This Day In History, December 18th.
Five Historical Events That Happened on December 18th
New Jersey is the third state to ratify the United States Constitution in 1787.
The Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution is approved in 1865, thus ending slavery across the country.
Tchaikovsky's ballet "The Nutcracker" receives its first performance in Saint Petersburg, Russia, in 1892.
Japan gets admitted to the United Nations in 1956.
Tunisia sparks the Arab Spring upheavals, which extend throughout the Middle East and North Africa.
1787: New Jersey becomes the third state to ratify the United States Constitution.
Following Delaware and Pennsylvania, New Jersey became the third state to ratify the United States Constitution on December 18, 1787. Before the document could take effect, it needed to be ratified by at least nine of the thirteen states. The ratification of New Jersey was a significant step toward the foundation of the new federal government under the Constitution.
1865: The Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution is ratified, officially abolishing slavery throughout the country.
The Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution was approved by the requisite number of states on December 18, 1865, legally eliminating slavery across the United States. This was a watershed point in American history because it ended the institution of slavery, which had been a source of contention in the country for decades. The Thirteenth Amendment was one of the Reconstruction Amendments approved after the Civil War, and it represented a watershed moment in the battle for civil rights and equality for all Americans.
1892: The first performance of Tchaikovsky's ballet "The Nutcracker" takes place in Saint Petersburg, Russia.
The first performance of Tchaikovsky's ballet "The Nutcracker" took place on December 18, 1892, at the Mariinsky Theatre in Saint Petersburg, Russia. The ballet was not an instant hit, but it has since become one of the world's most famous and popular ballets, particularly during the Christmas season. The music from "The Nutcracker" has become a fixture of classical music and has appeared in a variety of different types of entertainment, including movies and television advertisements. The ballet is famous for its beautiful music, vibrant costumes, and sophisticated choreography.
1956: Japan is admitted to the United Nations.
Japan was admitted to the United Nations on December 18, 1956, becoming the organization's 80th member state. This was a watershed moment in Japan's postwar history, marking the country's reintegration into the international community following its loss in the war. After the war, Japan was occupied by Allied forces for several years, during which time it underwent significant political, economic, and social changes. Its accession to the UN was an acknowledgment of its development and a symbol of its return to the international arena as a peaceful and democratic country.
2010: The Arab Spring uprisings begin in Tunisia, which would later spread throughout the Middle East and North Africa.
The self-immolation of a street seller called Mohamed Bouazizi started a series of riots in Tunisia on December 18th, 2010. Protests swiftly expanded throughout the country as Tunisians showed their dissatisfaction with President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali's regime's high unemployment, corruption, and political persecution. The demonstrations finally led to Ben Ali's resignation on January 14, 2011, triggering a wave of public upheavals and political instability across the Middle East and North Africa known as the Arab Spring. The Arab Spring upheavals had enormous political, social, and economic ramifications across the area, resulting in leadership changes, the formation of new political parties, and reforms in certain nations.