1737
Violin maker Antonio Stradivari died in Cremona, Italy.
1787
New Jersey became the third state to ratify the U.S. Constitution.
1865
Slavery was abolished with the ratification of the 13th Amendment to the Constitution.
1892
Tchaikovsky's "The Nutcracker Suite" premiered at St. Petersburg's Maryinksy Theatre.
1944
The Supreme Court upheld the wartime internment of Japanese-Americans.
1956
Japan was admitted to the United Nations.
1957
The Shippingport Atomic Power Station in Pennsylvania became the first civilian nuclear facility to generate electricity in the United States.
1969
The British Parliament abolished the death penalty for murder.
2000
George W. Bush received 271 votes in the delayed Electoral College balloting.


Read more: This Day in History: December 18 | Infoplease.com http://www.infoplease.com/dayinhistory/December-18#ixzz3MELCE8zL

2009

Carnival preparations in Afromedia Estate were being finalised by the Eagles and Angels Youth Association..