What Happened on December 7 in History?
The most significant event to happen on December 7 in history was the attack on Pearl Harbor by the Japanese in 1941, which directly led to the United States' entry into World War II.
Key Historical Events on December 7
1941: Attack on Pearl Harbor - The Imperial Japanese Navy launched a surprise air attack on the U.S. Pacific Fleet at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, just before 8 a.m. local time. More than 2,400 Americans were killed (including 68 civilians) and 1,178 wounded, while numerous naval vessels and aircraft were destroyed or damaged. The day after the attack, President Franklin D. Roosevelt addressed Congress, calling December 7 "a date which will live in infamy," and the U.S. declared war on Japan, entering World War II. The day is now commemorated annually as National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day.
1787: Delaware Ratifies the Constitution - Delaware became the first state to ratify the U.S. Constitution, earning its nickname as "The First State".
1732: Royal Opera House opens, in London.
1972: The "Blue Marble" Photo - The crew of Apollo 17, the last Apollo mission to the Moon, took the famous photograph of the entire Earth known as "The Blue Marble" as they left Earth's orbit.
1988: Armenian Earthquake - A devastating magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck Armenia, killing between 25,000 and 50,000 people and leaving half a million homeless.
1982: First Execution by Lethal Injection - Charles Brooks Jr. became the first person in the U.S. to be executed by lethal injection in Huntsville, Texas.
1963: Instant Replay Debuts - CBS used the first-ever instant replay during the Army-Navy football game, although technical problems limited it to a single play.
43 BC: Assassination of Cicero - Marcus Tullius Cicero, the renowned Roman philosopher and statesman, was assassinated on the orders of Mark Antony.
Notable Birthdays
1928: Noam Chomsky, influential linguist and public intellectual.
1932: Ellen Burstyn, Oscar-winning actress.
1956: Larry Bird, Hall of Fame basketball player.
