Osun Defender History Corner: December 20 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 20, 1803
The United States formally takes possession of the Louisiana Territory from France in a ceremony known as the Three Flags Day.
December 20, 1805
Austria and France sign the Treaty of Pressburg, ending the War of the Third Coalition.
December 20, 1860
South Carolina becomes the first state to secede from the United States, leading to the American Civil War.
December 20, 1868
The Ku Klux Klan is founded in Pulaski, Tennessee.
December 20, 1924
Adolf Hitler is released from prison after serving time for his failed coup attempt.
December 20, 1928
The first successful demonstration of color television is held by inventor Georges Valensi.
December 20, 1951
The EBR-1 in Arco, Idaho becomes the world’s first nuclear power plant to generate electricity.
December 20, 1957
Elvis Presley receives his draft notice for the United States Army.
December 20, 1968
The Zodiac Killer’s first confirmed murders occur in the San Francisco Bay Area.
December 20, 1973
The Spanish Prime Minister, Admiral Luis Carrero Blanco, is assassinated in Madrid by ETA militants.
December 20, 1987
In a collision between two ferries in the North Sea, 193 people are killed.
December 20, 1989
The United States invades Panama to depose Manuel Noriega.
December 20, 1995
NATO begins peacekeeping efforts in Bosnia.
December 20, 1996
NeXT merges with Apple Computer, with Steve Jobs returning to Apple after a 11-year hiatus.
December 20, 1999
Macau is handed back to China by Portugal, ending over 400 years of colonial rule.
December 20, 2004
A key design flaw in the International Space Station’s thermal control system is discovered.
December 20, 2007
The Portrait of Suzanne Bloch (1904) by Pablo Picasso is stolen from the São Paulo Museum of Art.
December 20, 2011
The United States formally declares an end to the Iraq War.
December 20, 2012
Park Geun-hye is elected as the first female President of South Korea.
December 20, 2019
The United States Space Force is established as a military branch of the Department of Defense.
Please note that these are just a few historical events that happened on December 20. History is full of numerous other significant events on this day, ranging from politics and warfare to cultural and scientific milestones.
Kazeem Badmus is a graduate of Mass Communication with years of experience. A professional in journalism and media writing, Kazeem prioritses accuracy and factual reportage of issues. He is also a dexterous finder of the truth with conscious delivery of unbiased and development oriented stories.
