December 17 - This 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. Orville piloted the gasoline-powered, propeller-driven biplane, which stayed aloft for 12 seconds and covered 120 feet on its inaugural flight.... 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