December 15 marks several notable moments in American political, cultural, and technological history, including one of the most significant expansions of civil liberties in the nation’s founding era.
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1791 – The Bill of Rights Is Ratified
On December 15, 1791, Virginia became the final state needed to ratify the first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution, officially adopting the Bill of Rights. These amendments guarantee fundamental freedoms such as speech, religion, due process, and protection from unreasonable searches and seizures, forming the cornerstone of American civil liberties.
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1877 – Thomas Edison Announces the Phonograph
Inventor Thomas Edison publicly announced the invention of the phonograph, the first device capable of recording and reproducing sound. This breakthrough revolutionized communication, entertainment, and music, laying the foundation for the modern recording industry.
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1890 – Sitting Bull Is Killed
Lakota leader Sitting Bull, a central figure in Native American resistance to U.S. government policies, was killed during an attempted arrest by Indian Agency police on the Standing Rock Reservation. His death intensified tensions that would soon culminate in the Wounded Knee Massacre later that month.
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1939 – Gone with the Wind Premieres
The film Gone with the Wind premiered in Atlanta, Georgia. Despite ongoing controversy surrounding its depiction of the Civil War and Reconstruction era, the movie became one of the most commercially successful films in American history and remains a significant cultural landmark.
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1944 – Glenn Miller Is Declared Missing
Band leader Glenn Miller, one of the most popular musicians of the swing era, was declared missing after his aircraft disappeared over the English Channel while traveling to perform for U.S. troops during World War II. His disappearance remains one of the enduring mysteries of the war.
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1961 – Adolf Eichmann Is Sentenced
Nazi war criminal Adolf Eichmann was sentenced to death by an Israeli court for crimes against humanity related to the Holocaust. His trial brought renewed global attention to Nazi atrocities and the moral responsibility to prosecute war crimes.
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1970 – The EPA Is Established
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was created to consolidate federal environmental responsibilities. The agency became a central player in regulating pollution, enforcing environmental laws, and shaping modern environmental policy.
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1994 – The Dayton Peace Accords Are Signed
The Dayton Peace Accords were formally signed in Paris, bringing an end to the Bosnian War. The agreement, brokered with significant U.S. involvement, helped stabilize the Balkans after years of ethnic conflict.
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2011 – U.S. Troops Complete Withdrawal from Iraq
The final American troops officially withdrew from Iraq, ending nearly nine years of U.S. military presence following the 2003 invasion. The withdrawal marked a major milestone in U.S. foreign policy and military history.
