December 15 - The Day in History

December 15 : General Interest 2001: Leaning Tower of Pisa reopens On this day in 2001, Italy's Leaning Tower of Pisa reopens after a team of experts spent 11 years and $27 million to fortify the tower without eliminating its famous lean... read more American Revolution 1791 : The Bill of Rights becomes law http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/the-bill-of-rights-becomes-law Automotive 1896 : Stephen M. Balzer patents rotary-engine auto http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/stephen-m-balzer-patents-rotary-engine-auto Civil War 1864 : Yankees and Rebels clash at the Battle of Nashville http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/battle-of-nashville-tennessee Cold War 1978 : United States announces that it will recognize communist China http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/united-states-announces-that-it-will-recognize-communist-china Crime 1988 : James Brown begins his prison sentence http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/james-brown-begins-his-prison-sentence Disaster 1999 : Heavy rain leads to mudslides in Venezuela http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/heavy-rain-leads-to-mudslides-in-venezuela General Interest 1791 : Bill of Rights is finally ratified http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/bill-of-rights-is-finally-ratified 1961 : Architect of the Holocaust sentenced to die http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/architect-of-the-holocaust-sentenced-to-die 1973 : Billionaire's kidnapped grandson found in Italy http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/billionaires-kidnapped-grandson-found-in-italy Hollywood 1993 : Schindler's List opens, wins Spielberg his first Oscar http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/schindlers-list-opens-wins-spielberg-his-first-oscar Literary 1936 : George Orwell delivers the manuscript for The Road to Wigan Pier http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/george-orwell-delivers-the-manuscript-for-the-road-to-wigan-pier Music 1944 : Legendary bandleader Glenn Miller disappears over the English Channel http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/legendary-bandleader-glenn-miller-disappears-over-the-english-channel Old West 1890 : Sitting Bull killed by Indian police http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/sitting-bull-killed-by-indian-police Presidential 1998 : U.S. House of Representatives recommends impeaching Clinton http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/us-house-of-representatives-recommends-impeaching-clinton Sports 1973 : Jockey Sandy Hawley wins record 500th race http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/jockey-sandy-hawley-wins-record-500th-race Vietnam War 1965 : U.S. bombers strike industrial targets in North Vietnam http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/us-bombers-strike-industrial-targets-in-north-vietnam 1969 : Nixon announces additional U.S. troop withdrawals http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/nixon-announces-additional-us-troop-withdrawals World War I 1915 : British begin evacuation of Gallipoli http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/british-begin-evacuation-of-gallipoli World War II 1945 : MacArthur orders end of Shinto as Japanese state religion http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/macarthur-orders-end-of-shinto-as-japanese-state-religion

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