📖🗣️ Notable Events

Notable Events for December 17th:

[source: National Day Calendar - December 17 | Birthdays & Events]

1791 - The first one-way street is created in NY City.
[Is likely inaccurate. One-way streets became more common in the early 20th century, not the late 18th. While it's possible a very early form of one-way traffic control existed, it's unlikely to have been formalized as a designated 'one-way street' in 1791. Early traffic management likely focused on simple regulations: These might have included horse traffic flow directions or restrictions on certain types of vehicles.]
1862 - General Ulysses Grant expels Jews from Tennessee.
[Is partially accurate, but needs clarification: Grant did issue General Order No. 11 on December 17, 1862. This order expelled 'Jews, as a class' from his military district, which encompassed parts of Tennessee, Mississippi, and Kentucky. The order was controversial and widely condemned. President Abraham Lincoln quickly ordered Grant to rescind the order. The order was based on the false premise that Jewish traders were primarily responsible for the illegal cotton trade in the South. This fueled anti-Semitic sentiment. It's crucial to understand that this order was a grave injustice. Grant later acknowledged his error and regretted the order. Key takeaway: While Grant did issue this discriminatory order, it was ultimately revoked, and it's important to remember that it does not accurately reflect Grant's overall character or his later views.]
1895 - The Anti-Saloon League of America is formed in D.C.
1900 - The Ellis Island Immigration Station is completed.
1924 - The first diesel electric locomotive begins running in NY.
[In 1924, the first commercially successful diesel-electric locomotive began service in the United States. This was a significant milestone in railroad technology.]
1944 - US Army announces the end of detaining Japanese Americans and begins their release.
[Unofficial Rescission: Executive Order 9066 was unofficially rescinded by President Roosevelt in December 1944. Formal Termination: However, the order was not formally terminated until February 1976 by President Gerald Ford. Key Points: Internment: Executive Order 9066 authorized the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II, a deeply controversial and unjust action. Impact: The internment had a devastating impact on the lives of Japanese Americans, causing significant loss of property, livelihoods, and civil liberties.]
1965 - The largest newspaper (Sunday NY Times) is sold for 50 cents for 946 pages.
[Likely Accurate: While the exact price and page count may vary slightly, the New York Times Sunday edition is known for its significant size and price.]
1999 - International Day to Eliminate Violence Against Women is created.
[The United Nations General Assembly designated November 25th as the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women in 1999.]
2003 - International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers is created.
[Origin: It was initiated in 2003 by Dr. Annie Sprinkle and the Sex Workers Outreach Project USA (SWOP-USA). Purpose: The day aims to bring attention to hate crimes and violence against sex workers worldwide.]

Notable Events for December 18th:

[source: National Day Calendar - December 18 | Birthdays & Events]

1719 - Thomas Fleet publishes Mother Goose's Melodies For Children.
[Likely Inaccurate: While Thomas Fleet did publish a collection of children's rhymes in 1719, the title 'Mother Goose's Melodies' is likely a later attribution. The term 'Mother Goose' itself may not have been associated with nursery rhymes until the 18th century.]
1777 - The U.S. celebrates its first Thanksgiving.
[The first Thanksgiving celebration in the colonies is widely considered to have taken place in 1621. In 1777, the Continental Congress did recommend a day of thanksgiving to celebrate the American victory at the Battle of Saratoga. However, the modern Thanksgiving holiday as we know it was not established until much later.]
1787 - New Jersey becomes the 3rd state to join the Union.
1796 - The Baltimore Monitor becomes the first newspaper to appear on a Sunday.
[Likely Inaccurate: While the Baltimore Monitor may have been an early Sunday newspaper, it's difficult to definitively say it was the absolute first.]
1839 - The first portrait photograph of a female face is taken by John William Draper.
1865 - Secretary of State William Seward proclaims the adoption of the 13th Amendment.
[The statement '1865 - Secretary of State William Seward proclaims the adoption of the 13th Amendment' is mostly accurate. Key Points: The 13th Amendment was ratified on December 6, 1865. While not explicitly stated as 'proclaimed' by the Secretary of State, ratification effectively made the amendment part of the Constitution. It's likely that official notifications and declarations were made, with the Secretary of State playing a role in disseminating the information. Minor Nuance: The term 'proclaimed' might not be the most precise in this context. Ratification is the official act that made the amendment part of the Constitution.]
1888 - The ancient Anasazi ruins of Mesa Verde are discovered.
1917 - Prohibition is passed by Congress.
[Congress passed the Eighteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, establishing Prohibition, in 1917. It was ratified in 1919.]
1936 - The first giant panda arrives in the U.S. from China.
1957 - The world's first full scale nuclear power plant begins to generate electricity.
[The Obninsk Nuclear Power Station in the Soviet Union began operating in 1954.]
1972 - President Nixon announces the U.S. will engage in a series of Christmas bombings.
[President Nixon authorized the Christmas Bombings of North Vietnam in December 1972.]

Notable Events for December 19th:

[source: National Day Calendar - December 19 | Birthdays & Events]

1606 - The ships carrying settlers who founded Jamestown, VA, leave England.
[Mostly Accurate: The ships carrying the first English settlers to Jamestown, Virginia, departed England in December 1606.]
1795 - Kentucky becomes the first state to appropriate money for road building.
[Needs Refinement: While Kentucky was an early adopter of state-funded road construction, it's not definitively the absolute first. Some sources indicate that other states, like Virginia, may have allocated funds earlier.]
1823 - Georgia passes the first state birth registration law.
1871 - Albert Jones patents corrugated paper.
[Albert Jones is credited with the first patent for corrugated paper in the United States in 1871.]
1910 - Baltimore becomes the first city ordinance requiring white and black residential areas.
[Baltimore passed the first residential segregation ordinance in the United States, in 1910.]
1985 - The first woman receives an artificial heart.
1988 - NASA unveils plans for a colony on Mars.
[NASA has unveiled various Mars exploration plans, including those that envision long-term human presence, which could be considered a precursor to a colony.]

Notable Events for December 20th:

[source: National Day Calendar - December 20 | Birthdays & Events]

1790 - The first cotton mill begins spinning yarn in Rhode Island.
[This is generally considered accurate. The first cotton mill in the US began operation in 1790 in Pawtucket, Rhode Island.]
1919 - The House of Representatives restricts immigration into the U.S.
[This is partially inaccurate. While there were immigration restrictions before and after 1919, the significant restrictive legislation of that era was primarily the Emergency Quota Act of 1921 and the Immigration Act of 1924. 1919 saw some temporary measures and the continuation of existing restrictions, but it wasn't the landmark year for immigration restriction.]
1940 - Captain America makes his first appearance in comic books.
[Captain America's first appearance was in Captain America Comics #1, published in December 1940 (with a cover date of March 1941).]
1945 - Auto tires rationing ends in U.S.
[Tire rationing did end in the US in 1945, after the conclusion of World War II.]
1956 - Montgomery, AL removes race-based seating on buses.
[The Montgomery Bus Boycott ended in December 1956 after the Supreme Court ruled segregation on buses unconstitutional.]
1967 - At least 474,300 soldiers are sent to Vietnam.
[This is likely accurate. The number of US troops in Vietnam peaked in 1968 with over 500,000. While troop deployments and numbers fluctuated, it's plausible that at least 474,300 were present in 1967 as part of the buildup.]

Notable Events for December 23rd:

[source: National Day Calendar - December 23 | Birthdays & Events]

1779 - Benedict Arnold is court-martialed for improper conduct.
[Mostly Accurate: Benedict Arnold was indeed court-martialed in 1779. The court-martial stemmed from accusations of improper conduct during his time as military governor of Philadelphia. However, the court-martial didn't take place in 1779. The charges were brought in early 1779, but the court-martial didn't convene until December 1779 and concluded in January 1780. He was acquitted of most charges but received a reprimand from George Washington.]
1907 - The first all-steel passenger railroad coach is completed.
[Likely Accurate: While pinning down the very first all-steel passenger car is difficult, this is around the time they began to be widely adopted. The Pennsylvania Railroad is often credited with leading the way in steel car construction around this period, prioritizing safety after several wooden car accidents.]
1913 - President Wilson signed legislation to create the Federal Reserve System.
[President Woodrow Wilson signed the Federal Reserve Act into law on December 23, 1913, establishing the Federal Reserve System as the central bank of the United States.]
1947 - John Bardeen, Walter Brattain and William Shockley demonstration their invention, the transistor.
[Mostly Accurate: The first demonstration of a working transistor to colleagues at Bell Labs was in December 1947. Public demonstration and publication of the findings occurred in 1948. The key figures were John Bardeen and Walter Brattain. William Shockley was involved in the broader research and later developed an improved type of transistor.]
1954 - The first human kidney transplant is performed.
[The first successful human kidney transplant was performed on December 23, 1954, at the Peter Bent Brigham Hospital in Boston. The recipient and donor were identical twins, which helped prevent rejection.]

Notable Events for December 24th:

[source: National Day Calendar - December 24 | Birthdays & Events]

1826 - The Eggnog Riot at the U.S. Military Academy.
[This is largely accurate. The Eggnog Riot did occur at West Point on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day in 1826. Cadets smuggled in alcohol (mostly whiskey) to make eggnog, which was against regulations, and the situation escalated into a riot.]
1832 - The first "Negro" hospital is founded (by whites).
[This is complex and needs clarification. While hospitals specifically for Black patients were established around this time, the term 'Negro' is outdated and offensive. It's important to be sensitive to the language used when discussing this topic. It's more accurate to say that hospitals serving Black communities were founded, often by white philanthropists or religious groups, due to segregation and lack of access to mainstream healthcare.]
1893 - Henry Ford completes his first gas-fueled engine.
[This is generally accurate. Henry Ford did complete his first successful gasoline engine in 1893, which was a key step towards his later work on automobiles.]
1901 - The use of the word "postcard" replaces the words "souvenir card."
[This is partially accurate. The term 'postcard' did become more common around this time, but it didn't entirely replace 'souvenir card.' Both terms were used, and there was some overlap in their meaning. "Postcard" emphasized the card's use for mailing, while 'souvenir card' emphasized its commemorative aspect.]
1912 - Irving Fisher patents the archiving system.
[This is not accurate. Irving Fisher was a prominent economist, but he is not known for patenting an archiving system. It's possible this is a misunderstanding or confusion with another individual or invention.]
1943 - General Eisenhower is named Supreme Allied Commander for Operation Overlord.
[General Dwight D. Eisenhower was indeed appointed Supreme Allied Commander for Operation Overlord, the Allied invasion of Normandy, in late 1943.]
1948 - The first solar heated house is occupied in the U.S.
[This is generally accurate. There were experimental solar-heated houses before this, but the Dover Sun House in Dover, Massachusetts, built in 1948, is often considered a significant early example of a fully solar-heated residence in the U.S.]

Notable Events for December 25th:

[source: National Day Calendar - December 25 | Birthdays & Events]

1760 - Slave Jupiter Hammon composes the poem 'An Evening Thought' and becomes the first published Black poet.
[Mostly Accurate: Jupiter Hammon did write 'An Evening Thought' around Christmas of 1760, and it was published as a broadside in 1761. This made him the first published Black poet in North America. So the year is very close, and the rest is correct.]
1809 - The first abdominal surgery to remove a 22 pound ovarian tumor is performed in the U.S.
[Likely Accurate: This event is generally attributed to Dr. Ephraim McDowell, who performed this pioneering surgery in Danville, Kentucky, in 1809. It was a remarkable achievement for its time.]
1831 - Louisiana and Arkansas are the first states to observe Christmas as holiday.
[Inaccurate: While Louisiana was one of the earliest states to recognize Christmas, it wasn't until 1838 that it did so. Arkansas did not recognize Christmas as a legal holiday until much later. There is no evidence to support that they were the first states to observe Christmas as a holiday in 1831.]
1868 - President Johnson grants an unconditional pardon to all Confederate veterans.
[President Andrew Johnson issued a general amnesty proclamation on Christmas Day, 1868, pardoning all former Confederates, with some exceptions.]
1983 - The first Christmas Parade is televised at Disney World.
[Likely Inaccurate: Disney Parks have a long history of Christmas parades and televised specials. While 1983 may have been a significant year for a particular televised parade, it's unlikely it was the first one ever televised from Disney World. More information would be needed to confirm this.]
1896 - John Philip Sousa writes Stars & Stripes Forever.
[John Philip Sousa did indeed compose 'The Stars and Stripes Forever' in 1896. It went on to become one of the most famous American patriotic marches.]

Notable Events for December 26th:

[source: National Day Calendar - December 26 | Birthdays & Events]

1773 - Tea ships are expelled from Philadelphia.
[Mostly Accurate: While the Philadelphia "tea party" didn't involve dumping tea into the harbor like in Boston, ships carrying tea were indeed turned away from Philadelphia in 1773 due to strong opposition to the Tea Act. So, 'expelled' is a fair description.]
1805 - The Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts is established in PA.
[The Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (PAFA) was founded in Philadelphia in 1805, making it one of the oldest art museums and schools in the United States.]
1862 - The first hospital ship is commissioned by the U.S. Navy.
[The USS Red Rover was the first hospital ship commissioned by the U.S. Navy during the Civil War.]
1865 - The first coffee percolator is patented by James Mason.
[Inaccurate: While James Mason did receive a patent related to coffee in 1865, it wasn't for the first coffee percolator. The concept of percolation existed before this, and other designs and patents predate Mason's. His patent was for an improved coffee pot.]
1878 - The first store installs electric lights.
[Likely Inaccurate: It's difficult to pinpoint the very first store with electric lights, as the technology was developing rapidly at this time. However, it's generally accepted that some of the earliest commercial installations of electric lighting were in the late 1870s and early 1880s, with department stores like Wanamaker's in Philadelphia being early adopters. So, 1878 is plausible but not definitively confirmed as the very first.]
1919 - Babe Ruth of the Boston Red Sox establishing the Curse of the Bambino superstition.
[Mostly Accurate: Babe Ruth was sold by the Boston Red Sox to the New York Yankees in 1919 (the sale was finalized in January 1920). The "Curse of the Bambino" superstition arose later, associating the Red Sox's subsequent decades-long World Series drought with the sale of Ruth.]
1941 - President Roosevelt signs a bill establishing the fourth Thursday in November as Thanksgiving Day.
[In 1941, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed a bill making Thanksgiving a legal holiday on the fourth Thursday of November.]
1944 - Patton's Third Army breaks the encirclement of surrounded U.S. forces at Bastogne, Belgium.
[During the Battle of the Bulge in World War II, General Patton's Third Army played a crucial role in relieving the besieged U.S. forces at Bastogne in late December 1944.]
1966 - The first Kwanzaa is celebrated at California State University.
[Mostly Accurate: Kwanzaa was created by Maulana Karenga and first celebrated in 1966. While it may have been celebrated in various community settings, it's not definitively established that the very first celebration was specifically at California State University.]

Notable Events for January 1st:

[source: National Day Calendar - January 1 | Birthdays & Events]

1673 - Delivery of regular mail begins in NY and MA.
[Mostly Accurate. While organized mail delivery began between New York and Boston in 1673, it wasn't quite the 'regular mail' we think of today. It was a monthly service. So, the core idea is correct, but it wasn't as frequent as 'regular' might imply.]
1776 - General George Washington raises the first American flag.
[Partially Accurate. This is a common misconception. While the Continental Army did use flags during the Revolution, there wasn't one single "first American flag" raised by Washington. The Grand Union Flag was used early in the war, and the familiar Stars and Stripes was adopted by the Continental Congress in 1777.]
1797 - Albany becomes the capital of NY.
1808 - The importation of slaves is banned in the U.S.
1840 - The first bowling match is recorded in the U.S.
1852 - The first public bath opens in NY City.
1863 - The Emancipation Proclamation takes effect in Confederate territory.
1892 - Ellis Island begins processing immigrants.
1913 - The post office begins delivery of parcels.
[This was the start of Parcel Post.]
1943 - Baseball League player Josh Gibson suffers a nervous breakdown and is admitted to the hospital.
[Likely Accurate. Josh Gibson did suffer from mental health issues later in his life, and there are records of hospitalizations. However, pinpointing a specific incident in 1943 might require further specialized research.]
1962 - The Navy SEALs are created.
[Mostly Accurate. While SEAL Teams ONE and TWO were officially commissioned in January 1962, the groundwork for their creation began in 1961 under President Kennedy.]
1966 - Cigarette packs give print a warning of being hazardous to a person's health on each package.
1972 - International Book Year begins.
[This was designated by UNESCO.]
1985 - International Youth Year begins.
[This was designated by the United Nations.]
1985 - The first mandatory seat belt law goes into effect.
[Partially Accurate. New York was the first state to pass a mandatory seat belt law in 1984, which went into effect on January 1, 1985. However, it wasn't a nationwide law at that time.]
1986 - International Peace Year begins.
[This was designated by the United Nations.]
1987 - International Year of Shelter for Homeless begins.
[This was designated by the United Nations.]
1994 - International Year of Family begins.
[This was designated by the United Nations.]
1994 - The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) takes effect.
1999 - International Year of Elderly begins.
[This was designated by the United Nations.]

Notable Events for January 2nd:

[source: National Day Calendar - January 2 | Birthdays & Events]

1776 - George Washington's army raises the Grand Union Flag at Charlestown.
[The Grand Union Flag was raised on January 1, 1776, at Prospect Hill in Charlestown (now part of Somerville), Massachusetts, by George Washington's army.]  
1788 - Georgia becomes the 4th state to join the Union.
[Georgia ratified the Constitution on January 2, 1788, becoming the 4th state to join the Union.]
1800 - The Free African American Community petitions Congress to abolish the slave trade.
[In 1800, free African Americans in Philadelphia petitioned Congress for the abolition of the slave trade.]
1832 - The first U.S. Curling club opens.
[Needs clarification. While curling was played in the US before 1832, the first formal curling club in the U.S. was the Orchard Lake Curling Club, established in 1832 in Orchard Lake, Michigan.]
1890 - Alice Sanger becomes the first female staff member at the White House.
[Alice Sanger was hired as a clerk in the White House mailroom in 1890, making her the first female staff member.]
1906 - Willis Carrier is awarded the patent for the first air conditioner.
[Willis Carrier received a patent for his "Apparatus for Treating Air," considered the first modern air conditioner, in 1906.]
1934 - The first state liquor stores open in PA.
[Following the repeal of Prohibition, Pennsylvania established the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board in 1933, and state-owned liquor stores began opening in 1934.]
1941 - The U.S. government announces a program to build freighters in support of the war effort.
[In response to the growing need for ships during World War II, the U.S. government established the Emergency Shipbuilding Program in 1941 to mass-produce cargo ships, known as Liberty ships.]
1942 - The FBI convicts 33 members of a German spy ring.
[In 1942, the FBI successfully convicted 33 members of a German spy ring operating in the United States, in what became known as the Duquesne Spy Ring case.]
1974 - President Nixon signs a bill lowering the speed limit to 55 mph to conserve gas.
[As part of efforts to conserve fuel during the energy crisis, President Nixon signed the Emergency Highway Energy Conservation Act in 1974, which established a national speed limit of 55 mph.]
1975 - The Department of Interior designates the grizzly bear an endangered species.
[The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service listed the grizzly bear as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act in 1975.]
1991 - Sharon Pratt Dixon becomes the Black female mayor of the District of Columbia and a major city.
[In 1991, Sharon Pratt Dixon was sworn in as the mayor of Washington D.C., becoming the first African American woman to lead both the District of Columbia and a major U.S. city.]