Discover what happened on December 13 with HISTORY's summaries of major events, anniversaries, famous births and notable deaths.

December 13

Discover what happened on December 13 with HISTORY&#8217;s summaries of major events, anniversaries, famous births and notable deaths.

What Happened on December 13 | History.com

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America’s Founding Fathers decided that one elected civilian - the U.S. president - would lead the executive branch of the federal government, a governmental structure that has remained in place for more than 200 years.

U.S. Presidents

World War I pitted Germany, Austria-Hungary and the Ottoman Empire against Great Britain, the United States, France, Russia, Italy and Japan. New military technology resulted in unprecedented carnage. By the time the war was over and the Allied Powers claimed victory, more than 16 million people—soldiers and civilians alike—were dead.

World War I

The 21st century saw the dawn of the war on terrorism, as the 9/11 attacks and the Boston Marathon bombing dramatically changed society. Economic issues also moved to the forefront during the Great Recession as awareness of social inequality grew.

21st Century

China, the vast Asian nation with a population of more than 1.3 billion people, has a rich and fascinating history, from ancient imperial dynasties and the Great Wall of China to Chinese New Year and the economic powerhouse of modern China.

China

Crime

In the 15th century, Europeans began to sail west across the Atlantic Ocean in search of new routes to China and the East, but in the process they discovered an entirely New World: North and South America, plus many other lands.

Exploration

Japan

Explorers

From raising families to leading armies, women such as Catherine the Great, Eleanor of Aquitaine, Queen Elizabeth I, Susan B. Anthony, Marie Curie and countless others have played a vital role in human civilization.

Women’s History

Film

Crime has been a dark and powerful undercurrent in human society throughout history. Uncover the facts behind some of the most daring robberies, brazen scams and brutal murders ever committed.&nbsp;

The U.S. political system, including American elections, a wide array of political leaders and various political parties, are a colorful part of American history.

US Politics

The Civil War was America's bloodiest and most divisive conflict, pitting the Union Army against the Confederate States of America. The war resulted in the deaths of more than 620,000 people, with millions more injured and the South left in ruins.

Civil War

Disasters

Iraq War

Sports and recreation are an integral part of human history, from the ancient Olympics to the Kentucky Derby, Jackie Robinson, Negro League Baseball, the Super Bowl and more.

Sports

American Revolution

The Revolutionary War waged by the American colonies against Britain influenced political ideas and revolutions around the globe, as a small fledgling nation won its freedom from the greatest military force of its time.

Art history tells the complex story of human civilization through art and design. It ranges from prehistoric art of the Neolithic period through Renaissance masterpieces, Impressionism, Modernism, the Bauhaus and contemporary art.

Art, Literature, and Film History

<a href="http://history.com/">HISTORY.com</a> works with a wide range of writers and editors to create accurate and informative content. All articles are regularly reviewed and updated by the <a href="http://history.com/">HISTORY.com</a> team. Articles with the “<a href="http://history.com/">HISTORY.com</a> Editors” byline have been written or edited by the <a href="http://history.com/">HISTORY.com</a> editors, including Amanda Onion, Missy Sullivan and Matt Mullen.

History.com Editors

<a href="https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/world-war-ii-history">World War II</a> was the biggest and deadliest war in history, involving more than 30 countries. Sparked by the 1939 Nazi invasion of Poland, the war dragged on for six bloody years until the Allies defeated Nazi Germany and Japan in 1945.

World War II

1942

The history of sports is the history of power, politics and progress. From ancient origins to groundbreaking firsts: Sometimes sports makes history, sometimes sports is history.

Sports History

The Middle East is a large and diverse region composed of several countries and cultures in north Africa and western Asia. Its complex history includes the Persian Gulf War, the Iran Hostage Crisis, the Yom Kippur War, Zionism and more.

This Day In History: December 13

This Day in History

Goaltender Manon Rheaume becomes first woman to play in pro hockey game

16-year-old climate activist Greta Thunberg named Time’s Person of the Year

Explorer Francis Drake sets sail from England

Saddam Hussein captured

The Rape of Nanking

Al Gore concedes presidential election

Woodrow Wilson arrives in France for peace talks

Dick Van Dyke born

Soldiers perish in avalanche as World War I rages

Texas Seven prison break

Battle of Fredericksburg

General Charles Lee leaves his troops for Widow White’s Tavern

This Day in History

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