Dec. 1, 1955: Rosa Parks is arrested for refusing to move to the back of a bus and give her seat to a white passenger in Montgomery, Alabama.

Dec. 6, 1865: The 13th Amendment of the United States Constitution is ratified, abolishing slavery.

Dec. 8, 2004: The Cuzco Declaration is signed in Cuzco, Peru, establishing the South American Community of Nations.

Dec. 10, 1898: Spanish-American War formally ended by the Treaty of Paris; US acquires Philippines, Puerto Rico & Guam.

Dec. 10, 1964: Nobel Peace Prize presented to Dr Martin Luther King Jr. in Oslo.

Dec. 28, 1836: Spain recognizes independence of Mexico.

Dec. 28, 1860: Harriet Tubman arrives in Auburn, New York, on her last mission to free slaves, having evaded capture for 8 years on the Underground Railroad.