December 17 - The Day in History

December 17 : General Interest 1903: First airplane flies Near Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, Orville and Wilbur Wright make the first successful flight in history of a self-propelled, heavier-than-air aircraft... read more American Revolution 1777 : France formally recognizes the United States http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/france-formally-recognizes-the-united-states Automotive 1979 : Stuntman Stan Barrett breaks the sound barrier http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/stuntman-stan-barrett-breaks-the-sound-barrier Civil War 1862 : Grant expels Jews from his military district http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/grant-expels-the-jews-from-his-department Cold War 1991 : Yeltsin supporters announce Soviet Union will cease to exist by New Year's Eve http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/yeltsin-supporters-announce-soviet-union-will-cease-to-exist-by-new-years-eve Crime 1986 : "Operation Iceman" nabs the culprit http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/operation-iceman-nabs-the-culprit Disaster 1961 : Circus catches fire in Brazil http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/circus-catches-fire-in-brazil General Interest 1944 : U.S. approves end to internment of Japanese Americans http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/us-approves-end-to-internment-of-japanese-americans 1975 : "Squeaky" Fromme sentenced to life http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/squeaky-fromme-sentenced-to-life 1990 : Aristide wins Haiti's first free election http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/aristide-wins-haitis-first-free-election 1996 : Peruvian rebels seize Japanese ambassador's home http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/peruvian-rebels-seize-japanese-ambassadors-home 2011 : Kim Jong Il, Leader of North Korea, Dies http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/kim-jong-il-leader-of-north-korea-dies Hollywood 2003 : Third and final Lord of the Rings movie opens http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/third-and-final-lord-of-the-rings-movie-opens Literary 1843 : A Christmas Carol is published http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/a-christmas-carol-is-published Music 1991 : A federal court puts its stamp on hip-hop http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/a-federal-court-puts-its-stamp-on-hip-hop Old West 1889 : "Silver Dollar" Tabor born in Denver http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/silver-dollar-tabor-born-in-denver Presidential 1862 : Grant expels Jews from Tennessee, Kentucky and Mississippi http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/grant-expels-jews-from-tennessee-kentucky-and-mississippi Sports 2000 : Terrell Owens makes record-breaking 20 catches http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/terrell-owens-makes-record-breaking-20-catches Vietnam War 1971 : Cambodian forces under heavy pressure http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/cambodian-forces-under-heavy-pressure World War I 1873 : Ford Madox Ford is born http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/ford-madox-ford-is-born World War II 1941 : Commander at Pearl Harbor canned http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/commander-at-pearl-harbor-canned

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