Osun Defender History Corner: December 17 In Focus
Today, on the history corner, we take a trip in the realm of flashback and recall some events that marked this day.
December 17, 2357 BC
The Chinese Emperor Yao appointed Shun as his successor, according to traditional Chinese legend.
December 17, 1271
Kublai Khan officially became the Emperor of the Mongol Empire.
December 17, 1787
New Jersey became the third state to ratify the U.S. Constitution.
December 17, 1865
The 13th Amendment to the United States Constitution was officially ratified, abolishing slavery.
December 17, 1867
Charles Dickens gave his first public reading in the United States at a New York City theatre.
December 17, 1916
The Battle of Verdun in World War I came to an end after 10 months of fierce fighting between French and German forces.
December 17, 1944
The U.S. Supreme Court upheld the wartime relocation of Japanese-Americans in the case of Korematsu v. United States.
December 17, 1956
Japan joined the United Nations.
December 17, 1966
Saturn’s moon Epimetheus was discovered by astronomer Richard L. Walker.
December 17, 1969
The British House of Commons voted to abolish the death penalty for murder.
December 17, 1971
The UN General Assembly granted the People’s Republic of China a seat, replacing the Republic of China (Taiwan).
December 17, 1987
Larry Wall released the first version of the programming language Perl.
December 17, 1997
HTML 4.0 was published by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C).
December 17, 1998
The U.S. House of Representatives voted to impeach President Bill Clinton.
December 17, 2006
United Arab Emirates holds its first-ever elections.
December 17, 2009
The final episode of the TV series “ER” aired after 15 seasons.
December 17, 2010
The Arab Spring began with the self-immolation of Mohamed Bouazizi in Tunisia.
December 17, 2013
China successfully soft-landed its rover, Chang’e 3, on the Moon.
December 17, 2015
The Paris Agreement, a global effort to combat climate change, was adopted by 195 countries.
December 17, 2019
The House of Representatives voted to impeach President Donald Trump on charges of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress.
Please note that these are just a few historical events that happened on December 17. History is full of numerous other significant events on this day, ranging from politics and warfare to cultural and scientific milestones.
Sodiq Lawal is a passionate and dedicated journalist with a knack for uncovering captivating stories in the bustling metropolis of Osun State and Nigeria at large. He has a versatile reporting style, covering a wide range of topics, from politics , campus, and social issues to arts and culture, seeking impact in all facets of the society.
