December 15th.~history

http://www.infoplease.com/dayinhistory/December-15

December 15 Yesterday

1791
The Bill of Rights took effect with Virginia's ratification of it.

1890
Sioux Indian chief Sitting Bull was killed by Native American police.

1916
The French defeated the Germans in the Battle of Verdun.

1939
The movie Gone With the Wind premiered in Atlanta, Georgia.

1944
Band leader Glenn Miller disappeared in a plane crash over the English Channel.

1961
Adolf Eichmann was sentenced to death by an Israeli court for organizing the deportation of Jews to concentration camps.

1964
Canada adopted its national flag, a red maple leaf on a white background.

1966
Animated-cartoon pioneer and movie producer Walt Disney died in Los Angeles.

1989
A demonstration that turned into a popular uprising in Romania began the downfall of Nicolae Ceausescu.

http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/today/dec15.html

On December 15, 1791, the new United States of America adopted the Bill of Rights, the first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution, confirming the fundamental rights of its citizens. The First Amendment guarantees freedom of religion, speech, and the press, and the rights of peaceful assembly and petition. Other amendments guarantee the rights of the people to form a "well-regulated militia," to keep and bear arms, the rights to private property, fair treatment for accused criminals, protection from unreasonable search and seizure, freedom from self-incrimination, a speedy and impartial jury trial, and representation by counsel.

The Bill of Rights draws influence and inspiration from the Magna Carta (1215), the English Bill of Rights (1689), and various later efforts in England and America to expand fundamental rights. George Mason's Virginia Declaration of Rights formed the basis of the amendments which comprise the bill.

Happy Hanukkah
The evening of December 15, 2006 marks the beginning of Hanukkah, the Jewish holiday commemorating the rededication of the Second Temple of Jerusalem in 164 B.C. Also referred to as the Feast of Lights, Hanukkah recalls the Talmudic story of the Temple's one-day supply of oil miraculously burning for eight days.

http://www.440.com/twtd/archives/dec15.html

Chart Toppers - December 15
1944
White Christmas - Bing Crosby
The Trolley Song - The Pied Pipers
I’m Making Believe - Ella Fitzgerald & The Ink Spots
Smoke on the Water - Red Foley

1952
I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus - Jimmy Boyd
Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer - Gene Autry
White Christmas - Bing Crosby
Back Street Affair - Webb Pierce

1960
Are You Lonesome To-night? - Elvis Presley
A Thousand Stars - Kathy Young with The Innocents
Wonderland by Night - Bert Kaemphert
Wings of a Dove - Ferlin Husky

1968
I Heard It Through the Grapevine - Marvin Gaye
For Once in My Life - Stevie Wonder
Abraham, Martin and John - Dion
Born to Be with You - Sonny James

1976
Tonight’s the Night (Gonna Be Alright) - Rod Stewart
The Rubberband Man - Spinners
You Don’t Have to Be a Star (To Be in My Show) - Marilyn McCoo & Billy Davis, Jr.
Thinkin’ of a Rendezvous - Johnny Duncan

1984
Out of Touch - Daryl Hall & John Oates
The Wild Boys - Duran Duran
Like a Virgin - Madonna
Nobody Loves Me Like You Do - Anne Murray (with Dave Loggins)