Also on this date
In 1803, the Louisiana Purchase was completed as ownership of the territory was formally transferred from France to the United States.
In 1864, Confederate forces evacuated Savannah, Georgia, as Union Maj. Gen. William T. Sherman nearly completed his “March to the Sea.”
In 1924, Adolf Hitler was released from prison after serving nine months for his role in the Beer Hall Putsch.
In 1946, the Frank Capra film “It’s A Wonderful Life,” starring James Stewart and Donna Reed, had a preview showing for charity in New York, a day before its official world premiere.
In 1987, more than 4,300 people were killed when the Dona Paz, a Philippine passenger ship, collided with a tanker off Mindoro island.
In 1989, the U.S. launched Operation Just Cause, sending troops into Panama to topple the government of Gen. Manuel Noriega.
In 1995, in Bosnia-Herzegovina, NATO began its peacekeeping mission, taking over from the United Nations.
In 1999, the Vermont Supreme Court ruled that homosexual couples were entitled to the same benefits and protections as wedded heterosexual couples.
In 2002, Trent Lott resigned as Senate Republican leader two weeks after igniting controversy with racially charged remarks.
Ten years ago: Lori Berenson, an American paroled after 15 years in prison in Peru for aiding leftist guerrillas, arrived in the United States for her first visit home since her arrest in 1995. (After a 17-day visit, Berenson returned to Peru to serve out the rest of her parole; she was expelled from Peru in 2015 and returned to the U.S.)
Five years ago: President Barack Obama designated the bulk of U.S.-owned waters in the Arctic Ocean and certain areas in the Atlantic Ocean as indefinitely off limits to future oil and gas leasing.
One year ago: The Trump campaign continued with its unprecedented efforts to overturn the results of the November presidential election; a petition asked the Supreme Court to reverse a trio of Pennsylvania Supreme Court cases having to do with mail-in ballots, and also asked that the state General Assembly be allowed to pick its own slate of electors.
Associated Press