Browse Historical Events by Day: What Happened on December 8th?

The birth of the Roman historian and author of "The History of Rome," Livy (Titus Livius).

The Great New Orleans Fire destroys 212 structures in the area now known as the French Quarter from Burgundy to Chartres Street, adjacent to the Mississippi River. Just 6 years before, 856 buildings had been destroyed in the First Great New Orleans Fire. More

The popular Ring Theater catches fire. The official casualty estimate was that 384 people perished in the fire, although other estimates were that up to one thousand could have been killed. More

Battle of the Falkland Islands (WWI) The German naval forces led by Admiral Maximilian von Spee, unsuccessfully attempts to raid the Falkland Islands bit is stopped by the British Navy commanded by Admiral Doveton Sturdee.

The United States enters World War II a day after the attack on Pearl Harbor, as Congress declares war against Imperial Japan.

Unable hold ground against Mao Zedong forces, the Chinese Nationalists depart for the island of Taiwan and establish their new capital. Nationalist leader Chiang Kai-shek joined them on the following day. This action marked the beginning of the “two Chinas” phase and it wasn't until 1979 when the United States officially recognized the People’s Republic of China. More

John Lennon, Rock star and former Beatle is assassinated in New York City outside his New York City apartment building. Lennon was an English singer-songwriter, musician and political activist. He was 40 years old when he died. More

U.S. President Ronald Reagan and Soviet General Secretary Mikhail Gorbachev sign the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF Treaty). More

The leaders of Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus sign the Belavezha Accords, effectively dissolving the Soviet Union. The Accords and other signed documents were ratified by the Supreme Soviet of the RSFSR on Dec. 12, 1991. At the same time Russia dissolved the Union Treaty of 1922. More