This Day In History, December 24th.
Five Historical Events That Happened on December 24th
The Treaty of Ghent was signed at Ghent, Belgium, between the United States and the United Kingdom, thereby ending the War of 1812.
1818: The renowned Christmas carol "Silent Night" is first performed - The famous Christmas carol "Silent Night" was first played at St. Nicholas Church in Oberndorf, Austria.
The Ku Klux Klan is founded in Pulaski, Tennessee, in 1865, by a group of Confederate veterans, becoming a white supremacist organization.
1979: The Soviet Union invades Afghanistan - Soviet forces cross the border into Afghanistan, commencing a ten-year conflict.
In 1994, four terrorists hijacked an Air France airliner in Algiers, Algeria, with the aim of crashing it against the Eiffel Tower. The plane was finally seized by French special forces, who killed all of the terrorists and rescued the passengers.
1814: Treaty of Ghent - The treaty was signed in Ghent, Belgium, between the United States and the United Kingdom, ending the War of 1812.
On December 24, 1814, the Treaty of Ghent was signed in Ghent, Belgium. This treaty brought the War of 1812 between the United States and the United Kingdom to a close. The two nations fought a war from 1812 to 1814, and the treaty restored pre-war boundaries and handled the lingering concerns that had caused the fight. It secured peace between the United States and the United Kingdom and laid the groundwork for stronger ties between the two countries in the years to come.
1818: "Silent Night" is performed for the first time - The famous Christmas carol "Silent Night" was first performed at St. Nicholas Church in Oberndorf, Austria.
On December 24, 1818, the classic Christmas song "Silent Night" was performed for the first time in St. Nicholas Church in Oberndorf, Austria. Franz Xaver Gruber, a schoolteacher, composed the song, and Joseph Mohr, a Catholic priest, wrote the words. It has since become one of the most well-known and extensively performed Christmas songs in the world.
1865: Ku Klux Klan is formed - The Ku Klux Klan was formed in Pulaski, Tennessee, by a group of Confederate veterans, becoming a white supremacist organization.
A group of Confederate veterans founded the Ku Klux Klan (KKK) on December 24, 1865, in Pulaski, Tennessee. The organization began as a secret society and swiftly evolved into a white supremacist organization that attempted to uphold white supremacy by violence, intimidation, and terrorism. The KKK's attacks were largely intended at African Americans, but they also targeted other minorities, such as Jews and Catholics. Despite being disbanded and reformed several times over the years, the KKK continues to be a notorious symbol of racism and hatred in American history.
1979: Soviet Union invades Afghanistan - Soviet troops crossed the border into Afghanistan, marking the beginning of a ten-year war.
On December 24, 1979, Soviet troops crossed the border into Afghanistan, kicking off a ten-year conflict between Soviet forces and Afghan insurgents known as the Mujahideen. The Soviet invasion of Afghanistan occurred in response to the Afghan government's appeal for military aid against the Mujahideen, who were seeking to topple the government and create an Islamic state. The conflict resulted in huge casualties and devastation in Afghanistan, as well as larger geopolitical ramifications, leading to the Soviet Union's fall and the growth of Islamic extremism. The war lasted until 1989, when the Soviet Union withdrew its forces from Afghanistan.
1994: Air France Flight 8969 hijacking - Four terrorists hijacked an Air France plane in Algiers, Algeria, with the intention of crashing it into the Eiffel Tower. The French special forces eventually stormed the plane, killing all the terrorists and rescuing the passengers.
On December 24, 1994, four terrorists hijacked Air France Flight 8969 in Algiers, Algeria. Terrorists from a violent Islamic organisation planned to fly the jet to Paris and smash it into the Eiffel Tower. The jet was finally redirected to Marseille, France, when French special troops assaulted it. All four terrorists were killed during the operation, and the majority of the passengers were saved. During the hijacking, however, three people were slain. The hijacking of Air France Flight 8969 was one of the most high-profile terrorist attacks of the 1990s, with important ramifications for aviation security measures throughout the world.