This Day In History, December 8th.
Five Historical Events That Happened on December 8th
The Treaty of Kanagawa was signed between the United States and Japan in 1854, signaling the end of Japan's isolationist posture and the start of diplomatic ties between the two nations.
1941 - The United States joins World War II: Following the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, the United States declares war on Japan. This marked the beginning of the country's involvement in World War II.
1980 - John Lennon is assassinated: Mark David Chapman shot and murdered the former Beatle John Lennon outside his New York City apartment.
1991 - The Maastricht Treaty is signed, establishing the European Union and setting the framework for the introduction of the euro as a shared currency.
rallies in Tunisia led to the collapse of President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, sparking a wave of pro-democracy rallies across the Arab world known as the Arab Spring.
1854 - The signing of the Treaty of Kanagawa: The Treaty of Kanagawa was signed between the United States and Japan, marking the end of Japan's isolationist policy and the beginning of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
On March 31, 1854, delegates from the United States and Japan signed the Treaty of Kanagawa. The pact was negotiated by US Navy Commodore Matthew Perry and Japanese authorities, and it represented Japan's first opening of its ports to Western trade in more than 200 years. The pact granted American ships the ability to restock and refuel at two Japanese ports and created a US consulate in Japan. The pact also allowed other Western countries to develop diplomatic and commercial contacts with Japan.
1941 - The United States enters World War II: The United States declares war on Japan following the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7th, 1941. This marked the country's entry into World War II.
President Franklin D. Roosevelt delivered a famous speech to the US Congress on December 8, 1941, the day after the surprise attack by the Imperial Japanese Navy on the US naval base at Pearl Harbor, in which he declared that December 7, 1941 was "a date which will live in infamy," and requested that Congress declare war on Japan. Congress promptly accepted the declaration of war, and the United States formally joined World War II on the side of the Allies. On December 11, 1941, the United States declared war on Germany and Italy.
1980 - John Lennon is assassinated: The former Beatle, John Lennon, was shot and killed outside his apartment in New York City by Mark David Chapman.
On December 8, 1980, outside his apartment building in New York City, John Lennon, a founding member of the Beatles and a well-known peace activist, was slain. Mark David Chapman, a mentally ill admirer who had already acquired Lennon's signature earlier that day, shot him four times. Lennon was transported to the hospital but died upon arrival. His demise stunned the music industry and his millions of followers worldwide. Chapman was eventually found guilty of second-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison.
1991 - The signing of the Maastricht Treaty: The Maastricht Treaty was signed, creating the European Union and laying the groundwork for the adoption of the euro as a common currency.
The Maastricht Treaty, often known as the Treaty on European Union, was signed on December 8, 1991, in Maastricht, Netherlands. The pact created the framework for the establishment of the European Union, which took effect on November 1, 1993. The Treaty of Rome established a foundation for increased economic and political cooperation among European countries, resulting in the introduction of the euro as a shared currency in many European countries. In addition, the Maastricht Treaty established the European Central Bank and defined requirements for nations to satisfy in order to join the European Monetary Union and accept the euro as their currency.
2010 - The Arab Spring begins: Protests in Tunisia led to the fall of President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali and sparked a wave of pro-democracy protests throughout the Arab world known as the Arab Spring.
The Arab Spring was a series of pro-democracy upheavals that began in late 2010 in many Arab nations in North Africa and the Middle East. The self-immolation of a Tunisian street seller called Mohamed Bouazizi in protest of police corruption and harassment ignited the wave of demonstrations, which swiftly swept throughout Tunisia, finally resulting to the collapse of longstanding President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali on January 14, 2011. The Tunisian demonstrations sparked similar upheavals in Egypt, Libya, Yemen, Syria, and other Arab nations, with people demanding more political freedoms, economic possibilities, and an end to corruption and autocratic government. The Arab Spring was a watershed moment in the Middle East's political and social environment.