On this day: December 6
1774 – First incident of the Boston Tea Party
On December 6, 1774, a group of colonists known as the Sons of Liberty boarded three British ships in Boston Harbor and dumped 342 chests of tea into the water. This act of protest was in response to the Tea Act of 1773, which granted the British East India Company a monopoly on tea sales in the American colonies. The Boston Tea Party was a key event in the lead up to the American Revolution.
1865 – The Thirteenth Amendment is ratified
On December 6, 1865, the Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution was ratified, abolishing slavery in the United States. This historic moment marked the end of a long and painful chapter in American history and was a major victory for the abolitionist movement.
1921 – The Irish Free State is established
On December 6, 1921, the Anglo-Irish Treaty was signed, leading to the establishment of the Irish Free State. The treaty ended the Irish War of Independence and marked the beginning of a new era for Ireland as a semi-independent nation within the British Commonwealth.
1941 – The United States enters World War II
On December 6, 1941, the United States officially entered World War II following the attack on Pearl Harbor by the Japanese on December 7. The attack shocked the nation and prompted President Franklin D. Roosevelt to declare war on Japan, marking the beginning of the U.S.’s involvement in the global conflict.
1989 – The École Polytechnique massacre in Montreal
On December 6, 1989, a gunman entered the École Polytechnique in Montreal, Canada, and opened fire on female students, killing 14 women before turning the gun on himself. The massacre, which specifically targeted women in engineering, sparked a national conversation about gender-based violence and the need for stricter gun control laws in Canada.
2006 – The release of the movie “Blood Diamond”
On December 6, 2006, the movie “Blood Diamond” was released in theaters. The film, starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Djimon Hounsou, shed light on the issue of conflict diamonds in Africa and the human rights abuses associated with the diamond trade. “Blood Diamond” helped raise awareness about the issue and led to increased pressure on the diamond industry to address these concerns.
2017 – President Donald Trump officially recognizes Jerusalem as the capital of Israel
On December 6, 2017, President Donald Trump announced that the United States would officially recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and begin the process of moving the U.S. embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. The decision was met with widespread criticism and condemnation from the international community, sparking protests and violence in the Middle East.
