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Historical events on December 22

DECEMBER 22, 1807
In an effort to avoid engaging in the Napoleonic Wars, the United States Congress passed the Embargo Act, forbidding American ships from engaging in trade with foreign nations.
The Napoleonic Wars (1803–1815) were a global series of conflicts fought between the French First Republic (1803–1804)/First French Empire (1804–1815) under the Read More
DECEMBER 22, 1864
American Civil War: Union General William Tecumseh Sherman's March to the Sea ended with the capture of Savannah, Georgia.
The American Civil War was a civil war in the United States between the Union and the Confederacy, which was formed in Read More
DECEMBER 22, 1964
The Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird, the United States Air Force's long-range, Mach 3+ strategic reconnaissance aircraft and the world's fastest air-breathing manned aircraft, made its first flight.
The Lockheed SR-71 "Blackbird" is a retired long-range, high-altitude, Mach 3+ strategic reconnaissance aircraft developed and manufactured by the American aerospace company Lockheed Read More
DECEMBER 22, 1997
Hussein Farrah Aidid relinquished the disputed title of President of Somalia.
Hussein Mohamed Farrah Aidid is the son of General Mohamed Farrah Aidid. His father was leader of the Somali National Alliance (SNA), Read More
DECEMBER 22, 1920
The Congress of Soviets approved the GOELRO plan, the first Soviet plan for national economic recovery and development.
The Congress of Soviets was the supreme governing body of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic and several other Soviet republics and Read More
DECEMBER 22, 2008
A dike ruptured at a waste containment area for a coal-fired power plant in Kingston, Tennessee, releasing 1.1 billion gallons (4.2 million m3) of coal fly ash slurry (aftermath pictured) in the largest industrial spill in US history.
The Kingston Fossil Plant Spill was an environmental and industrial disaster that occurred on December 22, 2008, when a dike ruptured at Read More
DECEMBER 22, 2010
The United States repealed its controversial "don't ask, don't tell" policy on gay, lesbian and bisexual people in the military.
The Don't Ask, Don't Tell Repeal Act of 2010 is a landmark United States federal statute enacted in December 2010 that established a Read More
DECEMBER 22, 856
An earthquake with an estimated magnitude of 7.9 struck the eastern Alborz mountains in Persia, causing an estimated 200,000 deaths.
The Damghan earthquake or the Qumis earthquake occurred on 22 December 856. The earthquake had an estimated magnitude of 7.9, and a Read More
DECEMBER 22, 2001
Richard Reid unsuccessfully attempted to detonate a bomb in his shoe on a transatlantic flight from Paris to Miami.
Richard Colvin Reid, also known as the "Shoe Bomber", is a British terrorist, known as the perpetrator of the failed shoe bombing Read More
DECEMBER 22, 1939
Members of the All-India Muslim League observed a "Day of Deliverance" to celebrate the resignations of members of the Indian National Congress over the decision to enter the Second World War at the request of the United Kingdom.
The All-India Muslim League (AIML) was a political party founded in 1906 in Dhaka, British India with the goal of securing Muslim Read More
DECEMBER 22, 401
Pope Innocent I began his papacy, succeeding Anastasius I.
Pope Innocent I was the bishop of Rome from 401 to his death on 12 March 417. From the beginning of his Read More
DECEMBER 22, 2001
Burhanuddin Rabbani of the Northern Alliance handed over power in Afghanistan to the interim government headed by Hamid Karzai.
Burhānuddīn Rabbānī was an Afghan politician and teacher who served as the sixth president of Afghanistan from 1992 to 1996, and again Read More
DECEMBER 22, 1984
While riding a New York City Subway train, Bernhard Goetz shot four African-American youths who had attempted to rob him, sparking a nationwide debate on vigilantism, racism, and the legal limits of self-defense.
The New York City Subway is a rapid transit system in New York City serving the boroughs of Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, and Read More
DECEMBER 22, 1948
Chaired by Sjafruddin Prawiranegara, the Emergency Government of the Republic of Indonesia was established to counter Dutch attempts to re-assert colonial control.
Sjafruddin Prawiranegara was an Indonesian statesman and economist. He served in various roles during his career, including as head of government in Read More
DECEMBER 22, 69
Roman emperor Vitellius was captured by soldiers loyal to Vespasian and executed at the Gemonian stairs in Rome.
AD 69 (LXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Julian calendar. In the Roman Empire, it was known as Read More
DECEMBER 22, 1769
Defeated by the Burmese Konbaung dynasty, Qing China agreed to a peace treaty to end the Sino-Burmese War.
The Konbaung dynasty, also known as the Third Burmese Empire (တတိယမြန်မာနိုင်ငံတော်), was the last dynasty that ruled Burma from 1752 to 1885. Read More
DECEMBER 22, 1937
The Lincoln Tunnel, connecting New York City to Weehawken, New Jersey, opened.
The Lincoln Tunnel is an approximately 1.5-mile-long (2.4 km) tunnel under the Hudson River, connecting Weehawken, New Jersey, to the west with Midtown Read More

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