December 5th, 2008

Today in History

1978:
The Soviet Union signs a 'friendship treaty' with the communist government of Afghanistan.

1933:
Prohibition ends: Utah becomes the 36th U.S. state to ratify the Twenty-first Amendment to the United States Constitution, thus establishing the required 3/4th of states needed to enact the amendment (this overturned the 18th Amendment which had outlawed alcohol in the United States).

1848:
California gold rush: In a message before the U.S. Congress, US President James K. Polk confirms that large amounts of gold had been discovered in California.

1831:
Former US President John Quincy Adams takes a seat in the United States House of Representatives.

1766:
In London, James Christie holds his first sale (he later founded Christie's, the world's oldest auction house).