December 20
Today in America's Present Past
1606 | The English expedition to America, consisting of the ships Discovery, Godspeed and Susan Constant, departs Blackwall, London to found Jamestown, Virginia.
1669 | Civil Rights: The first known jury trial in North America, Marcus Jacobson condemned for insurrection: Sentenced to flogging, branding and slavery.
1790 | The first successful U.S. cotton mill begins spinning yarn in Pawtucket, Rhode Island.
1803 | The French flag lowered in New Orleans to mark the formal transfer of the Louisiana Purchase from France to the U.S.
1812 | Shoshone interpreter Sacagawea died.
1820 | Civil Rights: Missouri imposes a $1 bachelor tax on unmarried men aged between 21 and 50.
1833 | Physician Samuel Mudd was born.
1861 | Civil War: The Battle of Dranesville, Virginia.
1868 | Entrepreneur Harvey S. Firestone was born.
1879 | Thomas Edison privately demonstrated incandescent light at Menlo Park.
1880 | New York City’s Broadway lit by electricity, becomes known as “Great White Way.”
1902 | Philosopher Sidney Hook was born.
1941 | WWII: First battle of the “Flying Tigers” in Kunming, China.
1946 | Film: “It’s a Wonderful Life” debuted.
1962 | TV: The Osmond Brothers debuted on the “Andy Williams Show.”
1968 | Novelist John Ernst Steinbeck died.
1971 | Entrepreneur Roy O. Disney died.
1974 | Film: “Godfather II” debuted.
1983 | Actor Jonah Hill was born.
1989 | Film: “Born on the Fourth of July” debuted.
1989 | U.S. launches an invasion of Panama.
1993 | Economist W. Edwards Deming died.
1993 | POTUS: Donald Trump wed Marla Maples.
1996 | Scientist Carl Sagan died.
2002 | Film: “Gangs of New York” debuted.
2019 | Congress: Created the United States Space Force.