Major Events of December 1900: Key Historical Moments from the Month

Each month is marked by defining moments that shape the course of history. Whether through political shifts, cultural movements, or world-changing events, these periods leave a lasting impression. Dive into the most important events from December 1900 and discover how they influenced the world both then and now.

Major Events of December 1900: Key Historical Moments from the Month

01 Dec 1900 Paul Kruger's European Visit: South African President Paul Kruger traveled to Flanders, Belgium, during a diplomatic tour in the early 20th century. This visit occurred during a tumultuous period marked by the Second Boer War, which was ongoing between the British Empire and the Boer Republics of South Africa.
02 Dec 1900 Filipino Rebels Pledge Allegiance to US: In a significant moment during the Philippine-American War, approximately 2,200 Filipino rebels formally swore an oath of allegiance to the United States in Vigan. This was the largest group of rebels to switch sides at that point, representing a strategic shift in the ongoing conflict and demonstrating the complex dynamics of colonial resistance and negotiation.
03 Dec 1900 Supreme Court Decision in Chesapeake & Ohio Railway Company v. Kentucky: In a landmark legal case, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a ruling in the Chesapeake & Ohio Railway Company v. Kentucky, which likely addressed interstate commerce, railroad regulations, or state taxation rights during the early 20th-century expansion of railroad infrastructure.
04 Dec 1900 French General's Invasion Warning Against Great Britain: In a dramatic address to the French Senate, General Auguste Mercier, a former Minister of War, outlined a potential military strategy for invading Great Britain. He provocatively suggested that an invasion was feasible and could be used as a strategic threat, comparing the potential invasion plan to the 'sword of Damocles' hanging over England. Mercier's speech highlighted the geopolitical tensions and military posturing between France and Great Britain at the turn of the 20th century.
05 Dec 1900 Triple Alliance Naval Treaty Signed: Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy signed a strategic naval cooperation treaty, agreeing that their naval forces would coordinate and provide mutual defense in the event of a potential attack by France or Russia. This treaty was part of the complex web of European alliances that would later play a crucial role in the lead-up to World War I.
06 Dec 1900 First North American Cooperative Bank Established: Caisse Populaire, a groundbreaking financial institution, was founded in Lévis, Quebec, becoming the first cooperative bank in North America. This innovative banking model would later inspire similar cooperative financial institutions across the continent.
07 Dec 1900 Max Planck Discovers Black Body Radiation Law: Max Planck, in his house at Grunewald on the outskirts of Berlin, discovers the fundamental law of black body emission, a groundbreaking moment that would later become a cornerstone of quantum physics.
08 Dec 1900 End of the War of the Golden Stool: The 'War of the Golden Stool', also known as the Fifth Ashanti War, was officially concluded on December 8, 1900. This conflict between the British colonial forces and the Ashanti people of modern-day Ghana centered around the sacred Golden Stool, a symbol of Ashanti sovereignty. Most British troops, led by Governor James Willcocks, departed from Kumasi, marking the end of this significant colonial resistance movement.
09 Dec 1900 Boer Leader Paul Kruger's Triumphant Procession with Queen Wilhelmina: On December 9, 1900, during the tumultuous Second Boer War period, Boer leader Paul Kruger and Dutch Queen Wilhelmina conducted a symbolic procession, demonstrating solidarity between the Netherlands and the Boer resistance against British colonial expansion in South Africa. This event highlighted the diplomatic tensions and international support for the Boer republics during their struggle against British imperial forces.
10 Dec 1900 Uneventful Day in History: While December 10, 1900, might appear unremarkable at first glance, it represents a moment in the broader context of the turn of the 20th century. During this period, the world was experiencing significant technological, social, and political transformations, even if this specific date did not witness a major recorded event.
11 Dec 1900 William D. Coleman Resigns as President of Liberia: William D. Coleman, who had served as the President of Liberia since 1896, was compelled to resign due to significant political challenges and his inability to effectively expand governmental control and influence across the nation. His resignation marked a tumultuous period in Liberian political history, highlighting the complex governance issues facing the young West African republic at the turn of the 20th century.
12 Dec 1900 Quantum Mechanics Foundational Theory Published: Max Planck publishes his groundbreaking scientific paper on the theory of black-body radiation, which becomes a pivotal moment in the development of quantum mechanics. This work fundamentally challenged classical physics and introduced revolutionary concepts about energy quantization, setting the stage for modern physics.
13 Dec 1900 Einstein's First Academic Publication: Albert Einstein submitted his groundbreaking scientific paper 'Folgerungen aus der Elektrodynamik bewegter Körper' (Consequences of the Electrodynamics of Moving Bodies) to an academic journal, marking a pivotal moment in the early stages of his scientific career. This publication would later become a foundational text in the development of special relativity.
14 Dec 1900 Birth of Quantum Mechanics: Max Planck's Revolutionary Radiation Law: On December 14, 1900, physicist Max Planck presented a groundbreaking theoretical derivation of his black-body radiation law to the German Physical Society. This seminal work marked the birth of quantum mechanics, fundamentally challenging classical physics by introducing the revolutionary concept that energy is emitted in discrete packets or 'quanta' rather than continuous waves. Planck's discovery would later become a cornerstone of modern physics, influencing the work of Albert Einstein, Niels Bohr, and many other scientific luminaries.
15 Dec 1900 Boer Forces Defeat British Troops in Magaliesberg Battle: During the Second Boer War, British troops suffered a significant surprise defeat at the Battle of Magaliesberg. General P.H. Kritzinger led Boer attackers in capturing 573 men from four companies of the Northumberland Fusiliers, demonstrating the tactical prowess of Boer guerrilla fighters against the British imperial forces.
16 Dec 1900 Mediterranean Agreement Between France and Italy: France and Italy signed a strategic diplomatic agreement in Rome, establishing a mutual understanding regarding territorial interests in North Africa. The treaty outlined that France would not oppose Italy's potential occupation of Cyrenaica and Tripoli in exchange for France's expanded influence in Morocco.
17 Dec 1900 Ellis Island Immigration Station Completed: The new Ellis Island Immigration Station was completed in New York Harbor, representing a significant milestone in American immigration infrastructure. The facility, constructed at a cost of $1.5 million, would become a critical gateway for millions of immigrants entering the United States in the early 20th century.
18 Dec 1900 Puffing Billy Railway Inaugurated in Victoria, Australia: On December 18, 1900, the Upper Ferntree Gully to Gembrook Narrow-gauge Railway was officially opened for traffic. This historic railway, now famously known as the Puffing Billy Railway, was constructed with a narrow gauge of 2 ft 6 in (762 mm), which was typical for rural and mountainous terrain in Australia during the early 20th century. The railway was designed to serve the local timber and agricultural communities in the Dandenong Ranges of Victoria, providing crucial transportation infrastructure for the region's economic development.
19 Dec 1900 Kitchener's Surrender Offer to Boers: During the Second Boer War, General Horatio Kitchener extended protections to all Boers willing to surrender. He requested the Dutch community of Pretoria to convey this offer, but field leaders ultimately refused to capitulate, prolonging the conflict.
20 Dec 1900 US Senate Ratifies Nicaragua Canal Treaty: The United States Senate voted 55-18 to ratify a treaty with the United Kingdom concerning the Nicaragua Canal. The ratification included three key amendments, notably providing for American defense of the proposed canal route. This treaty represented a significant moment in early 20th-century geopolitical and infrastructure negotiations, highlighting the strategic importance of trans-oceanic canal projects.
21 Dec 1900 Premiere of "Michael Kramer" by Gerhart Hauptmann: On December 21, 1900, the renowned German playwright Gerhart Hauptmann's dramatic work "Michael Kramer" premiered in Berlin. This play, characteristic of Hauptmann's naturalistic style, likely explored complex human emotions and social dynamics of the era. Hauptmann, a Nobel Prize in Literature winner (1912), was known for his realistic and socially critical dramatic works that often depicted the struggles of working-class people.
22 Dec 1900 Diplomatic Note Signed in Beijing by Western Powers and Japan: On December 22, 1900, representatives from Western nations and Japan convened in Beijing to sign a significant diplomatic note that established critical conditions and diplomatic protocols for engagement with China. This event occurred in the aftermath of the Boxer Rebellion, reflecting the complex geopolitical tensions and power dynamics of the era, where foreign powers sought to formalize their diplomatic and economic interests in China.
23 Dec 1900 Marc Allégret, French Film Director, Born: Marc Allégret was a notable French film director born on December 23, 1900. He would later become known for his significant contributions to French cinema, including the documentary film 'Voyage au Congo' (Journey to Congo), which explored colonial-era African landscapes and cultures.
24 Dec 1900 Herman Heijermans' Play Premieres in Amsterdam: On December 24, 1900, the Dutch playwright Herman Heijermans' theatrical work "Hope of Blessing" ("Hoopje Zegen" in Dutch) premiered in Amsterdam. Heijermans was known for his socially critical plays that often highlighted the struggles of working-class people, and this production was likely part of his broader artistic mission to draw attention to social inequalities.
25 Dec 1900 Violent Basketball League Incident in Trenton: On Christmas night in 1900, a dramatic and violent incident occurred in a National Basket Ball League (NBBL) game in Trenton, New Jersey. Referee L.P. Pratt was attacked by an angry mob of Trenton Nationals fans after declaring a 4-0 forfeit in favor of the visiting Penn Bikers, who were leading 23-11 at halftime. The incident escalated when player Harry Stout was ejected for calling the referee derogatory names. The mob's hostility was so intense that three city policemen escorting Pratt were also injured, highlighting the volatile nature of early professional sports.
26 Dec 1900 Mysterious Disappearance of Lighthouse Keepers in Flannan Isles: On December 26, 1900, a perplexing incident occurred in the remote Flannan Isles off the coast of Scotland. When the supply ship Hesperus arrived at the lighthouse, the crew discovered that all three lighthouse keepers had vanished without a trace. The circumstances surrounding their disappearance remain one of the most enduring maritime mysteries of the early 20th century. The lighthouse was found in an unusual state, with chairs overturned and a meal left half-eaten, suggesting a sudden and unexplained departure or potential catastrophic event.
27 Dec 1900 Carrie Nation's Bar Smashing in Wichita: On December 27, 1900, temperance activist Carrie Nation conducted her first public act of protest against alcohol by dramatically destroying the bar at the Hotel Carry Annex in Wichita, Kansas. Using a hatchet as her signature weapon, Nation dramatically confronted the establishment, symbolizing the growing temperance movement's resistance to alcohol sales and consumption.
28 Dec 1900 First Electric Furnace Steel Production: A significant technological milestone was achieved with the delivery of 9,000 kg of steel bars produced through electrometallurgy by the Heroult Company to Schneider & Co. This marked an important advancement in industrial metallurgical techniques, demonstrating the potential of electric furnace technology in steel production.
29 Dec 1900 United States Acquires Virgin Islands from Denmark: The United States completed negotiations to purchase the Danish West Indies (now U.S. Virgin Islands) for $3,216,000. This strategic acquisition expanded U.S. territorial holdings in the Caribbean and would prove significant for geopolitical and economic reasons.
30 Dec 1900 Uneventful Day in Global History: While no major historical events were recorded for December 30, 1900, this date falls during a fascinating period of global transition. The turn of the 20th century was marked by significant technological, social, and political transformations, including the Second Industrial Revolution, colonial expansions, and emerging global tensions that would eventually lead to World War I.
31 Dec 1900 New Year's Eve Celebration Welcoming the 20th Century: On New Year's Eve 1900, Christian churches worldwide held special millennium services, symbolizing hope and anticipation for the new century. In New York City, a memorable celebration took place at City Hall Park, featuring John Philip Sousa's band performing from 10:45 pm. The city dramatically dimmed its lights for one minute before midnight, then erupted in fireworks to welcome the 20th century, creating a powerful and memorable moment of collective anticipation.