Alabama Becomes 22nd State
On December 14, 1819, Alabama was admitted to the Union as the 22nd state.
American History
Birth of Larry Doby
Lawrence Eugene Doby was born on December 13, 1923, in Camden, South Carolina. Doby was the second black player in Major League Baseball, the first in the American League, and the first to make it directly to the majors.
Birth of Stand Watie
Stand Watie was born on December 12, 1806, in Oothcaloga, Cherokee Nation (present-day Calhoun, Georgia). Watie was the only Native American to achieve the rank of general during the Civil War and was the last Confederate general to surrender.
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
On December 11, 1789, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill was established. It’s the oldest public university in the United States in terms of beginning instruction as a public school.
Universal Declaration of Human Rights
On December 10, 1948, the United Nations adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. This date is now celebrated as Human Rights Day.
The Flag of Liberation
On December 7, 1941, Japan attacked Pearl Harbor. A day that will live in infamy, the attack prompted an unusual handling of the American flag, which became known as the Flag of Liberation.
Dedication of Everglades National Park
On December 6, 1947, President Harry Truman presided over the dedication of Florida’s Everglades National Park. It’s the largest tropical wilderness in the United States and the third largest park in the country.
End of Prohibition
On December 5, 1933 the 21st Amendment was ratified, ending prohibition after nearly 15 years.
Belva Lockwood Argues Before Supreme Court
On November 30, 1880, Belva Ann Lockwood became the first woman to argue a case before the US Supreme Court. She was the first female member of the US Supreme Court Bar and paved the way for future female lawyers.