Major Events of December 1909: Key Historical Moments from the Month
Each month is marked by defining moments that shape the course of history. Whether through political shifts, cultural movements, or world-changing events, these periods leave a lasting impression. Dive into the most important events from December 1909 and discover how they influenced the world both then and now.
Major Events of December 1909: Key Historical Moments from the Month
- 01 Dec 1909 First Israeli Kibbutz Founded: On December 1, 1909, the first Israeli kibbutz, Degania Alef, was founded in Palestine. source: en.wikipedia.org
- 02 Dec 1909 Formation of the Union of South Africa: The South Africa Act, passed by the British Parliament on December 2, 1909, unified the British colonies of the Cape Colony, Natal, Transvaal, and Orange River into the Union of South Africa, effective May 31, 1910. source: britannica.com
- 04 Dec 1909 Founding of the Montreal Canadiens: The Montreal Canadiens, a professional ice hockey team, were founded on December 4, 1909, in Montreal, Quebec. source: Wikipedia (day-month pages)
- 07 Dec 1909 Invention of Bakelite: First Synthetic Plastic Patent: Leo Baekeland was granted U.S. patent No. 942,700 for Bakelite, the first synthetic plastic, on December 7, 1909. Bakelite revolutionized the materials industry and is considered a milestone in the development of synthetic polymers. source: en.wikipedia.org
- 09 Dec 1909 Birth of Douglas Fairbanks, Jr.: Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., an American actor and producer, was born on December 9, 1909. He was known for his roles in films such as 'Little Caesar' and 'Gunga Din'. source: en.wikipedia.org
- 10 Dec 1909 First female Nobel Prize in Literature awarded to Selma Lagerlöf: On December 10, 1909, Swedish author Selma Lagerlöf became the first woman to receive the Nobel Prize in Literature, recognized for her "lofty idealism, vivid imagination and spiritual perception that characterize her writings." source: nobelprize.org
- 15 Dec 1909 U.S. intervention in Nicaragua: On December 15, 1909, the United States intervened in Nicaragua following the execution of two American citizens by Nicaraguan President José Santos Zelaya. The U.S. sent warships to protect American interests and citizens, leading to Zelaya's resignation on December 14, 1909. source: historycentral.com
- 16 Dec 1909 U.S. diplomatic pressure ousts Nicaraguan president: On December 16, 1909, under diplomatic pressure from the United States, Nicaraguan President José Santos Zelaya resigned and fled the country. His successor, José Madriz, was appointed by the Nicaraguan Congress on December 21, 1909. source: en.wikipedia.org
- 19 Dec 1909 Founding of Borussia Dortmund Football Club: On December 19, 1909, Borussia Dortmund was founded by 18 young men in Dortmund, Germany. They chose the name 'Borussia' after a local brewery, and the club's colors were initially blue and white striped shirts with a red sash and black shorts. source: bvb.de
- 24 Dec 1909 Federal Court Ruling on Armenian Racial Classification: On December 24, 1909, the federal court in Boston ruled in the case In re Halladjian (174 F. 834) that Armenians were classified as White, making them eligible for naturalization. This decision overturned previous denials based on racial grounds. source: teachinglegalhistory.unl.edu
- 25 Dec 1909 13th Dalai Lama Returns to Lhasa: After an absence of more than a year, the 13th Dalai Lama, Thubten Gyatso, returned to Lhasa on December 25, 1909. He had fled to Beijing in 1908 to meet with the Manchu Emperor but refused to kowtow to him, leading to his escape from Beijing in early 1909. source: en.wikipedia.org
- 27 Dec 1909 Death of Senator Anselm J. McLaurin and Senatorial Succession in Mississippi: On December 27, 1909, Senator Anselm J. McLaurin of Mississippi passed away. His death led to the appointment of a successor to fill his seat in the U.S. Senate.
- 31 Dec 1909 Manhattan Bridge Opens to Traffic: On December 31, 1909, the Manhattan Bridge in New York City opened to vehicular traffic, providing a new route between Manhattan and Brooklyn.