835day.year
Sweet Dew Incident: Emperor Wenzong of the Tang dynasty conspires to kill the powerful eunuchs of the Tang court, but the plot is foiled.
The Sweet Dew Incident in 835 saw Emperor Wenzong attempt to eliminate powerful court eunuchs, but the plot was foiled.
In the winter of 835, Emperor Wenzong of the Tang dynasty orchestrated a secret plot known as the Sweet Dew Incident.
He enlisted loyal officials to ambush and kill the influential eunuchs who controlled the imperial court.
The conspirators gathered at the palace under the pretense of witnessing auspicious 'sweet dew' on a camphor tree.
However, the eunuchs discovered the betrayal and launched a violent counterattack.
Many officials were executed and the emperor's power was further weakened.
The failed uprising underscored the eunuchs' dominance and the fragility of imperial authority.
835
Sweet Dew Incident
Emperor Wenzong
Tang dynasty
eunuchs
1542day.year
Princess Mary Stuart becomes Queen of Scots at the age of one week on the death of her father, James V of Scotland.
One-week-old Mary Stuart ascended to the Scottish throne on the death of her father, James V of Scotland, in 1542.
Mary Stuart was born on December 8, 1542, to King James V of Scotland and his French wife Mary of Guise.
Just six days later, on December 14, James V died at the Battle of Solway Moss.
The infant Mary automatically succeeded as Queen of Scots, becoming one of the world's youngest monarchs.
Her birthright thrust her into fierce dynastic and religious struggles between France and England.
A regency council governed Scotland in her name, navigating complex alliances and noble rivalries.
Mary's early years abroad in France shaped her education and ensured her Catholic upbringing.
Her reign would later be marked by controversy, imprisonment, and eventual execution in England.
1542
Mary Stuart
Queen of Scots
James V of Scotland
1819day.year
Alabama becomes the 22nd U.S. state.
Alabama was admitted as the 22nd state of the United States on December 14, 1819.
Originally part of the Mississippi Territory, Alabama organized its own territorial government in 1817.
On December 14, 1819, Congress approved Alabama's admission as the nation's 22nd state.
William Wyatt Bibb was inaugurated as its first governor shortly thereafter.
The new state's fertile lands fueled rapid growth of cotton plantations and the institution of slavery.
Alabama's statehood reflected the broader westward expansion of the young republic.
Its admission also intensified national debates over the balance of free and slave states.
1819
Alabama
U.S. state
1836day.year
The Toledo War unofficially ends as the "Frostbitten Convention" votes to accept Congress' terms for admitting Michigan as a U.S. state.
Michigan's Frostbitten Convention votes to accept Congress' terms, unofficially ending the Toledo War and paving the way for statehood.
The Toledo War was a largely bloodless boundary dispute between Ohio and the Michigan Territory over a strip of land including Toledo.
After years of political wrangling, the Frostbitten Convention met in December 1836 to negotiate a settlement.
Delegates agreed to Congress' proposal: Michigan would cede its claim to the Toledo Strip in exchange for land in the Upper Peninsula.
By accepting these terms, Michigan paved its way to statehood as the 26th state of the United States.
The compromise officially ended a conflict that had threatened to draw the young nation into internal strife.
Though called a war, the dispute saw no major battles, and its resolution showcased the power of political negotiation.
Michigan was admitted to the Union on January 26, 1837.
1836
Toledo War
Michigan
1909day.year
New South Wales Premier Charles Wade signs the Seat of Government Surrender Act 1909, formally completing the transfer of State land to the Commonwealth to create the Australian Capital Territory.
New South Wales cedes land to the Commonwealth, enabling the creation of Australia's federal capital territory.
On December 14, 1909, Premier Charles Wade of New South Wales signed the Seat of Government Surrender Act 1909.
This legislation transferred selected state lands to the Commonwealth of Australia for the establishment of a purpose-built federal capital.
The agreement followed lengthy negotiations over the location and governance of the national seat of government.
The surrendered territory, later named the Australian Capital Territory, provided ample space for the planned city of Canberra.
This act marked a key step in Australia's federation, balancing state interests with the need for a neutral federal capital.
The foundation laid by this agreement continues to shape the political and geographical heart of Australia.
1909
New South Wales
Charles Wade
Seat of Government Surrender Act 1909
Australian Capital Territory
1914day.year
Lisandro de la Torre and others found the Democratic Progressive Party (Partido Demócrata Progresista, PDP) at the Hotel Savoy, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Lisandro de la Torre and colleagues establish the Democratic Progressive Party in Buenos Aires, marking a milestone in Argentina’s liberal political history.
On December 14, 1914, Argentine senator Lisandro de la Torre gathered political allies at the Hotel Savoy in Buenos Aires to launch a new political movement. The newly formed Partido Demócrata Progresista (PDP) championed civil liberties, electoral reform, and social justice at a time when the country’s politics was dominated by conservative elites. With a platform emphasizing transparency and public education, the PDP sought to challenge entrenched power structures and expand democratic participation. Lisandro de la Torre’s reputation as a reformer attracted urban intellectuals and middle-class voters who were eager for change. Although the party faced resistance from established political forces, it played a pivotal role in shaping Argentina’s early 20th-century political landscape. The PDP’s founding marked the beginning of a sustained progressive current in Argentine political life that influenced later generations.
1914
Lisandro de la Torre
Democratic Progressive Party
Buenos Aires
Argentina
1918day.year
Friedrich Karl von Hessen, a German prince elected by the Parliament of Finland to become King Väinö I, renounces the Finnish throne.
German prince Friedrich Karl von Hessen renounces his claim to the Finnish throne, ending an experiment in monarchy following Finland’s independence.
After Finland declared independence from Russia in December 1917, the newly formed Parliament elected German prince Friedrich Karl von Hessen as King Väinö I. However, the conclusion of World War I and the changing political climate in Europe cast doubt on the viability of a German monarch in Finland. On December 14, 1918, the prince formally renounced the throne before even taking power, acknowledging the need for a more universally acceptable head of state. His decision reflected Finland’s desire to establish a republic rather than emulate monarchical systems of continental Europe. The renunciation paved the way for Finland to adopt a republican constitution in 1919 and elect a president as head of state. This episode remains a fascinating footnote in Finnish history, illustrating the fluid political dynamics of post-war Europe.
1918
Friedrich Karl von Hessen
Parliament of Finland
Finnish throne
1918day.year
Portuguese President Sidónio Pais is assassinated.
Portuguese President Sidónio Pais is assassinated in Lisbon, triggering a political crisis during World War I.
On December 14, 1918, President Sidónio Pais of Portugal was fatally shot by an opponent in Lisbon, ending the life of the influential statesman. Pais had risen to power earlier that year through a coup that established what some called the New Republic with president-centered governance. His tenure was marked by efforts to stabilize Portugal during World War I and implement administrative reforms. The assassination at a public event sent shockwaves through the nation, causing political turbulence and uncertainty. In the aftermath, Portugal faced factional struggles between monarchists, republicans, and military officers. Sidónio Pais’s death highlighted the volatility of Portuguese politics in the early 20th century and set the stage for further upheaval in the First Republic era.
Portuguese President
Sidónio Pais
1918day.year
The 1918 United Kingdom general election occurs, the first where women were permitted to vote. In Ireland the Irish republican political party Sinn Féin wins a landslide victory with nearly 47% of the popular vote.
The 1918 United Kingdom general election opens the franchise to women and sees Sinn Féin achieve a landmark victory in Ireland.
Held on December 14, 1918, the UK general election was the first to grant voting rights to women over the age of 30 and all men over 21. The Representation of the People Act 1918 dramatically expanded the electorate, enfranchising millions and reshaping British democracy. In Ireland, the newly formed Sinn Féin party capitalized on widespread nationalist sentiment to win nearly 47% of the vote. Sinn Féin’s landslide victory translated into a decisive rejection of the Irish Parliamentary Party and set the stage for the Irish War of Independence. Across the United Kingdom, the election returned a majority for the coalition government led by David Lloyd George. The 1918 election is remembered as a transformative moment in suffrage history and a turning point in Ireland’s struggle for self-determination.
1918 United Kingdom general election
Sinn Féin
1955day.year
Albania, Austria, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Ceylon, Finland, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Jordan, Laos, Libya, Nepal, Portugal, Romania and Spain join the United Nations through United Nations Security Council Resolution 109.
Seventeen countries, including Austria, Finland, and Portugal, join the United Nations under Security Council Resolution 109.
On December 14, 1955, the United Nations admitted seventeen new member states following Security Council Resolution 109. The expansion included nations from Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Middle East, reflecting the UN’s growing global reach. Among the newcomers were Austria, Finland, Hungary, Italy, and Portugal, signaling Europe's return to international diplomacy after World War II. Countries such as Cambodia, Ceylon (now Sri Lanka), and Laos joined as newly independent states from colonial rule. Nations like Jordan, Libya, and Nepal also gained membership, marking a significant increase in the organization's diversity. This wave of admissions underscored the UN’s role in fostering cooperation among a record number of sovereign nations. The event remains a landmark in the history of international relations and multilateral governance.
1955
Albania
Austria
Bulgaria
Cambodia
Ceylon
Finland
Hungary
Ireland
Italy
Jordan
Laos
Libya
Nepal
Portugal
Romania
Spain
United Nations
United Nations Security Council Resolution 109
1960day.year
Convention against Discrimination in Education of UNESCO is adopted.
On December 14, 1960, UNESCO adopted the Convention against Discrimination in Education to promote equal educational opportunities worldwide.
Adopted at UNESCO's General Conference, the Convention against Discrimination in Education obliges signatory states to eliminate discrimination and ensure equal access to education at all levels.
It addresses biases based on race, gender, language, religion, socioeconomic status, and national origin.
The treaty requires governments to guarantee free and compulsory primary education and prohibits segregation in schooling.
Over 100 countries have ratified the convention, making it a foundational instrument for educational equity.
Its principles continue to guide global efforts toward inclusive and nondiscriminatory education systems.
The adoption marked a significant milestone in the advancement of human rights in the educational sphere.
1960
Convention against Discrimination in Education
UNESCO
1964day.year
American Civil Rights Movement: Heart of Atlanta Motel v. United States: The Supreme Court of the United States rules that Congress can use the Constitution's Commerce Clause to fight discrimination.
On December 14, 1964, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Heart of Atlanta Motel v. United States that Congress could use the Commerce Clause to prohibit racial discrimination in public accommodations.
In a unanimous decision authored by Justice Tom C. Clark, the Court held that racial discrimination by businesses serving interstate travelers affected interstate commerce and thus could be regulated by Congress.
The case upheld Title II of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which barred segregation in hotels, motels, and other public accommodations.
Heart of Atlanta Motel had refused to accept Black guests, arguing the law exceeded congressional power.
The ruling reinforced federal authority to enforce civil rights protections and bolstered the legislative framework for combating segregation.
It represented a landmark victory for the American Civil Rights Movement and set a lasting precedent for Commerce Clause jurisprudence.
The decision remains a cornerstone of federal civil rights enforcement.
1964
American Civil Rights Movement
Heart of Atlanta Motel v. United States
Supreme Court of the United States
Congress
Constitution's
Commerce Clause