This Week In History
December 5 - In 1848, In a message to the U.S. Congress, President James K. Polk confirmed that large amounts of gold had been discovered in California.
December 6 - In 1884, the 555-foot tall Washington Monument was completed in Washington, D.C., with the placement of the 100-ounce aluminum apex which acts as a lightning rod.
December 7 - In 1941, Japanese warplanes attacked the home base of the United States Pacific fleet at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, an act that led to America’s entry into World War II.
December 8 - In 1980, John Lennon was murdered in front of the Dakota building in New York City.
December 9 - In 1979, the eradication of the smallpox virus was certified, making smallpox the first disease to be driven to complete extinction.
December 10 - In 1948, the U.N. General Assembly adopted its Universal Declaration on Human Rights.
