1060day.year
Béla I is crowned king of Hungary.
Béla I ascends the Hungarian throne, marking the start of his reign.
Béla I was the younger brother of King Andrew I of Hungary and ascended the throne upon his death. His coronation on December 6, 1060, took place in the royal seat at Székesfehérvár under the approval of the nobility. As a member of the Árpád dynasty, he focused on consolidating royal power and defending the kingdom’s borders against external threats. He maintained alliances with neighboring powers such as the Holy Roman Empire and secured internal stability. His reign, though brief, strengthened the foundations of the medieval Hungarian state.
1060
Béla I
Hungary
1534day.year
The city of Quito in Ecuador is founded by Spanish settlers led by Sebastián de Belalcázar.
Spanish conquistador Sebastián de Belalcázar establishes the city of Quito in present-day Ecuador.
On December 6, 1534, Spanish settlers led by Sebastián de Belalcázar founded the city of Quito on the site of an ancient Inca settlement. The location was chosen for its strategic position high in the Andes, offering defensibility and access to local trade routes. Quito quickly became a key administrative and religious center of the Spanish Viceroyalty of Peru. The new city blended indigenous traditions with Spanish colonial architecture, setting the tone for its rich cultural heritage. Over the centuries, Quito has grown into Ecuador’s capital and a UNESCO World Heritage site known for its historic center.
1534
Quito
Ecuador
Sebastián de Belalcázar
1648day.year
Pride's Purge removes royalist sympathizers from Parliament so that the High Court of Justice could put the King on trial.
Pride's Purge expels royalist MPs from the English Parliament to prepare for King Charles I’s trial.
On December 6, 1648, Colonel Thomas Pride led troops to forcibly remove members of the English Parliament who opposed bringing King Charles I to trial. Known as Pride’s Purge, this action targeted MPs with royalist sympathies and effectively created the Rump Parliament. The purge paved the way for the establishment of the High Court of Justice, which would later condemn the king. It represented a radical shift in power away from monarchical authority toward parliamentary supremacy. The purge and subsequent regicide of Charles I profoundly altered the course of English governance, leading to an interregnum under Oliver Cromwell.
1648
Pride's Purge
High Court of Justice
1790day.year
The U.S. Congress moves from New York City to Philadelphia.
The United States Congress relocates its seat from New York City to Philadelphia.
On December 6, 1790, the U.S. Congress convened for the first time in Philadelphia after leaving New York City, reflecting a temporary capital arrangement. Philadelphia served as the nation’s capital until the completion of Washington, D.C. in 1800. The move aimed to appease regional interests and accommodate a growing government. During its tenure in Philadelphia, Congress debated key issues including the Bill of Rights and the financial plan of Alexander Hamilton. The city’s vibrant political salons and printing presses played a crucial role in shaping early American policy. This period laid groundwork for enduring national institutions and practices.
1790
U.S. Congress
New York City
Philadelphia
1865day.year
Georgia ratifies the 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
Georgia ratifies the 13th Amendment, abolishing slavery in the United States.
On December 6, 1865, Georgia became the first former Confederate state to ratify the 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which abolished slavery and involuntary servitude. The ratification was a critical step in the Reconstruction era following the Civil War. It signaled a formal commitment to change by a state that had seceded just months earlier. The amendment’s passage ensured legal freedom for millions of formerly enslaved people nationwide. Georgia’s action encouraged other states to follow suit and solidified the legal framework for civil rights. The event remains a landmark in America’s journey toward equality and justice.
1865
Georgia
13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution
1904day.year
Theodore Roosevelt articulated his "Corollary" to the Monroe Doctrine, stating that the U.S. would intervene in the Western Hemisphere should Latin American governments prove incapable or unstable.
President Theodore Roosevelt announces the Roosevelt Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine, expanding U.S. interventionist policy in the Americas.
On December 6, 1904, President Theodore Roosevelt proclaimed the Roosevelt Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine in his annual message to Congress. This policy stated that the United States would act as an 'international police power' to stabilize affairs in Central America and the Caribbean if local governments proved unable to maintain order or sovereignty. It marked a significant shift toward American interventionism and justified subsequent U.S. military actions and financial control in the region. The Corollary shaped U.S.-Latin American relations for decades, influencing events such as interventions in the Dominican Republic and Cuba. It became a cornerstone of Roosevelt's 'Big Stick' diplomacy.
1904
Theodore Roosevelt
"Corollary" to the Monroe Doctrine
1917day.year
Finland declares independence from the Russian Empire.
Finland proclaims its independence from Russia, becoming a sovereign nation.
Amid the upheaval of the Russian Revolution, Finland's Senate declared independence on December 6, 1917, ending over a century of Russian rule. The declaration was rapidly recognized by Bolshevik Russia, and December 6 became Finland's Independence Day. This peaceful transition established Finland as a republic and paved the way for its constitution and democratic institutions. However, tensions soon led to a brief civil war in January 1918 between Red and White factions. Finland emerged as an independent Nordic nation, shaping its national identity through investments in social welfare and education.
1917
Finland declares independence
the Russian Empire
1921day.year
The Anglo-Irish Treaty is signed in London by British and Irish representatives.
British and Irish delegates sign the Anglo-Irish Treaty, creating the Irish Free State.
On December 6, 1921, plenipotentiaries from Britain and Ireland met at 10 Downing Street to sign the Anglo-Irish Treaty, formally ending the Irish War of Independence. The agreement established the Irish Free State as a self-governing dominion within the British Commonwealth. While granting significant autonomy, it required an oath of allegiance to the British Crown and left Northern Ireland partitioned. The Treaty sparked a fierce political split, eventually leading to the Irish Civil War between pro- and anti-Treaty forces. Its terms laid the foundation for modern Ireland and shaped 20th-century Irish-British relations.
1921
Anglo-Irish Treaty
London
1922day.year
One year to the day after the signing of the Anglo-Irish Treaty Ireland is partitioned. Northern Ireland and the Irish Free State come into existence.
On December 6, 1922, Ireland was partitioned under the Anglo-Irish Treaty, creating Northern Ireland and the Irish Free State.
One year after the Anglo-Irish Treaty was signed, the island of Ireland was officially divided into two political entities.
Northern Ireland retained its status within the United Kingdom, while twenty-six counties formed the self-governing Irish Free State.
This partition was conceived as a political compromise between unionists and nationalists.
The decision ignited deep political debate and sectarian tensions across the region.
The border established on this day would influence Irish–British relations for much of the twentieth century.
December 6th 1922 remains a pivotal date in the history of Irish sovereignty.
1922
Anglo-Irish Treaty
partitioned
Northern Ireland
Irish Free State
1928day.year
The government of Colombia sends military forces to suppress a month-long strike by United Fruit Company workers, resulting in an unknown number of deaths.
On December 6, 1928, the Colombian government deployed troops to break a United Fruit Company workers' strike, resulting in numerous casualties.
In the late 1920s, United Fruit Company held vast influence over Colombia’s banana industry.
Workers launched a month-long strike demanding higher wages and safer conditions.
On December 6, 1928, President Miguel Abadía Méndez ordered the military to intervene.
Troops opened fire on striking workers, causing an unknown but significant number of deaths.
The violent suppression, later known as the Banana Massacre, spurred national outrage.
This event became an enduring symbol of foreign corporate power and governmental repression in Colombia.
1928
sends military forces
strike
United Fruit Company
1973day.year
The Twenty-fifth Amendment: The United States House of Representatives votes 387–35 to confirm Gerald Ford as Vice President of the United States. (On November 27, the Senate confirmed him 92–3.)
The U.S. House of Representatives confirms Gerald Ford as Vice President under the Twenty-fifth Amendment.
On December 6, 1973, the U.S. House of Representatives voted 387–35 to confirm Gerald Ford as Vice President, invoking the Twenty-fifth Amendment. This followed the resignation of Spiro Agnew and Ford’s earlier confirmation by the Senate on November 27. Ford became the first person appointed to the vice presidency under the amendment’s provisions. His confirmation restored the constitutional line of succession and political stability during the Nixon administration. This landmark action demonstrated the Amendment’s effectiveness in filling a sudden vacancy.
1973
The Twenty-fifth Amendment
United States House of Representatives
Gerald Ford
Vice President of the United States
November 27
Senate
1977day.year
South Africa grants independence to Bophuthatswana, although it is not recognized by any other country.
South Africa declares Bophuthatswana independent, a move unrecognized internationally.
On December 6, 1977, the South African government proclaimed Bophuthatswana an independent homeland under its apartheid policy. Despite this declaration, no foreign government or international body recognized Bophuthatswana’s sovereignty. The territory, designated for the Tswana people, functioned as a puppet state, reinforcing segregationist laws. Its ‘independence’ served to strip black South Africans of citizenship rights and tighten apartheid’s racial hierarchy. Bophuthatswana remained unrecognized until reabsorption into South Africa in 1994.
1977
Bophuthatswana