A Day in the Past · history worksheet
On this day: 15 December
Name: Class: Date:
1. What happened on 15 December?
- 1791 The United States Bill of Rights is ratified
The first ten amendments, or changes, to the United States Constitution were ratified, which means they were officially approved. - 1871 Sixteen-year-old Ella Stewart sends Arizona's first telegraph message
Ella Stewart, aged just 16, sent the first telegraph message from Arizona Territory in the United States. - 1899 Born: Harold Abrahams
Harold Abrahams was an English athlete who became Olympic champion in the 100 metres sprint in 1924. - 1906 London's Piccadilly tube railway opens
The Great Northern, Piccadilly and Brompton Railway opened in London. - 1916 Born: Maurice Wilkins
Maurice Wilkins was a New Zealand-born British scientist who won a Nobel Prize. - 1970 Venera 7 makes the first landing on another planet
The Soviet spacecraft Venera 7 landed on the surface of Venus. - 1993 The Downing Street Declaration aims for peace in Northern Ireland
British Prime Minister John Major and the Irish Taoiseach, or prime minister, Albert Reynolds issued the Downing Street Declaration. - 2001 The Leaning Tower of Pisa reopens, still leaning
The Leaning Tower of Pisa in Italy reopened after 11 years.
2. How long ago?
This year is 2026. Work out how many years ago each thing happened.
| Year | What happened | Sum | Years ago |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1791 | The United States Bill of Rights is ratified | 2026 − 1791 = | |
| 1899 | Born: Harold Abrahams | 2026 − 1899 = | |
| 1916 | Born: Maurice Wilkins | 2026 − 1916 = | |
| 1993 | The Downing Street Declaration aims for peace in Northern Ireland | 2026 − 1993 = |
3. Put them in order
Write 1 next to the oldest event, then 2, 3 and so on up to the newest. Use list 1 to help you!
- The United States Bill of Rights is ratified
- London's Piccadilly tube railway opens
- Venera 7 makes the first landing on another planet
- Sixteen-year-old Ella Stewart sends Arizona's first telegraph message
4. Quick quiz
In which year did this happen: “London's Piccadilly tube railway opens”?
- A. 1906
- B. 1791
- C. 1965
In which year did this happen: “The Downing Street Declaration aims for peace in Northern Ireland”?
- A. 1993
- B. 1871
- C. 1916
Which of these happened first?
- A. London's Piccadilly tube railway opens
- B. The Downing Street Declaration aims for peace in Northern Ireland
- C. Venera 7 makes the first landing on another planet
5. Draw it!
Draw your favourite event from 15 December. Then write a sentence about why you chose it.
Answers for teachers
How long ago: 1791 → 235 years; 1899 → 127 years; 1916 → 110 years; 1993 → 33 years.
Order: 1 = The United States Bill of Rights is ratified (1791), 2 = Sixteen-year-old Ella Stewart sends Arizona's first telegraph message (1871), 3 = London's Piccadilly tube railway opens (1906), 4 = Venera 7 makes the first landing on another planet (1970).
Quiz: 1. A (1906); 2. A (1993); 3. A (London's Piccadilly tube railway opens).