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AmericaOn This Day

Month

December

31 dates, 248 cited events. Every entry links to the day’s full story.

  1. 1Dec

    In his second State of the Union Address

    8 moments from the American record, 1862 to 1991 · 5 births · 2 observances. The 336th day of the year.

    Julia A. Moore, b. 1847★ National Day

  2. 2Dec

    After a trip to Vietnam at the request of U.S. President John F.…

    8 moments from the American record, 1823 to 1962 · 5 births · 3 observances. The 337th day of the year.

    William Shirley, b. 1694★ International Day for the Abolition of Slavery

  3. 3Dec

    United States presidential election

    8 moments from the American record, 1800 to 2009 · 5 births · 1 observance. The 338th day of the year.

    Gilbert Stuart, b. 1755★ International Day of Persons with Disabilities

  4. 4Dec

    The 109 electors of the several states of the Confederate States…

    8 moments from the American record, 1783 to 1992 · 5 births. The 339th day of the year.

    John Cotton, b. 1585

  5. 5Dec

    Continental Army colonel Henry Knox arrived at Fort Ticonderoga…

    8 moments from the American record, 1770 to 1955 · 5 births. The 340th day of the year.

    Martin Van Buren, b. 1782

  6. 6Dec

    Slavery in the United States was officially abolished with the…

    8 moments from the American record, 1790 to 2017 · 5 births · 1 observance. The 341st day of the year.

    Gabriel Duvall, b. 1752★ National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women

  7. 7Dec

    Attack on Pearl Harbor

    8 moments from the American record, 1787 to 2005 · 5 births · 1 observance. The 342nd day of the year.

    John Littlejohn, b. 1756★ National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day

  8. 8Dec

    The Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty is signed by U.S.…

    8 moments from the American record, 1777 to 2024 · 5 births. The 343rd day of the year.

    Eli Whitney, b. 1765

  9. 9Dec

    After their loss in the Battle of Great Bridge

    8 moments from the American record, 1775 to 2008 · 5 births. The 344th day of the year.

    Peter Pelham, b. 1721

  10. 10Dec

    The Confederate States of America accept a rival state…

    8 moments from the American record, 1817 to 2021 · 5 births. The 345th day of the year.

    Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet, b. 1787

  11. 11Dec

    World War II

    8 moments from the American record, 1789 to 2006 · 5 births · 1 observance. The 346th day of the year.

    George Mason, b. 1725★ Indiana Day

  12. 12Dec

    The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Bush v. Gore that the recount of…

    8 moments from the American record, 1787 to 2000 · 5 births. The 347th day of the year.

    William L. Marcy, b. 1786

  13. 13Dec

    Union forces under Ambrose Burnside suffered severe casualties…

    8 moments from the American record, 1623 to 2003 · 5 births. The 348th day of the year.

    Emil Seidel, b. 1864

  14. 14Dec

    Heart of Atlanta Motel v. United States

    8 moments from the American record, 1819 to 2008 · 5 births. The 349th day of the year.

    Philander Chase, b. 1775

  15. 15Dec

    The Battle of Nashville begins at Nashville

    8 moments from the American record, 1778 to 1978 · 5 births · 1 observance. The 350th day of the year.

    Abner Powell, b. 1860★ Bill of Rights Day

  16. 16Dec

    The Battle of Nashville ends as the Union Army of the Cumberland…

    8 moments from the American record, 1689 to 2024 · 5 births · 1 observance. The 351st day of the year.

    John Ordronaux, b. 1778★ National Day, celebrates the withdrawal of United Kingdom from Bahrain, making Bahrain an independent emirate in 1971.

  17. 17Dec

    Union General Ulysses S. Grant issued General Order No. 11

    8 moments from the American record, 1777 to 2014 · 5 births · 4 observances. The 352nd day of the year.

    Joseph Henry, b. 1797★ International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers

  18. 18Dec

    The Supreme Court of the United States issued its decision in…

    8 moments from the American record, 1777 to 2017 · 5 births · 1 observance. The 353rd day of the year.

    Charles Griffin, b. 1825★ National Day

  19. 19Dec

    George Washington's Continental Army goes into winter quarters at…

    8 moments from the American record, 1606 to 1998 · 5 births. The 354th day of the year.

    John Winthrop, b. 1714

  20. 20Dec

    The Louisiana Purchase is completed at a ceremony in New Orleans

    8 moments from the American record, 1803 to 2019 · 5 births. The 355th day of the year.

    Arthur Lee, b. 1740

  21. 21Dec

    Medal of Honor

    8 moments from the American record, 1620 to 2004 · 5 births. The 356th day of the year.

    William H. Osborn, b. 1820

  22. 22Dec

    Savannah, Georgia, falls to the Union's Army of the Tennessee,…

    8 moments from the American record, 1807 to 2018 · 5 births. The 357th day of the year.

    Teresa Carreño, b. 1853

  23. 23Dec

    George Washington resigned as commander-in-chief of the…

    8 moments from the American record, 1776 to 2008 · 5 births · 1 observance. The 358th day of the year.

    Nathan Wilson, b. 1758★ HumanLight

  24. 24Dec

    The U.S. Congress granted home rule to Washington

    8 moments from the American record, 1814 to 1973 · 5 births · 1 observance. The 359th day of the year.

    Kit Carson, b. 1809★ Christmas Eve

  25. 25Dec

    General George Washington and the Continental Army cross the…

    8 moments from the American record, 1776 to 2007 · 5 births. The 360th day of the year.

    Filippo Mazzei, b. 1730

  26. 26Dec

    George Washington led a Continental Army column across the…

    8 moments from the American record, 1776 to 1943 · 5 births · 1 observance. The 361st day of the year.

    E. D. E. N. Southworth, b. 1819★ The first day of Kwanzaa, celebrated until January 1

  27. 27Dec

    Having coined the phrase "manifest destiny" the previous July

    8 moments from the American record, 1831 to 2024 · 5 births. The 362nd day of the year.

    Charles Hodge, b. 1797

  28. 28Dec

    The United States Endangered Species Act is signed into law by…

    8 moments from the American record, 1832 to 1973 · 5 births. The 363rd day of the year.

    Eliza Lucas, b. 1722

  29. 29Dec

    The United States Army killed 250 to 300 Lakota men

    8 moments from the American record, 1778 to 1959 · 5 births · 1 observance. The 364th day of the year.

    Charles Goodyear, b. 1800★ The fourth day of Kwanzaa

  30. 30Dec

    Following the Wounded Knee Massacre

    8 moments from the American record, 1816 to 2006 · 5 births · 1 observance. The 365th day of the year.

    John W. Geary, b. 1819★ The fifth day of Kwanzaa

  31. 31Dec

    The three-day Battle of Stones River begins near Murfreesboro

    8 moments from the American record, 1775 to 2010 · 5 births · 2 observances. The 366th day of the year.

    James Bunbury White, b. 1774★ New Year's Eve