December 6 in History

• 1865

  December 6, 1865:

  The state of Georgia becomes the 27th state to ratify the US Constitution’s Thirteenth Amendment, which saw to the abolition of slavery.

• 1907

  December 6, 1907:

  Over 350 people are killed after a coal mine in Monongah, West Virginia explodes.

• 1917

  December 6, 1917:

  Finland declares its independence from Russia.

• 1933

  December 6, 1933:

  A US federal judge rules that the novel, “Ulysses” by James Joyce is not obscene.

• 1969

  December 6, 1969:

  An audience member at the Altamont rock festival in California is stabbed to death by a Hells Angel motorcycle gang member during a performance by the Rolling Stones.

• 1973

  December 6, 1973:

  Gerald R. Ford is sworn in as the United States’ vice president following the resignation of his predecessor, Spiro T. Agnew.

• 1988

  December 6, 1988:

  Comedian and actor Robin Williams divorces his wife of ten years, Valerie Velardi.

• 1992

  December 6, 1992:

  Hindu fundamentalists destroy the Babri Masjid (also known as the Mosque of Babur) resulting in Hindu-Muslim riots across India.

• 1995

  December 6, 1995:

  King of Pop, Michael Jackson collapses while rehearsing for a performance for an HBO Special.

• 2002

  December 6, 2002:

  The American comedy-drama film, “Adaptation” is premiered in Canada.