43 BC
Marcus Tullius Cicero is assassinated in Formia on orders of Marcus Antonius.
Roman statesman Cicero was assassinated in Formia on the orders of Mark Antony, marking a pivotal moment in the power struggles of the late Republic.
Marcus Tullius Cicero was a leading figure of the late Roman Republic, celebrated for his oratory and political writings. On December 7, 43 BC, he was ambushed while traveling through Formia. Cicero’s assassination was ordered by Mark Antony in the wake of the power struggles following Julius Caesar’s death. His murder marked a chilling escalation in the civil wars that would ultimately end the Republic. The event sent shockwaves through Rome and left a void in its political and intellectual life. Cicero’s speeches and letters continued to influence political thought for centuries afterward.
43 BC
Marcus Tullius Cicero
Formia
Marcus Antonius
574day.year
Byzantine Emperor Justin II, suffering recurring seizures of insanity, adopts his general Tiberius and proclaims him as Caesar.
Emperor Justin II, beset by bouts of mental illness, adopts his general Tiberius as Caesar, reshaping Byzantine succession.
Byzantine Emperor Justin II faced recurrent episodes of mental instability later in his reign. On December 7, 574, he formally adopted his trusted general Tiberius. He conferred upon Tiberius the title of Caesar, designating him as his successor. This political maneuver aimed to stabilize the empire and secure continuity of leadership. Tiberius later ascended the throne as Tiberius II Constantine after Justin’s health declined further. The decision influenced the trajectory of Byzantine imperial politics and succession practices.
574
Justin II
Tiberius
Caesar
1724day.year
Tumult of Thorn: Religious unrest is followed by the execution of nine Protestant citizens and the mayor of Thorn (Toruń) by Polish authorities.
The Tumult of Thorn saw religious violence culminate in the execution of nine Protestant citizens and the mayor by Polish authorities, heightening sectarian tensions.
Religious tensions flared in the city of Thorn (present-day Toruń) on December 7, 1724. The Tumult of Thorn saw Protestant citizens accused of desecrating Catholic symbols. In the aftermath, Polish authorities executed nine Protestants along with the city’s Protestant mayor. The harsh punishment provoked outrage among Protestant communities across Europe. The incident highlighted the deep confessional divides in the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth. It remains a stark example of sectarian violence in early modern Europe.
1724
Tumult of Thorn
Protestant
Thorn (Toruń)
1787day.year
Delaware becomes the first state to ratify the United States Constitution.
Delaware became the first U.S. state to ratify the United States Constitution, providing essential momentum for its adoption.
Delaware ratified the United States Constitution on December 7, 1787, becoming the first state to do so. This act provided crucial momentum for the Constitution’s adoption by other states. Delegates to the Delaware convention debated issues such as federal power and individual rights. Ratification ensured Delaware’s place in the union and set a precedent for orderly state conventions. The state’s support was celebrated nationwide and it earned the nickname the First State. Delaware’s early ratification underscored the fledgling nation’s commitment to a strong central government.
1787
Delaware
United States Constitution
1917day.year
World War I: The United States declares war on Austria-Hungary.
On December 7, 1917, the United States officially entered World War I against Austria-Hungary by declaring war, expanding the conflict in Europe.
After joining the Allies in April 1917, the United States declared war on Austria-Hungary on December 7, 1917.
Congress approved President Wilson's request, citing unrestricted submarine warfare and support for human rights.
This declaration broadened the American military commitment, allowing US forces to engage Austro-Hungarian troops and territories.
Though direct military actions against Austria-Hungary were limited, the move underscored the US determination to shape the postwar order.
It marked a significant escalation of American involvement and laid groundwork for the eventual dissolution of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.
1917
World War I
Austria-Hungary
1922day.year
The Parliament of Northern Ireland votes to remain a part of the United Kingdom and not unify with Southern Ireland.
On December 7, 1922, Northern Ireland’s Parliament voted to remain part of the United Kingdom, rejecting proposals to unify with Southern Ireland.
In the wake of the 1921 partition under the Government of Ireland Act, Northern Ireland faced a choice of political allegiance.
On December 7, 1922, its newly formed Parliament voted to opt out of the Irish Free State and stay within the United Kingdom.
This decision solidified the six-county Unionist administration under Sir James Craig.
The move entrenched the division of Ireland and laid the foundation for decades of political tension.
It affirmed Northern Ireland’s separate identity and status, shaping the island’s future governance and border arrangements.
1922
Parliament of Northern Ireland
United Kingdom
Southern Ireland
1932day.year
German-born Swiss physicist Albert Einstein is granted an American visa.
In 1932, Nobel Prize–winning physicist Albert Einstein was granted a United States visa, facilitating his relocation amid rising tensions in Europe.
German-born Albert Einstein applied for and received an American visa on December 7, 1932.
Facing increasing persecution under the Nazi regime, the physicist sought a secure base for his work.
His arrival in the United States enabled him to accept a position at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton.
Einstein’s move contributed significantly to the development of American theoretical physics.
This migration also underscored the broader exodus of European scientists before World War II.
1932
physicist
Albert Einstein
visa
1949day.year
Chinese Civil War: The Government of the Republic of China moves from Nanjing to Taipei, Taiwan.
In 1949, the Republic of China government under Chiang Kai-shek relocates from Nanjing to Taipei, establishing Taiwan as its new seat of power and marking a major shift in the Chinese Civil War.
By December 7, 1949, facing defeat by Communist forces, Chiang Kai-shek’s Nationalist government evacuates Nanjing.
The ROC leadership transports key ministries and military units across the Taiwan Strait to Taipei.
This relocation cements the island as the stronghold of the Republic of China, shaping Taiwan’s future political landscape.
Over the following decades, Taipei evolves into a dynamic capital under Nationalist governance.
The event stands as a pivotal moment in East Asian history, influencing cross-strait relations to this day.
1949
Chinese Civil War
Government of the Republic of China
moves
Nanjing
Taipei
Taiwan
1962day.year
Prince Rainier III of Monaco revises the principality's constitution, devolving some of his power to advisory and legislative councils.
Prince Rainier III of Monaco reforms the principality’s constitution in 1962, decentralizing his authority and empowering advisory and legislative councils.
On December 7, 1962, Prince Rainier III signs constitutional amendments reducing monarchical powers.
The reforms establish an elected National Council and strengthen consultative bodies.
These changes foster greater civic participation and modernize Monaco’s political framework.
Rainier’s move responds to internal demands for transparency and governance.
The revised charter marks a turning point toward parliamentary influence in one of Europe’s smallest states.
1962
Rainier III
Monaco
principality
constitution
1971day.year
Pakistan President Yahya Khan announces the formation of a coalition government with Nurul Amin as Prime Minister and Zulfikar Ali Bhutto as Deputy Prime Minister.
On December 7, 1971, Pakistani President Yahya Khan forms a coalition government appointing Nurul Amin as Prime Minister and Zulfikar Ali Bhutto as Deputy Prime Minister.
In the twilight of the 1971 war, President Yahya Khan seeks to stabilize Pakistan under martial law.
He designates Nurul Amin, a Bengali politician, as Prime Minister to placate East Pakistan sentiment.
Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, leader of West Pakistan’s dominant party, becomes Deputy Prime Minister.
The coalition aims to bridge political divides amid rising tensions and military setbacks.
However, the arrangement fails to prevent East Pakistan’s secession later that month.
Pakistan
Yahya Khan
Nurul Amin
Zulfikar Ali Bhutto
1982day.year
In Texas, Charles Brooks Jr., becomes the first person to be executed by lethal injection in the United States.
Charles Brooks Jr. becomes the first person executed by lethal injection in the United States on December 7, 1982, at the Huntsville Unit in Texas.
Convicted of murder, Charles Brooks Jr. faces the new method of lethal injection authorized by Texas law.
At 6:02 PM CST, medical personnel administer a three-drug cocktail to carry out the sentence.
Brooks’s execution sets a precedent, replacing older methods like electrocution in America.
The event sparks legal and ethical debates over humane treatment and capital punishment practices.
Lethal injection becomes the predominant execution method across many U.S. states in subsequent decades.
1982
Texas
Charles Brooks Jr.
executed
lethal injection
2003day.year
The Conservative Party of Canada is officially registered, following the merger of the Canadian Alliance and the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada.
On December 7, 2003, Canada’s Conservative Party was officially formed by merging the Canadian Alliance and Progressive Conservatives.
On December 7, 2003, the Canadian Alliance and the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada completed their merger to form the Conservative Party of Canada.
The unification sought to consolidate right-leaning political forces and provide a strong alternative to the ruling Liberals.
Stephen Harper, leader of the Alliance, became the interim leader of the new party.
The merger redefined Canada’s federal political landscape and energized conservative supporters.
In subsequent elections, the party gained momentum and formed government in 2006.
The creation of the Conservative Party remains a landmark moment in modern Canadian political history.
2003
Conservative Party of Canada
Canadian Alliance
Progressive Conservative Party of Canada