December 18 has seen slavery abolished, constitutions amended, and new nations born.
Secretary of State William Seward officially proclaimed the 13th Amendment to the Constitution, formally abolishing slavery throughout the United States. The amendment ended 246 years of legal slavery in America.
New Jersey became the third state to ratify the US Constitution. Its early ratification helped build momentum for the new form of government.
Ioseb Besarionis dze Jughashvili, who would become Joseph Stalin, was born in Gori, Georgia. His brutal rule over the Soviet Union resulted in the deaths of millions through purges and famine.
Tchaikovsky's ballet The Nutcracker premiered at the Mariinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg. Though initially criticized, it became the most performed and popular ballet in the world.
British scientists announced the discovery of Piltdown Man, supposedly the 'missing link' in human evolution. The skull was eventually revealed in 1953 to be an elaborate hoax.
The United Kingdom permanently abolished the death penalty for murder. The decision followed years of debate and the last executions in 1964.
The legendary Italian luthier died in Cremona, Italy. His violins, cellos, and other instruments remain the most sought-after and valuable musical instruments ever made.