Europa
- Treaty of Lisbon Comes into Force (2009)
The Treaty of Lisbon, which amended the foundational treaties of the European Union (the Maastricht Treaty and the Treaty of Rome), came into force on December 1, 2009. This treaty streamlined EU institutions and increased the powers of the European Parliament, marking a significant step in the evolution of the EU. - Romania’s National Day – Great Union Day (1918)
December 1 is celebrated as Romania’s National Day, commemorating the unification of Transylvania, Bessarabia, and Bukovina with the Old Romanian Kingdom in 1918. The National Assembly of Romanians met in Alba Iulia to decree this union, a foundational moment for modern Romania. - Portugal Regains Independence (1640)
On December 1, 1640, a nationalist revolution in Portugal led to the country’s independence from Spain after 60 years of Iberian Union. Spanish garrisons were expelled, and the House of Braganza ascended to the Portuguese throne. - Locarno Treaties Signed (1925)
The Locarno Treaties were signed by France, Belgium, and Germany (with the UK and Italy as guarantors) on December 1, 1925. These agreements aimed to secure post-World War I borders in Western Europe and promote peace and stability. - Iceland Becomes a Sovereign State (1918)
On December 1, 1918, the Act of Union between Denmark and Iceland was signed, establishing Iceland as a sovereign state under the Danish crown. Iceland would later become a republic in 1944. - Channel Tunnel Breakthrough (1990)
On December 1, 1990, British and French engineers broke through the last wall of rock under the English Channel, physically connecting the UK and continental Europe for the first time since the Ice Age. - First Woman in British House of Commons (1919): Nancy Astor became the first woman to take her seat in the British House of Commons.
- Death of King Henry I of England (1135): King Henry I died after a 35-year reign.
- Tehran Conference Ends (1943): The Tehran Conference between the US, UK, and Soviet Union concluded, setting the stage for the D-Day invasion.
America
- Rosa Parks and the Birth of the Modern Civil Rights Movement (1955)
On December 1, 1955, Rosa Parks was arrested in Montgomery, Alabama, for refusing to give up her seat to a white passenger on a city bus. Her arrest sparked the Montgomery Bus Boycott, a pivotal event that helped launch the modern American civil rights movement and brought Martin Luther King, Jr. to national prominence. - Founding of the Civil Air Patrol (1941)
The Civil Air Patrol (CAP), the official civilian auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force, was founded on December 1, 1941. The CAP provides aerospace education, cadet programs, and emergency services, including search and rescue operations. - White House Installs a Telephone (1878): The White House installed its first telephone, marking a milestone in presidential communications.
- Basketball Invented (1891): James Naismith introduced basketball by nailing peach baskets at opposite ends of a gym and instructing students to toss soccer balls into them.
- First Edition of Playboy Magazine (1953): Hugh Hefner published the inaugural issue of Playboy, featuring Marilyn Monroe as the first centerfold.
- First Certified Public Accountants (1896): The first CPAs in the United States received their certificates.
Asia
- Nagaland Becomes a State in India (1963)
On December 1, 1963, Nagaland was officially declared the 16th state of India. This event marked a significant step in the political integration of the northeastern region into the Indian Union, following years of negotiation and regional movements for autonomy. - Proclamation of the Republic of West Papua (1961)
The independent Republic of West Papua was proclaimed on December 1, 1961, in modern-day Western New Guinea. This declaration was a key moment in the ongoing struggle for Papuan self-determination, although Indonesia soon moved to assert control over the territory. - Formation of the Border Security Force in India (1965)
On December 1, 1965, India established the Border Security Force (BSF), a special force tasked with guarding the nation’s borders. The BSF has since played a crucial role in India’s border security and internal stability. - Indian Army Recaptures Part of Kashmir (1971)
During the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971, the Indian Army recaptured territory in Kashmir that had been occupied by Pakistan. This military action was part of the broader conflict that led to the creation of Bangladesh. - Benazir Bhutto Appointed Prime Minister of Pakistan (1988)
On December 1, 1988, Benazir Bhutto was appointed Prime Minister of Pakistan, becoming the first woman to head a democratic government in a majority-Muslim nation. - Philippines Coup Attempt (1989)
On December 1, 1989, a right-wing military faction attempted a coup against Philippine President Corazon Aquino. The coup failed, but it was one of several challenges to Aquino’s administration during a turbulent period in Philippine politics. - Cambodian Civil War (1971): Khmer Rouge rebels intensified their assaults on Cambodian government positions, forcing retreats from several towns.
- Vietnam War (1964): U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson and advisers met to discuss bombing North Vietnam.
Africa
- Emancipation Day in Cape Town, South Africa (1834)
On December 1, 1834, enslaved people in the Cape Colony were legally freed, marking the end of legal slavery in that region. This day, known as Emancipation Day, is commemorated in Cape Town with music, dancing, feasting, and reflection on the legacies of slavery. - Ubangi-Shari Gains Autonomy (1958)
The French colony of Ubangi-Shari, which would later become the Central African Republic, gained autonomy from France on December 1, 1958. The country achieved full independence two years later. - South Africa Legalizes Same-Sex Marriage (2006)
On December 1, 2006, South Africa became the first country in Africa to legalize same-sex marriage, making it the fifth country in the world to do so. - Thiaroye Massacre, Senegal (1944)
On December 1, 1944, the Thiaroye massacre occurred near Dakar, Senegal, when French colonial forces killed West African soldiers (tirailleurs sénégalais) who were protesting for better treatment and overdue pay after returning from World War II service.
This day in history: 1 december