December 16 - The Day in History

December 16 : General Interest 1773 : The Boston Tea Party In Boston Harbor, a group of Massachusetts colonists disguised as Mohawk Indians board three British tea ships and dump 342 chests of tea into the harbor... read more American Revolution 1773 : Sons of Liberty dump British tea http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/sons-of-liberty-dump-british-tea Automotive 1979 : OPEC states raise oil prices http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/opec-states-raise-oil-prices Civil War 1863 : Johnston named commander of Army of Tennessee http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/johnston-named-commander-of-army-of-tennessee Cold War 1950 : Truman declares state of emergency http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/truman-declares-state-of-emergency Crime 1989 : A terrorist bomber begins his deadly rampage http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/a-terrorist-bomber-begins-his-deadly-rampage Disaster 1960 : Two airplanes collide over New York City http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/two-airplanes-collide-over-new-york-city General Interest 1811 : Earthquake rocks the American wilderness http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/earthquake-rocks-the-american-wilderness 1920 : Earthquake devastates Gansu province of China http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/earthquake-devastates-gansu-province-of-china 1642 : Tasman discovers New Zealand http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/tasman-discovers-new-zealand 1944 : Battle of the Bulge begins http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/battle-of-the-bulge-begins 1971 : Pakistani forces defeated in Bangladesh http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/pakistani-forces-defeated-in-bangladesh Hollywood 1977 : Saturday Night Fever turns Travolta into movie star http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/saturday-night-fever-turns-travolta-into-movie-star "Larry King Live" ends after 25 years on CNN http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/larry-king-live-ends-after-25-years-on-cnn Literary 1775 : Jane Austen's birthday http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/jane-austens-birthday Music 1893 : Antonin Dvorak's "New World Symphony" receives its world premiere in New York City http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/antonin-dvorak39s-quotnew-world-symphonyquot-receives-its-world-premiere-in-new-york-city Old West 1826 : Edwards declares the Texas Republic of Fredonia http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/edwards-declares-the-texas-republic-of-fredonia Presidential 1998 : Clinton orders air attack on Iraq http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/clinton-orders-air-attack-on-iraq Sports 1973 : OJ Simpson rushes record 2,000 yards in a season http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/oj-simpson-rushes-record-2000-yards-in-a-season Vietnam War 1965 : Westmoreland asks for more troops http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/westmoreland-asks-for-more-troops 1972 : Kissinger announces that North Vietnamese left negotiations http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/kissinger-announces-that-north-vietnamese-left-negotiations World War I 1914 : Germans bombard English ports of Hartlepool and Scarborough http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/germans-bombard-english-ports-of-hartlepool-and-scarborough World War II 1944 : Battle of the Bulge http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/battle-of-the-bulge

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- HISTORY Shop ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Find your favorite shows from HISTORY on DVD Shop our store today!

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- HISTORY Magazine ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Do you enjoy American History? If so, please consider subscribing to The History Channel Magazine. Learn insights into the significant events that helped shape America's past. Try the club today!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From our A+E Networks Family ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

BIO.com has made big changes! Check out our On This Day site for exclusive, new videos about the famous people who have made history in politics, sports, entertainment and more. BIO has also added brand new content, including more than 1,500 groups, over 300 new biographies, and dozens of new photo galleries. Plus, see how you and your friends are connected to famous icons, from Barack Obama to Lady Gaga, when you sign in to BIO.com via Facebook! See all these great features and more when you visit the all-new BIO.com.