On this day: 7 December

Delaware becomes the first state to approve the US Constitution

Delaware became the first state to ratify, or formally approve, the Constitution of the United States. The Constitution is the country's highest law and sets out how its national government works. It replaced the nation's first constitution, the Articles of Confederation, in 1789.

Jack Fingleton scores centuries in four Test innings in a row

Australian cricketer Jack Fingleton became the first player to score centuries in four Test innings in a row. A century means 100 runs or more. Fingleton was known as a careful, defensive batsman. He played 18 Tests for Australia between 1932 and 1938 and scored five Test centuries. He later became a journalist and commentator.

Instant replay is used on television for the first time

Instant replay was used for the first time during the Army–Navy American football game in Philadelphia, USA. Instant replay means showing viewers a recording of something that has just happened during a live broadcast. The Army–Navy Game is played every year between students from the US Army and US Navy officer academies.

Apollo 17, the last Apollo Moon mission, blasts off

NASA launched Apollo 17, the final Apollo mission to the Moon. As they left Earth, the crew took the famous photograph of our planet called The Blue Marble. Gene Cernan and Harrison Schmitt later walked on the Moon while Ronald Evans circled above. It is still the most recent time humans have set foot on the Moon.

Suffering from mental illness, Eastern Roman emperor Justin II had his general Tiberius proclaimed Caesar, adopting him as his own son.

The Sajid emir of Adharbayjan, Yusuf ibn Abi'l-Saj is defeated and captured by the Qarmatians near Kufa.

Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de Lafayette, arranges to enter the American military as a major general.

First concert of the New York Philharmonic, founded by Ureli Corelli Hill.

American Civil War: The Battle of Prairie Grove ended a Confederate attempt to regain control of northwestern Arkansas.

World War I: The United States declares war on Austria-Hungary.

W1XAV in Boston, Massachusetts telecasts video from the CBS radio orchestra program, The Fox Trappers. The telecast also includes the first television advertisement in the United States, for I.J. Fox Furriers, which also sponsored the radio show.

German-born Swiss physicist Albert Einstein is granted an American visa.

Chinese Civil War: The Government of the Republic of China moves from Nanjing to Taipei, Taiwan.

Prince Rainier III of Monaco revises the principality's constitution, devolving some of his power to advisory and legislative councils.

Pope Paul VI and Patriarch Athenagoras I simultaneously revoke mutual excommunications that had been in place since 1054.

Pakistan President Yahya Khan announces the formation of a coalition government with Nurul Amin as Prime Minister and Zulfikar Ali Bhutto as Deputy Prime Minister.

The Battle of Sylhet is fought between the Pakistani military and the Indian Army.

The Indonesian military began a lengthy occupation of East Timor under the pretext of anti-colonialism.

The Conservative Party of Canada is officially registered, following the merger of the Canadian Alliance and the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada.

The United States transferred its last base in the Al Anbar Governorate to the Iraqi government, ending the Anbar campaign.

The annual furry convention Midwest FurFest was targeted in an unsolved chlorine gas attack.

Battle of Damascus (2024): Syrian opposition forces enter the Rif Dimashq Governorate, reaching within 20 km of the capital Damascus.

An attempted coup takes place in Benin, but is thwarted, and order restored.