A Day in the Past · history worksheet
On this day: 19 December
Name: Class: Date:
1. What happened on 19 December?
- 1154 Henry II is crowned King of England at Westminster Abbey
Henry II was crowned King of England at Westminster Abbey in London. - 1776 Thomas Paine publishes the first American Crisis pamphlet
Thomas Paine published the first of his pamphlets called The American Crisis, in The Pennsylvania Journal. - 1783 William Pitt the Younger becomes Prime Minister at just 24
William Pitt became Prime Minister at the age of 24, the youngest person ever to hold the job. - 1843 Charles Dickens's A Christmas Carol is published
Charles Dickens's short novel A Christmas Carol was published in London. - 1924 The last Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost is sold
The last Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost car was sold in London. - 1932 The BBC Empire Service, later the World Service, begins
The BBC began broadcasting its Empire Service to listeners in other countries. - 1984 Britain and China agree the future of Hong Kong
The governments of the United Kingdom and China signed the Sino-British Joint Declaration. - 2013 ESA launches Gaia to map a billion stars
The European Space Agency launched the Gaia spacecraft, which worked until 2025.
2. How long ago?
This year is 2026. Work out how many years ago each thing happened.
| Year | What happened | Sum | Years ago |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1154 | Henry II is crowned King of England at Westminster Abbey | 2026 − 1154 = | |
| 1783 | William Pitt the Younger becomes Prime Minister at just 24 | 2026 − 1783 = | |
| 1924 | The last Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost is sold | 2026 − 1924 = | |
| 1984 | Britain and China agree the future of Hong Kong | 2026 − 1984 = |
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!
- William Pitt the Younger becomes Prime Minister at just 24
- Charles Dickens's A Christmas Carol is published
- Thomas Paine publishes the first American Crisis pamphlet
- Henry II is crowned King of England at Westminster Abbey
4. Quick quiz
In which year did this happen: “Henry II is crowned King of England at Westminster Abbey”?
- A. 1984
- B. 1776
- C. 1154
In which year did this happen: “Charles Dickens's A Christmas Carol is published”?
- A. 1796
- B. 1999
- C. 1843
Which of these happened first?
- A. Britain and China agree the future of Hong Kong
- B. Henry II is crowned King of England at Westminster Abbey
- C. Charles Dickens's A Christmas Carol is published
5. Draw it!
Draw your favourite event from 19 December. Then write a sentence about why you chose it.
Answers for teachers
How long ago: 1154 → 872 years; 1783 → 243 years; 1924 → 102 years; 1984 → 42 years.
Order: 1 = Henry II is crowned King of England at Westminster Abbey (1154), 2 = Thomas Paine publishes the first American Crisis pamphlet (1776), 3 = William Pitt the Younger becomes Prime Minister at just 24 (1783), 4 = Charles Dickens's A Christmas Carol is published (1843).
Quiz: 1. C (1154); 2. C (1843); 3. B (Henry II is crowned King of England at Westminster Abbey).