This day in history - December 16
Posted: Tue Dec 16, 2008 9:56 am
1653 - Oliver Cromwell was declared Lord Protector of England, Scotland and Ireland.
Cromwell was the first secular dictator of early modern history. Historians have mixed opinions about the man, but he effectively ended the notion of the divine right of kings in British law and established the right of self-determination through a republican government.
1770 - Ludwig von Beethoven was born in Bonn, Germany.
1773 - The Boston Tea Party was held. A good time was had by all.
The Boston Tea Party is often identified as a tipping point in the American Revolution, but the dice had been cast years earlier.
1907 - A fleet of U.S. battleships set off on a voyage to show the flag to the rest of the world.
Now known as the Great White Fleet, this demonstration of naval power was one of Pres. Theodore Roosevelt's many exercises in foreign relations which expanded the power of the presidency.
http://www.history.navy.mil/faqs/faq42-1.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
1944 - The Battle of the Bulge began.
Over 19,000 American soldiers and Marines gave their lives driving back the enemy offensive. The name has become a synonym for a violent, bloody mess even among people who couldn't tell you which war it was in or who fought it.
1950 - Pres. Harry Truman declared a state of emergency to deal with "world conquest by Communist imperialism."
The declaration was triggered by Red China's entry into the Korean War. It remained in effect for many years and helped fuel the red scare.
- Jim
Cromwell was the first secular dictator of early modern history. Historians have mixed opinions about the man, but he effectively ended the notion of the divine right of kings in British law and established the right of self-determination through a republican government.
1770 - Ludwig von Beethoven was born in Bonn, Germany.
1773 - The Boston Tea Party was held. A good time was had by all.
The Boston Tea Party is often identified as a tipping point in the American Revolution, but the dice had been cast years earlier.
1907 - A fleet of U.S. battleships set off on a voyage to show the flag to the rest of the world.
Now known as the Great White Fleet, this demonstration of naval power was one of Pres. Theodore Roosevelt's many exercises in foreign relations which expanded the power of the presidency.
http://www.history.navy.mil/faqs/faq42-1.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
1944 - The Battle of the Bulge began.
Over 19,000 American soldiers and Marines gave their lives driving back the enemy offensive. The name has become a synonym for a violent, bloody mess even among people who couldn't tell you which war it was in or who fought it.
1950 - Pres. Harry Truman declared a state of emergency to deal with "world conquest by Communist imperialism."
The declaration was triggered by Red China's entry into the Korean War. It remained in effect for many years and helped fuel the red scare.
- Jim