1271day.year
Kublai Khan renames his empire "Yuan" (元 yuán), officially marking the start of the Yuan dynasty of Mongolia and China.
Kublai Khan officially names his empire 'Yuan,' marking the formal beginning of the Yuan dynasty in China under Mongol rule.
In 1271, Kublai Khan officially renamed his vast empire 'Yuan,' marking the formal establishment of the Yuan dynasty. This change signified the Mongol ruler’s intent to integrate traditional Chinese governance with his own administration. By adopting a Chinese dynastic title, Kublai Khan sought legitimacy among his new subjects in North China. The Yuan dynasty would go on to oversee major administrative reforms, trade expansion along the Silk Road, and cultural exchanges. The capital was established at Dadu (modern-day Beijing), which became a political and economic hub. The dynasty lasted until 1368, shaping the course of Chinese history.
1271
Kublai Khan
Yuan dynasty
Mongolia
1655day.year
The Whitehall Conference ends with the determination that there was no law preventing Jews from re-entering England after the Edict of Expulsion of 1290.
The 1655 Whitehall Conference determined that Jews could legally re-enter England, ending centuries of expulsion.
In 1655, the Whitehall Conference concluded that no English law prohibited the readmission of Jews expelled in 1290. Convened under Oliver Cromwell’s protectorate, this gathering of theologians and lawyers debated the legal and religious implications of Jewish resettlement. Participants examined ancient statutes and found no binding prohibition against Jewish presence. This landmark decision led to the unofficial return of Jewish communities to England after centuries of exile. It laid the groundwork for London’s growing Sephardic and Ashkenazi communities. This moment is often seen as an early step toward religious tolerance in Britain.
1655
Whitehall Conference
Edict of Expulsion
1787day.year
New Jersey becomes the third state to ratify the U.S. Constitution.
New Jersey ratified the U.S. Constitution on December 18, 1787, becoming the third state to do so.
On December 18, 1787, New Jersey became the third state to ratify the United States Constitution. Its approval followed narrow votes in the state’s ratifying convention and signaled growing support for the new federal government. New Jersey’s ratification provided momentum for other states to join the Union under the Constitution’s framework. The state’s delegation later played a key role in shaping the Bill of Rights. By endorsing the Constitution, New Jersey helped secure the legal foundation for the United States. This pivotal act contributed to the eventual unification of the original thirteen states.
1787
New Jersey
U.S. Constitution
1854day.year
The Legislative Assembly of the Province of Canada abolishes the seigneurial system.
The Province of Canada’s Legislative Assembly abolished the seigneurial system in 1854, modernizing land tenure.
In 1854, the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Canada formally abolished the seigneurial system. This feudal land tenure arrangement, inherited from New France, was seen as outdated by reformers. Legislation provided for compensation to former seigneurs and allowed landholders to convert their estates to freehold ownership. The change aimed to stimulate agricultural development and modernize rural communities. It also reflected broader trends toward democratic land rights and economic liberalization in British North America. The abolition reshaped land distribution patterns and influenced Canadian settlement.
1854
Legislative Assembly of the Province of Canada
seigneurial system
1865day.year
US Secretary of State William Seward proclaims the adoption of the Thirteenth Amendment, prohibiting slavery throughout the United States.
On December 18, 1865, Secretary of State William Seward proclaimed the adoption of the Thirteenth Amendment, officially abolishing slavery across the United States.
On December 18, 1865, Secretary of State William Seward issued a proclamation announcing that the Thirteenth Amendment had been ratified by the required number of states.
The amendment constitutionally banned slavery and involuntary servitude nationwide, marking a monumental shift after the Civil War.
This proclamation formalized years of abolitionist efforts and Civil War sacrifices aimed at securing freedom for millions.
Embedding the abolition of slavery into the Constitution laid the legal foundation for future civil rights movements.
The announcement was widely circulated, informing newly freed individuals of their rights and status under federal law.
Seward's declaration underscored the federal government's commitment to equality and redefined American society forever.
1865
William Seward
Thirteenth Amendment
slavery
1878day.year
The Al-Thani family become the rulers of the state of Qatar.
On December 18, 1878, the Al-Thani family assumed rulership of Qatar, establishing a dynasty that continues to this day.
On December 18, 1878, the influential Al-Thani family consolidated power and became the recognized rulers of Qatar under Sheikh Mohammed bin Thani.
Their leadership marked the beginning of a dynastic era that steered the country through tribal alliances and negotiations with regional powers.
Over subsequent decades, the Al-Thani emirs guided Qatar's transformation from a pearling and trading community to a strategic Gulf state.
The family's rule navigated colonial interests, the discovery of oil and gas reserves, and eventual full independence in 1971.
Today, the Al-Thani dynasty remains central to Qatar's governance, leading economic development and international diplomacy.
This historic shift laid the foundations for Qatar's modern emergence on the global stage.
1878
Al-Thani
Qatar
1917day.year
The resolution containing the language of the Eighteenth Amendment to enact Prohibition is passed by the United States Congress.
On December 18, 1917, the United States Congress passed the resolution proposing the Eighteenth Amendment, setting the stage for national Prohibition.
On December 18, 1917, Congress approved a resolution containing the text of the Eighteenth Amendment, aiming to ban alcohol throughout the United States.
Driven by temperance advocates and wartime resource conservation efforts, the amendment passed by wide margins in both houses.
It required ratification by three quarters of the states, which was completed by January 1919, leading to Prohibition's official start in 1920.
Enforcement of the ban under the Volstead Act ushered in a decade marked by speakeasies, bootlegging, and organized crime.
Prohibition profoundly altered American social life, influencing politics, culture, and law enforcement practices.
Though ultimately repealed in 1933, the Eighteenth Amendment era remains a cautionary tale of legislative overreach and social unintended consequences.
1917
Eighteenth Amendment
Prohibition
United States Congress
1935day.year
The Lanka Sama Samaja Party is founded in Ceylon.
On December 18, 1935, the Lanka Sama Samaja Party was founded in Ceylon as the island's first modern political party advocating socialism.
On December 18, 1935, the Lanka Sama Samaja Party (LSSP) was established in Ceylon by leaders including A. E. Goonesinha and Dr. Colvin R. de Silva.
As the first modern political party on the island, it championed socialism, workers' rights, and independence from British colonial rule.
The LSSP played a central role in labor movements, strikes, and political mobilization during the pre-independence era.
Its Marxist orientation influenced successive generations of activists and shaped leftist politics in Sri Lanka.
Despite facing colonial repression and internal splits, the party left a lasting legacy in South Asian socialist and anti-imperialist movements.
The LSSP's founding marked a key milestone in the political awakening of Ceylonese society.
1935
Lanka Sama Samaja Party
Ceylon
1944day.year
The Supreme Court of the United States issued its decision in Korematsu v. United States supporting Franklin D. Roosevelt's Executive Order 9066 which cleared the way for the incarceration of nearly all 120,000 Japanese Americans, two-thirds of whom were U.S. citizens, born and raised in the United States.
In a landmark ruling, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld Executive Order 9066 on this day, endorsing the wartime internment of Japanese Americans.
On December 18, 1944, the U.S. Supreme Court issued its ruling in Korematsu v. United States, upholding President Franklin D. Roosevelt's Executive Order 9066.
In a 6-3 decision, the Court endorsed the wartime internment of nearly 120,000 Japanese Americans, citing military necessity over individual rights.
Chief Justice Harlan Stone's majority opinion accepted the government's argument that mass exclusion was essential to national security.
Justice Murphy's dissent condemned the decision as a "legalization of racism" and warned of its dangerous precedent for civil liberties.
Two-thirds of those interned were American-born citizens detained without due process, stripped of property and freedom.
For decades, the ruling went unchallenged until reparations and formal apologies were issued in the 1980s.
Korematsu remains a sobering reminder of the fragile balance between security and constitutional rights.
Supreme Court of the United States
Korematsu v. United States
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Executive Order 9066
2002day.year
California gubernatorial recall: Then Governor of California Gray Davis announces that the state would face a record budget deficit of $35 billion, roughly double the figure reported during his reelection campaign one month earlier.
California Governor Gray Davis reveals a record $35 billion budget shortfall, doubling the deficit reported during his recent reelection campaign.
On December 18, 2002, California Governor Gray Davis announced that the state faced a record budget deficit of $35 billion. This figure was roughly twice the amount disclosed during his re-election campaign just a month earlier. The unexpected shortfall shocked citizens and lawmakers, fueling widespread criticism of the governor's fiscal management. Experts attributed the deficit to declining revenues and mounting public expenditures. The revelation intensified political pressure and set the stage for the 2003 gubernatorial recall election. It became a defining moment in California's economic and political landscape.
2002
California gubernatorial recall
Governor of California
Gray Davis
state
budget deficit
$
2006day.year
United Arab Emirates holds its first-ever elections.
The United Arab Emirates holds its first-ever elections for half of the Federal National Council.
On December 18, 2006, the United Arab Emirates conducted the inaugural elections for the Federal National Council, allowing citizens from select emirates to vote for half of the council's 40 members. The limited electoral college system marked a cautious step toward political participation within the federation of seven emirates. Voter eligibility was restricted, and candidates were nominated by the rulers of each emirate. Despite its scope, the election represented a significant milestone in the UAE's gradual approach to governance reform. Government officials described it as a blend of tradition and modern advisory representation, setting the stage for future political evolution.
United Arab Emirates
first-ever elections
2019day.year
The United States House of Representatives impeaches Donald Trump for the first time.
The U.S. House of Representatives votes to impeach President Donald Trump for the first time in history.
On December 18, 2019, the U.S. House of Representatives approved two articles of impeachment against President Donald J. Trump, citing abuse of power and obstruction of Congress. The charges were based on allegations that the president sought foreign interference in the 2020 election by pressuring Ukraine to investigate a political rival. The historic vote made Trump the third U.S. president ever to be impeached and the first to face the process more than once. Televised hearings in the House Oversight and Judiciary Committees laid out the evidence for lawmakers and the public. Advocates viewed the impeachment as a vital check on executive authority, while critics argued it was driven by partisan motives. The matter moved to the Senate for trial, setting the stage for a politically charged conclusion.
2019
impeaches Donald Trump for the first time