Scotland, and Ireland. 1773 The Boston Tea Party took place. 1916 Grigori Rasputin assassinated by…

View More This Day In History — The Boston Tea Party takes place

This Day In History — Walt Disney passes away

December 15 1791 The Bill of Rights took effect with Virginia’s ratification of it. 1890 Sioux Indian chief Sitting Bull was killed by Native American…

View More This Day In History — Walt Disney passes away

This Day In History — Sandy Hook Massacre Occurs

December 14 1799 George Washington died at age 67. 1819 Alabama became the 22nd state in the United States. 1911 Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen became…

View More This Day In History — Sandy Hook Massacre Occurs
Top