The Mayflower landed in Plymouth in 1620, the UN condemned South African apartheid in 1960, and the first American Thanksgiving was observed in 1777. The first voice recording from space was heard in 1958, Carthage defeated Rome at the Battle of Trebia in 218 BC, and the first live giant panda arrived in the US in 1936. Mother Goose appeared in print in 1719, How the Grinch Stole Christmas premiered in 1966, Ebonics was declared a language by a school in Oakland in 1996, and a speed record of 39mph was set in France in 1898.
The Mayflower has landed in Plymouth. (1620) Although the ship full of English Pilgrims had been anchored in Plymouth Harbor for over a month, American Indian fears and bad weather had forbidden the Pilgrims from going ashore. Despite losing nearly half of its members within a year of landing at Plymouth, the settlement grew and became a hugely profitable fishing and shipbuilding center.
The United Nations has condemned South African apartheid. (1960) This was one of the first formal international condemnations of South Africa’s apartheid system, although its racist policies would not end for another 44 years.
The first official American Thanksgiving was observed. (1777) The first national day of Thanksgiving was celebrated in the United States. The purpose of this celebratory meal was not, as many think, to remember the pilgrims, but rather to give thanks for the American victory at the Battle of Saratoga. It was the first holiday that the colonies celebrated collectively.
The first voice recording was heard from space. (1958) On this day, the United States successfully launched the first communications satellite, which then sent a recording of a Christmas message from then President Eisenhower.
Carthage defeated Rome at the Battle of the Trebia. (218 BC) Led by Hannibal, the Carthaginians had marched into the Alps in the autumn, a feat never before seen for an army, before falling on Rome from the north. Despite the loss of many soldiers and 25 elephants in the Alps, Hannibal still managed to defeat the Roman commander Sempronius Longus, which was extremely frightening and daunting for Rome. Because of his epic march across the Alps and defeat of the Romans, Hannibal remains an icon of genius generality today.
The first live giant panda has arrived in the United States. (1936) Ruth Harkness, a Manhattan socialite, smuggled the bear out of Tibet, where she had been trekking. The panda’s name was Su-Lin, and she ended up living at the San Francisco Zoo for two years before tragically suffocating to death.
Mother Goose first appeared in print. (1719) Boston publisher Thomas Fleet published Mother Goose’s Melodies for Children, based on his mother-in-law’s tales. The book has become a classic compendium of nursery rhymes for children.
How the Grinch Stole Christmas premiered. (1966) The original cartoon version of How the Grinch Stole Christmas, starring Boris Karloff as narrator and the Grinch, was broadcast as a 26-minute special. It became a huge hit, and is shown annually by many American networks.
Ebonics has been officially declared a language by a school in Oakland, California. (1996) The resolution was highly controversial, declaring ebonics to be “a language of African Americans” and many felt that using it to teach in schools was inappropriate.
One of the first speed records for a car – a blistering 39mph (62km/h) – was set in France. (1898) French racing car driver Count Gaston de Chasseloup-Laubat set this record in an electric car as part of a contest for a French automobile magazine.
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