8 December in history

5 events that happened on 8 December, from 1776 to 1991.

✦ Anniversary of the day
1776 CE 250 years ago
Washington's army retreats across the Delaware
The last of George Washington's beaten Continental Army crossed the Delaware into Pennsylvania, taking every boat to stop British pursuit. Weeks later he crossed back to strike at Trenton.
1854 CE 172 years ago
Pius IX defines the Immaculate Conception
In the bull Ineffabilis Deus, Pope Pius IX declared as dogma that the Virgin Mary was conceived without original sin. Other Christian traditions do not accept the doctrine.
1941 CE 85 years ago
The United States and Britain declare war on Japan
Franklin Roosevelt asked Congress to declare war, calling 7 December 'a date which will live in infamy'. Congress agreed within the hour, and Britain also declared war on Japan.
United States
1980 CE 46 years ago
John Lennon is shot dead in New York
Mark David Chapman shot John Lennon outside the Dakota building in Manhattan. The killing of the former Beatle prompted vigils around the world.
New York
1991 CE 35 years ago
Leaders of Russia, Ukraine and Belarus agree to dissolve the USSR
Meeting in the Belovezha Forest, Boris Yeltsin, Leonid Kravchuk and Stanislav Shushkevich declared that the Soviet Union had ceased to exist and created the Commonwealth of Independent States.
Soviet Union Ukraine

Washington's army retreats across the Delaware