This week in history is a dramatic intersection of foundational American moments, pivotal military conflicts, and leaps in human innovation. The week begins with colonial and massive strides in mobility and space. Significant U.S. constitutional history was also made, while the nation saw its first state secession.
December 16
- 1773 – The Boston Tea Party takes place as American colonists protest British taxation by dumping tea into Boston Harbor.
- 1944 – The Battle of the Bulge begins when German forces launch a major offensive in the Ardennes during World War II.
December 17
- 1903 – Orville and Wilbur Wright achieve the first successful powered airplane flight at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina.
- 1989 – The first episode of The Simpsons airs as a full-length television series.
December 18
- 1865 – The Thirteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution is ratified, formally abolishing slavery.
- 1892 – Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s ballet The Nutcracker premieres in St. Petersburg, Russia.
December 19
- 1777 – George Washington’s Continental Army enters winter quarters at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania.
- 1998 – The U.S. House of Representatives impeaches President Bill Clinton.
December 20
- 1860 – South Carolina becomes the first state to secede from the United States.
- 1968 – Apollo 8 launches, becoming the first crewed mission to orbit the Moon.
December 21
- 1620 – The Pilgrims land at Plymouth, Massachusetts.
- 1968 – The famous “Earthrise” photograph is taken by the crew of Apollo 8.
December 22
- 1882 – Thomas Edison creates the first permanent electric Christmas lights.
1964 – Japan’s bullet train, the Shinkansen, begins regular service between Tokyo and Osaka
