Major Events of December 1905: 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 1905 and discover how they influenced the world both then and now.

Major Events of December 1905: Key Historical Moments from the Month

01 Dec 1905 Cuban General Election of 1905: A significant democratic process took place in the Republic of Cuba, with citizens participating in national elections to select their president, senators, and representatives. The election involved voting for a 12-member Senate and a 32-member House of Representatives, marking an important milestone in Cuba's early democratic governance.
02 Dec 1905 First Public Performance of Lithuania's National Anthem: On December 2, 1905, the 'Tautiška giesmė' (National Hymn), which would later become Lithuania's national anthem, was performed publicly for the first time. The anthem was composed by Vincas Kudirka, a prominent Lithuanian writer and activist, who wrote both the music and lyrics shortly before his death in 1899. The historic performance was conducted by Mikas Petrauskas, who led a choir in presenting the song the day before the pivotal Great Seimas of Vilnius, a significant event in Lithuania's national awakening and struggle for independence.
03 Dec 1905 First Public Performance of Lithuania's National Anthem: On December 3rd, 1905, the first public performance of 'Tautiška giesmė' took place, which would later become the national anthem of Lithuania. The historic performance was conducted by Mikas Petrauskas and his choir, occurring just one day before the significant Great Seimas of Vilnius. This moment was crucial in Lithuania's cultural and national identity formation during a period of significant political transformation under Russian imperial rule.
04 Dec 1905 Arthur Balfour's Resignation: Arthur Balfour, the unpopular Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, resigned along with his entire cabinet. This strategic move was intended to improve the Conservative Party's chances in the upcoming January 12 parliamentary elections.
05 Dec 1905 Liberal Party Leader Becomes Prime Minister: Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman, leader of the Liberal Party, formed a new cabinet as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, replacing Conservative Prime Minister Arthur Balfour. This marked a significant political transition in early 20th-century British governance, with the Liberals returning to power after a period of Conservative leadership.
06 Dec 1905 New Zealand Liberal Party Wins Decisive Election: In a significant political moment, the New Zealand Liberal Party, led by Prime Minister Richard Seddon, secured a commanding victory by winning 58 out of 80 seats in the House of Representatives. This election reinforced the Liberal Party's strong political position and continued dominance in New Zealand's early 20th-century political landscape.
07 Dec 1905 Bolshevik-Led Revolt in Moscow: A significant Bolshevik-led uprising erupted in Moscow, lasting 11 days and representing an early manifestation of revolutionary tensions in Russia. This revolt was a precursor to the larger Russian Revolution and demonstrated the growing political unrest and revolutionary sentiment among workers and radical political groups.
08 Dec 1905 Australian Census and Statistics Act Established: The Census and Statistics Act 1905 received royal assent, formally establishing a systematic decennial census process in Australia. This legislation was a significant milestone in the nation's administrative and demographic record-keeping, enabling more accurate population tracking and statistical analysis for government planning and policy development.
09 Dec 1905 France Enacts Historic Church-State Separation Law: The French Senate passed the landmark Law on the Separation of Churches and the State with a vote of 181 to 102, effectively ending the Concordat of 1801 and establishing the principle of laïcité (secularism). This pivotal legislation fundamentally transformed France's relationship between religious institutions and the government, ensuring state neutrality in religious affairs.
10 Dec 1905 Publication of 'The Gift of the Magi' by O. Henry: O. Henry's beloved short story 'The Gift of the Magi' was first published in the magazine section of The New York Sunday World. The story, renowned for its poignant twist ending, tells the tale of a young, impoverished couple who sacrifice their most prized possessions to buy Christmas gifts for each other, ultimately demonstrating the profound depth of their love. This narrative has since become a classic of American literature, celebrated for its emotional resonance and masterful storytelling.
11 Dec 1905 Shuliavka Republic Uprising: A significant workers' uprising occurred in Kyiv, Ukraine (then part of the Russian Empire), resulting in the establishment of the short-lived Shuliavka Republic, a notable event in the early 20th-century labor movement.
12 Dec 1905 John F. Fitzgerald Elected Mayor of Boston: Former U.S. Congressman John F. Fitzgerald was elected Mayor of Boston, marking a significant moment in the city's political history. Fitzgerald, who would later become known as the grandfather of future President John F. Kennedy, began his influential political career with this mayoral election.
13 Dec 1905 Saskatchewan's First Provincial Election: On December 13, 1905, Saskatchewan held its inaugural provincial election following its establishment as a new province of Canada. The Liberal Party, under the leadership of Walter Scott, secured a decisive victory by winning 17 out of the 25 available legislative seats, marking a significant moment in the province's political development.
14 Dec 1905 Russian General's Mercy in Tukums: During the tumultuous period of early 20th-century Russian imperial expansion, Russian Army General Vladimir Bekman demonstrated a rare moment of clemency by sparing the town of Tukums in Russian-controlled Latvia after its residents voluntarily surrendered. This act of restraint was notable during an era often characterized by military brutality, showing a more nuanced approach to territorial control.
15 Dec 1905 Establishment of Pushkin House in Saint Petersburg: On December 15, 1905, the Pushkin House (officially known as the Institute of Russian Literature) was founded in Saint Petersburg, Russia. This prestigious cultural institution was created with the primary mission of preserving, studying, and promoting the literary legacy of Alexander Pushkin, widely considered the father of modern Russian literature. The museum and research center would become a critical repository for manuscripts, personal artifacts, and scholarly works related to Pushkin and other significant Russian writers.
16 Dec 1905 Historic Rugby Union Match Between Wales and New Zealand: The legendary "Match of the Century" was played between Wales and New Zealand at Cardiff Arms Park, a pivotal moment in rugby history that would be remembered for generations.
17 Dec 1905 Suppression of Saint Petersburg Soviet by Okhrana: On December 17, 1905, the Okhrana (secret police of the Russian Empire) conducted a massive crackdown on the Saint Petersburg Soviet, a gathering of anti-government Bolshevik party members. Notable revolutionaries including Leon Trotsky and Alexander Bogdanov were among those arrested during this suppression, which was part of the broader governmental response to the 1905 Russian Revolution.
18 Dec 1905 Discovery of Pharaoh Siptah's Tomb by Edward R. Ayrton: English archaeologist Edward R. Ayrton made a significant historical discovery by unearthing Tomb KV47, the burial site of Egyptian Pharaoh Siptah. The tomb had remained undisturbed for approximately 3,100 years, offering unprecedented insights into ancient Egyptian burial practices and royal funerary traditions.
19 Dec 1905 Opening of the First Parliament of Montenegro: On December 19, 1905, Prince Nicholas I officially inaugurated Montenegro's first parliamentary body, the 60-seat Narodna Skupština (People's Assembly). This historic moment marked a significant step in the principality's political development, as the newly established parliament was tasked with modernizing the country's governance structure and transitioning from a traditional princely rule to a more representative system.
20 Dec 1905 New Zealand Māori Electoral Representation: On December 20, 1905, voting took place for the four designated Māori seats in the New Zealand House of Representatives. This election was significant in the ongoing process of political representation for the indigenous Māori people within the New Zealand parliamentary system, reflecting the complex dynamics of colonial governance and indigenous rights.
21 Dec 1905 Japan Establishes Resident-General in Korea: On December 21, 1905, Korea officially became a protectorate of the Japanese Empire when former Prime Minister Itō Hirobumi was appointed as the first Resident-General. This marked a significant moment in Korean history, signaling the beginning of Japanese colonial control and the erosion of Korean sovereignty. Itō Hirobumi, a prominent Japanese statesman, was instrumental in negotiating the Protectorate Treaty that effectively stripped Korea of its diplomatic and administrative independence.
22 Dec 1905 Uneventful Day in 1905: While no major historical events were specifically documented for December 22, 1905, this date falls within an interesting period of global transformation. The early 20th century was marked by significant technological, social, and political changes, including the rise of industrialization, early developments in transportation, and shifting global power dynamics.
23 Dec 1905 Lenin and Stalin's First Meeting at Tampere Conference: In a pivotal moment of early 20th-century revolutionary history, Vladimir Lenin and Joseph Stalin met for the first time at the Tampere conference in Finland. This clandestine gathering was significant for the Bolshevik movement, as it allowed two key figures of the Russian revolutionary underground to strategize and develop their political collaboration. The conference was held during a critical period of social and political upheaval in the Russian Empire, when revolutionary groups were planning their resistance against the Tsarist regime.
24 Dec 1905 First Radio Broadcast in History: Reginald Fessenden made history by transmitting the world's first radio broadcast, featuring a diverse program including a poetry reading, a violin solo, and a speech. This pioneering moment marked a revolutionary breakthrough in wireless communication technology, setting the stage for modern broadcasting.
25 Dec 1905 Premiere of 'Mlle Modiste' Musical: Victor Herbert and Henry Blossom's musical comedy 'Mlle Modiste' debuts at the Lyric Theatre in New York City, showcasing the era's vibrant musical theatre scene. The production features Herbert's characteristic light operatic style and Blossom's witty lyrics, representing the golden age of American musical theatre in the early 20th century.
26 Dec 1905 Uneventful Day in 1905: While no specific major historical events were recorded for December 26, 1905, this date falls within an interesting period of global transformation. The early 20th century was marked by significant technological, social, and political changes, including the rise of industrialization, emerging global powers, and early developments in science and communication.
27 Dec 1905 Monty Noble's Record Cricket Score: Australian cricket all-rounder Monty Noble achieved a remarkable individual performance, scoring an impressive 281 runs in a match between New South Wales and Victoria. His innings lasted 369 minutes and included 21 boundaries (fours), contributing significantly to New South Wales' total of 805 runs in the match played in Melbourne.
28 Dec 1905 Founding of Intercollegiate Athletic Association: The Intercollegiate Athletic Association was established, marking a significant milestone in organized collegiate sports in the United States. This organization would later evolve into the NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) in 1910, becoming a pivotal institution in managing and promoting collegiate athletics.
29 Dec 1905 Death of Charles Yerkes, Prominent American Financier: Charles Yerkes, a notable American financier and transportation entrepreneur, passed away on December 29, 1905. Known for his significant investments in urban transit systems, particularly in Chicago, Yerkes played a crucial role in developing public transportation infrastructure during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. His business ventures included extensive streetcar and elevated railway networks that transformed urban mobility during the Gilded Age.
30 Dec 1905 Assassination of Frank Steunenberg: Former Idaho Governor Frank Steunenberg was brutally assassinated at the front gate of his home in Caldwell, Idaho. This shocking murder was part of the intense labor conflicts of the early 20th century, highlighting the violent tensions between industrial leaders and labor activists during the Progressive Era.
31 Dec 1905 Walter Wellman's Arctic Exploration Attempt: U.S. explorer Walter Wellman continued his ambitious quest to be the first person to reach the North Pole on December 31, 1905. Despite having previously experienced two unsuccessful expeditions in 1894 and 1898, Wellman remained undeterred in his pursuit of this challenging geographical milestone. His persistent efforts highlighted the early 20th-century spirit of exploration and the human desire to conquer one of the most inhospitable environments on Earth.