December 7 is most widely known for the Japanese attack on the U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii on December 7, 1941, which led directly to the United States entering World War II. Many other political, military, and historical events have also occurred on that date across different years.
Pearl Harbor, 1941
On the morning of December 7, 1941, aircraft from the Imperial Japanese Navy attacked the U.S. Pacific Fleet at Pearl Harbor, destroying or damaging numerous ships and hundreds of aircraft and killing over 2,300 Americans. The next day, President Franklin D. Roosevelt asked Congress to declare war on Japan, calling December 7 “a date which will live in infamy,” and this brought the United States fully into World War II.
Other notable events
- Delaware became the first U.S. state to ratify the Constitution on December 7, 1787.
- Apollo 17, the last crewed Apollo mission to the Moon, was launched on December 7, 1972.
- Various major historical incidents, such as the Great Storm of 1703 in Britain, the Armenian earthquake of 1988, and several notable accidents and conflicts, have also occurred on different December 7 dates.
Brief comparison of key events
Year| Event| Significance
---|---|---
1787| Delaware ratifies U.S. Constitution| First U.S. state to ratify the
Constitution.357
1941| Attack on Pearl Harbor| Triggers U.S. entry into World War II.147
1972| Apollo 17 launch| Last crewed Apollo Moon mission.35
1988| Armenian earthquake| Major quake causing tens of thousands of deaths.3
If you meant December 7 of a specific year or a recent December 7, say which year and the location or topic (for example, politics, sports, or disasters), and more targeted details can be provided.
