This day in history: 8 december

Europa

• In 1864, Pope Pius IX issued the encyclical Quanta cura and its appendix, the Syllabus of Errors, which condemned various liberal ideas and reinforced the authority of the Catholic Church. This document had a profound impact on European religious and political discourse, especially within Catholic countries.
• On December 8, 1907, Gustaf V became King of Sweden, marking a new era in Swedish monarchy.
• December 8, 1542, marks the birth of Mary, Queen of Scots, who would become a central figure in the complex political and religious conflicts of 16th-century Britain and Europe.
• On December 8, 1818, Charles III, Prince of Monaco, was born in Paris, France. His reign saw the establishment of the famous Casino de Monte-Carlo and the construction of the Cathedral of Monaco.
• Also on this date in 1818, Karl, Grand Duke of Baden, died in Rastatt, Germany.
• Elizabeth Charlotte (Liselotte) of the Palatinate, Duchess of Orléans and a notable figure at the French court, died on December 8, 1722, at the Château de Saint-Cloud near Paris.
• On December 8, 1940, during the Blitz in World War II, the House of Commons and the Tower of London were seriously damaged in an overnight air raid by German bombers.
• December 8, 1941, saw the United States and Britain declare war on Japan, following the attack on Pearl Harbor. This event dramatically shifted the course of World War II in Europe and globally.
• On December 8, 1987, U.S. President Ronald Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev signed the INF Treaty in Europe, eliminating all intermediate-range and shorter-range nuclear missiles, a significant step in ending the Cold War.
• December 8, 1991, the Belavezha Accords were signed, effectively dissolving the Soviet Union and creating the Commonwealth of Independent States, with major implications for Eastern Europe and the world.
• On the same day in 1991, the Romanian Constitution came into force, marking the country’s return to democracy after decades of communist rule.

America

• U.S. Entry into World War II (1941)
  On December 8, 1941, the United States formally entered World War II. Following the attack on Pearl Harbor the previous day, President Franklin D. Roosevelt addressed Congress, calling December 7 “a date which will live in infamy,” and requested a declaration of war against Japan. Congress approved the declaration, marking a pivotal moment in both American and world history.
• Assassination of John Lennon (1980)
  Former Beatle John Lennon was shot and killed outside his New York City apartment building by Mark David Chapman. Lennon’s death shocked the world and is memorialized in New York’s Central Park at “Strawberry Fields”.
• NAFTA Signed into Law (1993)
  President Bill Clinton signed the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), creating the world’s largest free-trade zone between the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The agreement eliminated most tariffs and trade restrictions among the three nations, significantly impacting North American economies.
• In 1886, the American Federation of Labor was founded in Columbus, Ohio, becoming a major force in the American labor movement.
• In 2014, the U.S. and NATO ceremonially ended their combat mission in Afghanistan, concluding 13 years of military involvement following the September 11 attacks.

Asia

• Japanese Invasions Across Asia (1941)
  On December 8, 1941, Japanese forces launched simultaneous invasions across Asia, including attacks on Malaya (now Malaysia), Thailand, Hong Kong, the Philippines, Shanghai International Settlement, and the Dutch East Indies (now Indonesia). These coordinated assaults marked the start of the Pacific War in Asia, occurring just hours after the attack on Pearl Harbor due to the International Date Line.
• Japanese Invasion of Thailand
  In the early hours of December 8, 1941, Japanese troops landed at several points in Thailand, including Samut Prakan, Surat Thani, and attacked Don Muang Royal Thai Air Force Base. Initial resistance by Thai forces and police was quickly subdued, and after brief fighting and negotiations, Thailand agreed to Japanese demands, allowing passage through the country for further campaigns into Malaya and Burma.
• Battle of Kota Bharu (Malaya)
  Also on December 8, 1941, Japanese forces landed at Kota Bharu in northeastern Malaya, beginning the campaign that would eventually lead to the fall of Singapore. The British and Allied forces were unable to repel the initial landings, opening the door for further Japanese advances in Southeast Asia.

Africa

• First Black American Astronaut: Maj. Robert H. Lawrence Jr. (1967)
  On December 8, 1967, Maj. Robert H. Lawrence Jr. was killed during a training flight. He had been named the first Black astronaut earlier that year, marking a milestone for African Americans in science and space exploration.
• Ebola Virus Case Confirmed in Ivory Coast (1995)
  On December 8, 1995, the World Health Organization announced a new case of the Ebola virus in the Ivory Coast. This came after a deadly outbreak in Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of Congo) earlier that year, which killed 250 people. The event highlighted ongoing public health challenges on the continent.
• African Diaspora and Global Black History
  December 8 is also a day to reflect on the broader African diaspora. For example, on December 8, 1925, Sammy Davis Jr., a legendary entertainer of African descent, was born. His career would go on to break barriers in the United States and inspire Black communities worldwide.
• While not specific to December 8, December is marked by key moments in Black and African history, such as the inauguration of Kwanzaa (December 26), the end of the Montgomery Bus Boycott (December 20), and the awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize to Nelson Mandela and F.W. de Klerk (December 10).