161 years ago today
Thirteenth Amendment Abolishes Slavery in America
On December 18, 1865, Secretary of State William Seward certified and proclaimed the adoption of the Thirteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, formally abolishing slavery throughout the United States. The amendment declared: "Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States." It had been passed by Congress earlier in 1865, but required ratification by three-quarters of the states. The proclamation marked the legal end of an institution that had existed in North America for over 250 years, fulfilling the promise of Lincoln's 1863 Emancipation Proclamation and transforming the constitutional foundation of the nation.
On the record: Abraham Lincoln
This day, across time
- 1271EventKublai Khan Names His Dynasty "Yuan"
- 1737DiedAntonio Stradivari
- 1787EventNew Jersey Ratifies the U.S. Constitution
- 1865FeaturedThirteenth Amendment Abolishes Slavery in America
- 1878BornJoseph Stalin
- 1892EventThe Nutcracker Premieres in Saint Petersburg
- 1913BornWilly Brandt
- 1916EventBattle of Verdun Ends
- 1932EventFirst NFL Indoor Playoff Game
- 1944EventSupreme Court Upholds Japanese American Internment
- 1946BornSteven Spielberg
- 1958EventWorld's First Communications Satellite Launched
- 1963BornBrad Pitt
- 1980BornChristina Aguilera
- 1980DiedAlexei Kosygin
- 1997DiedChris Farley
- 2011DiedVáclav Havel
- 2019EventU.S. House Impeaches Donald Trump for the First Time
- 2022EventArgentina Wins the FIFA World Cup
Alive in 1865
OverlapSame years; not influence
Abraham Lincolndied this year
Charles John Huffam Dickensturned 53 this year
Charles Robert Darwinturned 56 this year
Friedrich Nietzscheturned 21 this year
Henry Fordturned 2 this year
Karl Marxturned 47 this year
Nikola Teslaturned 9 this year
Oscar Wildeturned 11 this year
Otto von Bismarckturned 50 this year
Queen Victoriaturned 46 this year
10 more figures were alive that year
On This Day in History
10 EventsKublai Khan Names His Dynasty "Yuan"
Kublai Khan officially renames his Mongol-ruled Chinese empire the "Yuan dynasty," marking a deliberate shift from conqueror to legitimate Chinese emperor and setting a template for Mongol governance over China.
New Jersey Ratifies the U.S. Constitution
New Jersey becomes the third state to ratify the newly drafted United States Constitution, unanimously, earning it the nickname "The Garden State" and helping the new federal framework reach the required nine-state threshold.
Thirteenth Amendment Abolishes Slavery
Secretary of State Seward certifies the Thirteenth Amendment, making the abolition of slavery the law of the land. The legal end of American slavery comes eight months after the Civil War's conclusion.
The Nutcracker Premieres in Saint Petersburg
Tchaikovsky's ballet The Nutcracker receives its world premiere at the Imperial Mariinsky Theatre in Saint Petersburg, Russia. Though initially met with mixed reviews, it has since become the most-performed ballet in the world, especially during Christmas.
Battle of Verdun Ends
The Battle of Verdun, one of the longest and most devastating battles of World War I, concludes after ten months of fighting. The battle caused approximately 700,000 casualties between France and Germany and became a symbol of the war's horrific attrition.
First NFL Indoor Playoff Game
The Chicago Bears defeat the Portsmouth Spartans 9–0 in an emergency playoff game held indoors at Chicago Stadium — the first NFL playoff game ever played — after a blizzard made outdoor play impossible.
Supreme Court Upholds Japanese American Internment
The U.S. Supreme Court issues its Korematsu v. United States ruling, upholding the constitutionality of the forced internment of Japanese Americans during World War II. The decision was formally repudiated by the Supreme Court in 2018.
World's First Communications Satellite Launched
The U.S. launches Project SCORE (Signal Communication by Orbiting Relay Equipment), the world's first communications satellite, which broadcast a pre-recorded Christmas message from President Eisenhower.
U.S. House Impeaches Donald Trump for the First Time
The U.S. House of Representatives votes to impeach President Donald Trump on two articles: abuse of power and obstruction of Congress, arising from his dealings with Ukraine. He was subsequently acquitted by the Senate.
Argentina Wins the FIFA World Cup
Argentina defeats France 4–2 on penalties after an extraordinary 3–3 draw in the final in Qatar, with Lionel Messi winning his elusive World Cup title. The match is widely considered the greatest World Cup final ever played.
Born on This Day
Joseph Stalin
General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union (r. 1922–1952)
The Georgian-born Soviet dictator who industrialized the USSR through brutal forced collectivization, led the country to victory in World War II at the cost of tens of millions of lives, and imposed a totalitarian system of purges, gulags, and terror.
Steven Spielberg
American Film Director & Producer
The most commercially successful director in Hollywood history, creator of Jaws, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, E.T., Raiders of the Lost Ark, Schindler's List, and Saving Private Ryan. He co-founded DreamWorks and has shaped popular cinema for five decades.
Brad Pitt
American Actor & Producer
One of the most bankable stars of his generation, known for films including Fight Club, Se7en, Twelve Monkeys, and Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. His 2019 Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor came after decades as a defining presence in American cinema.
Willy Brandt
Chancellor of West Germany (r. 1969–1974)
The Social Democratic statesman who pursued Ostpolitik — a new policy of dialogue with East Germany and the Soviet Bloc — and whose kneeling at the Warsaw Ghetto memorial in 1970 became one of the most powerful gestures of postwar contrition. He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1971.
Christina Aguilera
American Singer & Songwriter
A powerhouse vocalist whose debut hit "Genie in a Bottle" launched a pop career defined by vocal range and reinvention, spanning hits from "Beautiful" to "Fighter." She is one of the best-selling music artists of all time with over 75 million records sold.
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Antonio Stradivari
Italian Violin Maker
The Cremona craftsman who created the world's most celebrated violins, violas, and cellos. His approximately 960 instruments — of which around 650 survive — remain the gold standard for string instrument makers and command millions at auction.
Václav Havel
Playwright & First President of the Czech Republic
The dissident playwright who helped lead Czechoslovakia's Velvet Revolution in 1989 and became the country's last communist-era and first post-communist president. A moral voice of European democracy, he is remembered for his essays on truth-telling under oppression.
Chris Farley
American Comedian & Actor
The beloved Saturday Night Live cast member and star of Tommy Boy and Black Sheep, whose physical comedy and fearless performances made him one of the most popular comedians of the 1990s. He died of a drug overdose at age 33.
Alexei Kosygin
Premier of the Soviet Union
The Soviet statesman who served as Premier from 1964 to 1980 died at age 76. Kosygin was a key reformer who attempted to modernize the Soviet economy through the 1960s, with limited success.
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