December 20th, 1803, Ceremonies in New Orleans formally mark the completion of the Louisiana Purchase. The United States doubles in size as it gains ownership of which is bought from France.

1860, South Carolina becomes the first state to secede from the Union, something other southern states to follow suit. The following year, the first shots of Civil War are fired in South Carolina at the battle of Fort Sumter.

1989, The United States launches Operation Just Cause, sending troops into Panama to topple the government of General Manuel Noriega.

1999, The Vermont Supreme Court rules that homosexual couples are entitled to the same benefits and protections as married heterosexual couples.

1946, In New York, the preview charity is screaming of "It's A Wonderful Life", a day before its official world premiere. The Frank Capra film starring James Stewart and Donna Reed is now considered a holiday classic.

Today in History, December 20th. Sandy Kozel, the Associated Press. 

点击进入参与历史上的今天节目>>>

声明：音视频均来自互联网链接，仅供学习使用。本网站自身不存储、控制、修改被链接的内容。"沪江英语"高度重视知识产权保护。当如发现本网站发布的信息包含有侵犯其著作权的链接内容时，请联系我们，我们将依法采取措施移除相关内容或屏蔽相关链接。