915day.year
Pope John X crowns Berengar I of Italy as Holy Roman Emperor (probable date).
On December 3, 915, Pope John X likely crowned Berengar I of Italy as Holy Roman Emperor, reaffirming papal authority and imperial legitimacy in medieval Europe.
In the wake of political fragmentation following the decline of Carolingian power, Berengar I emerged as a dominant ruler in Northern Italy. Pope John X saw an opportunity to bolster papal influence by bestowing the imperial crown upon Berengar. This ceremony symbolized a strategic alliance between the papacy and secular rulers, seeking mutual reinforcement. The crowning also underscored the ongoing contest for control of imperial territories among rival claimants. Although the exact date remains probable, the event marked a key moment in the evolution of the Holy Roman Empire. It set a precedent for papal coronation of emperors that would shape European politics for centuries.
915
Pope John X
Berengar I of Italy
Holy Roman Emperor
1800day.year
United States presidential election: The Electoral College casts votes for president and vice president that result in a tie between Thomas Jefferson and Aaron Burr.
On December 3, 1800, the U.S. Electoral College vote resulted in a historic tie between Thomas Jefferson and Aaron Burr for the presidency.
The election of 1800 tested the young nation's electoral processes and political institutions. Under the original Constitution, electors cast two votes without distinguishing president from vice president. Jefferson and Burr, both candidates of the Democratic-Republican Party, each received 73 electoral votes. The tie threw the decision to the House of Representatives, exposing flaws in the electoral system. After 36 ballots, Jefferson was chosen as president with Burr as vice president. The crisis led directly to the ratification of the Twelfth Amendment in 1804, establishing separate ballots for president and vice president. This amendment permanently altered American election procedures and party politics.
United States presidential election
Thomas Jefferson
Aaron Burr
1818day.year
Illinois becomes the 21st U.S. state.
On December 3, 1818, Illinois was admitted to the Union as the 21st state of the United States, expanding national frontier and representation.
Following its population growth under the Northwest Ordinance, Illinois held a constitutional convention in July 1818. Delegates drafted a state constitution that addressed land claims, local governance, and civil liberties. Congress approved the admission bill, and President Monroe signed it into law, officially granting statehood on December 3. The new state combined agricultural potential with growing riverine commerce along the Mississippi. Statehood brought federal representation for Illinois residents in both houses of Congress. It also intensified debates over slavery's expansion, reflected in later compromises. Illinois's admission marked a key chapter in early 19th-century American westward expansion.
1818
Illinois
U.S. state
1901day.year
In a State of the Union message, U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt delivers a 20,000-word report to the House of Representatives asking Congress to curb the power of trusts "within reasonable limits". The speech was not delivered in person.
President Theodore Roosevelt sends a 20,000-word written State of the Union message urging Congress to limit the power of trusts.
President Theodore Roosevelt sent a written State of the Union message spanning 20,000 words to the House of Representatives. In his address, he urged Congress to curb the power of large corporate trusts within reasonable limits to protect competition. This message was never delivered in person, reflecting a shift in communication style. Roosevelt's progressive agenda emphasized regulatory oversight and fair business practices. His call for trust-busting influenced future antitrust legislation. The comprehensive report underscored the growing federal role in managing the economy during the early twentieth century.
1901
State of the Union message
Theodore Roosevelt
House of Representatives
1925day.year
Final agreement is signed between the Irish Free State, Northern Ireland and the United Kingdom formalizing the Partition of Ireland.
The final agreement formalizing the Partition of Ireland is signed by the Irish Free State, Northern Ireland, and the United Kingdom.
On December 3, 1925, the final agreement formalizing the Partition of Ireland was signed by the Irish Free State, Northern Ireland, and the United Kingdom. This accord solidified the border established under the Government of Ireland Act 1920. It defined administrative arrangements and financial liabilities between the two jurisdictions. The partition entrenched political and sectarian divisions on the island. The agreement shaped the course of Irish and British relations for decades. It laid the groundwork for the complex governance structures that followed in Northern Ireland.
1925
Irish Free State
Northern Ireland
United Kingdom
Partition of Ireland
1929day.year
President Herbert Hoover delivers his first State of the Union message to Congress. It is presented in the form of a written message rather than a speech.
President Herbert Hoover submits his first State of the Union message to Congress in writing instead of an oral address.
President Herbert Hoover delivered his first State of the Union message to Congress on December 3, 1929, choosing a written format rather than an oral address. The written message outlined his policy priorities amid the onset of the Great Depression. Hoover emphasized fiscal responsibility, voluntary cooperation in business, and limited government intervention. His decision reflected a growing trend toward delivering the State of the Union in writing. The format shift allowed for detailed policy proposals and legislative guidance. This written tradition would continue for several decades before oral addresses resumed.
1929
Herbert Hoover
State of the Union message
1938day.year
Nazi Germany issues the Decree on the Utilization of Jewish Property forcing Jews to sell real property, businesses, and stocks at below market value as part of Aryanization.
Nazi Germany issues the Decree on the Utilization of Jewish Property, forcing below-market sale of Jewish-owned assets.
On December 3, 1938, Nazi Germany issued the Decree on the Utilization of Jewish Property as part of its Aryanization policy. The decree forced Jewish citizens to sell real estate, businesses, and financial assets at below market value. It accelerated the economic disenfranchisement of the Jewish population. Many Jewish entrepreneurs and homeowners lost their livelihoods virtually overnight. The policy marked a devastating step in the systematic persecution that preceded the Holocaust. This decree illustrates how legal instruments were used to dispossess and marginalize entire communities.
1938
Nazi Germany
real property
businesses
stocks
Aryanization
1959day.year
The current flag of Singapore is adopted, six months after Singapore became self-governing within the British Empire.
Singapore officially adopted its current national flag on December 3, 1959, six months after gaining self-governance.
On December 3, 1959, the newly self-governing State of Singapore adopted its red and white national flag featuring a crescent and five stars.
The colors symbolize universal brotherhood (red) and purity (white), while the crescent represents a young nation on the rise.
The five stars stand for democracy, peace, progress, justice, and equality.
The flag's design was chosen through a public competition held earlier that year.
Its adoption marked a key step in Singapore's journey toward full independence from British rule in 1965.
1959
flag of Singapore
Singapore
British Empire
1979day.year
Iranian Revolution: Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini becomes the first Supreme Leader of Iran.
Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini assumes the newly established title of Supreme Leader, consolidating his authority in post-revolutionary Iran.
In December 1979, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini was formally named the first Supreme Leader of Iran under the newly ratified constitution following the Islamic Revolution. This position endowed him with overarching authority over the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of the new Islamic Republic. Khomeini's elevation marked a pivotal shift from monarchy to a theocratic system led by religious scholars. As Supreme Leader, he held the power to appoint senior clerics, control the military and security forces, and shape foreign policy. His leadership laid the foundation for Iran's political structure that endures to this day.
Iranian Revolution
Ruhollah Khomeini
Supreme Leader of Iran
1989day.year
In a meeting off the coast of Malta, U.S. President George H. W. Bush and Soviet General Secretary Mikhail Gorbachev release statements indicating that the Cold War between NATO and the Warsaw Pact may be coming to an end.
U.S. President George H. W. Bush and Soviet General Secretary Mikhail Gorbachev met off Malta, signaling the imminent end of the Cold War.
In early December 1989, U.S. President George H. W. Bush and Soviet General Secretary Mikhail Gorbachev convened aboard naval vessels off the coast of Malta. Their joint statements acknowledged a thaw in superpower relations and hinted that the decades-long Cold War rivalry was drawing to a close. This informal summit came just days after the fall of the Berlin Wall, symbolizing the collapse of communist hegemony in Eastern Europe. Both leaders agreed to reduce tension, scale back arms competition, and promote political reforms. The meeting paved the way for subsequent disarmament treaties and reinforced momentum toward the dissolution of the Warsaw Pact. Historians often view the Malta discussions as a turning point that ushered in a new era of cooperation and the end of bipolar geopolitical confrontation.
1989
meeting
George H. W. Bush
Mikhail Gorbachev
Cold War
NATO
Warsaw Pact
1994day.year
Taiwan holds its first full local elections; James Soong elected as the first and only directly elected Governor of Taiwan, Chen Shui-bian became the first directly elected Mayor of Taipei, Wu Den-yih became the first directly elected Mayor of Kaohsiung.
Taiwan held its first fully democratic local elections, electing its first directly chosen governor and mayors in Taipei and Kaohsiung.
On December 3, 1994, Taiwan conducted its inaugural full local elections under a newly implemented democratic framework. James Soong was elected as the first directly chosen Governor of Taiwan Province, marking a major step in decentralizing political power. In Taipei, lawyer Chen Shui-bian won the mayoral race as the city’s first directly elected mayor, while Wu Den-yih secured the mayoralty of Kaohsiung. These historic elections represented a significant shift away from one-party rule and toward broader civic participation. Voter turnout exceeded expectations, reflecting public enthusiasm for democratic reform. The results signaled Taiwan’s commitment to liberalization and set the stage for further presidential elections in the coming years.
1994
Taiwan
James Soong
Taiwan
Chen Shui-bian
Mayor
Taipei
Wu Den-yih
Mayor
Kaohsiung
1997day.year
In Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, representatives from 121 countries sign the Ottawa Treaty prohibiting manufacture and deployment of anti-personnel landmines. The United States, People's Republic of China, and Russia do not sign the treaty, however.
Representatives from 121 countries signed the Ottawa Treaty in Canada to ban anti-personnel landmines, though key powers abstained.
On December 3, 1997, delegates from 121 nations convened in Ottawa, Canada, to sign the Mine Ban Treaty, commonly known as the Ottawa Treaty. The agreement prohibited the production, stockpiling, and use of anti-personnel landmines, and mandated the destruction of existing arsenals. The United States, China, and Russia chose not to sign, citing security concerns. Signatory countries committed to clearing mined areas, assisting victims, and promoting mine awareness programs. The treaty represented a landmark achievement in humanitarian disarmament, driven by advocacy from organizations like the International Campaign to Ban Landmines. In 1997, the treaty was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for its role in reducing the threat of landmines worldwide. The Ottawa Treaty continues to shape international norms against indiscriminate weaponry.
1997
Ottawa, Ontario
Ottawa Treaty
anti-personnel landmines