This Day In History, December 4th.
Five Historical Events That Happened on December 4th
1110: Crusaders seize Sidon: On December 4, 1110, during the First Crusade, the Crusaders led by Baldwin I took the Muslim-controlled seaside city of Sidon.
George Washington bids his officers farewell in 1783: George Washington, the commander-in-chief of the Continental Army, bid farewell to his officers in an emotional address that marked the end of the American Revolutionary War on December 4, 1783, at Fraunces Tavern in New York City.
On December 4, 1945, the United States Senate voted to approve the United States' participation in the United Nations, an international organization established in the aftermath of World War II to promote international cooperation and prevent future wars.
1971: The Indian Navy launches an attack on Pakistan: During the Indo-Pakistani War, on December 4, 1971, the Indian Navy conducted a surprise strike on Karachi, Pakistan, damaging many Pakistani ships and impairing the Pakistani Navy's capacity to wage war.
Terry Anderson, a journalist, was released after being held captive in Lebanon for seven years in 1991: Terry Anderson, an American journalist who had been held prisoner by Hezbollah terrorists in Lebanon for more than seven years, was freed on December 4, 1991, following a negotiated settlement.
1110: Crusaders conquer Sidon: On December 4, 1110, during the First Crusade, the Crusaders under the leadership of Baldwin I captured the coastal city of Sidon, which had been under Muslim control.
The seizure of Sidon was a significant military triumph for the Crusaders, since it provided them with a strategic foothold on the Levant's Mediterranean coast. Baldwin I, who would eventually become Jerusalem's first king, commanded the Crusader force that besieged and conquered the city. The acquisition of other significant coastal cities, including as Beirut and Jaffa, helped to consolidate the Crusaders' control on the region following the loss of Sidon.
1783: George Washington bids farewell to his officers: On December 4, 1783, at Fraunces Tavern in New York City, George Washington, the commander-in-chief of the Continental Army, bid farewell to his officers in an emotional speech that marked the end of the American Revolutionary War.
The farewell address was an important event held in New York City's Fraunces Tavern, when George Washington gave an emotional farewell to his officers after eight years of war. In his address, Washington thanked his fellow commanders for their devotion and sacrifice and asked them to uphold the Revolutionary War beliefs. The address is regarded as a watershed moment in American history, signaling the conclusion of the Revolutionary War and the start of a new age of American freedom.
1945: Senate approves U.S. participation in the United Nations: On December 4, 1945, the United States Senate voted to approve U.S. participation in the United Nations, an international organization established in the aftermath of World War II to promote international cooperation and prevent future wars.
The United Nations was established in 1945, shortly after World War II ended, with the goal of fostering worldwide peace and cooperation. The United States was an early member of the UN and played an important role in its formation. The Senate's ratification of the United States' membership in the UN was a significant milestone in the country's postwar foreign policy, showing a commitment to international cooperation and a desire to collaborate with other countries to achieve global peace and security.
1971: The Indian Navy attacks Pakistan: On December 4, 1971, during the Indo-Pakistani War, the Indian Navy launched a surprise attack on the Pakistani port city of Karachi, destroying several Pakistani ships and crippling the Pakistani Navy's ability to wage war.
The Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 was a major confrontation between India and Pakistan, and one of the most notable incidents of the war was the Indian Navy's surprise attack on Karachi. The strike, launched from missile boats and planes, destroyed many Pakistani warships and severely damaged Karachi port infrastructure. This significantly limited Pakistan's capacity to undertake naval operations, forcing the country to rely on air and land troops for the rest of the war. The raid is widely regarded as one of the most effective naval operations in modern history.
1991: Journalist Terry Anderson released after being held hostage in Lebanon for 7 years: On December 4, 1991, Terry Anderson, an American journalist who had been held hostage by Hezbollah militants in Lebanon for more than seven years, was released after a negotiated settlement.
Terry Anderson was a journalist and the Associated Press's lead Middle East reporter when he was kidnapped by Hezbollah terrorists in Beirut, Lebanon, in March 1985. He was kept captive for more than seven years, making him Lebanon's longest-held Western hostage at the time. Anderson was released on December 4, 1991, as part of a negotiated deal that included the release of many Hezbollah captives detained by Israel and the removal of economic restrictions against Iran by the United States. Anderson's release was a huge relief for his family and friends, as well as the international community, who had been following his story attentively.