In History, Today on December 19

Henry II was crowned King of England, marking the beginning of the Plantagenet dynasty.

The Susan Constant, the Godspeed, and the Discovery set sail from England to establish the Jamestown Colony in Virginia.

Thomas Paine published the first of his American Crisis pamphlets, which began with the famous line, 'These are the times that try men's souls.'

George Washington's Continental Army went into winter quarters at Valley Forge during the American Revolutionary War.

The first successful transatlantic radio broadcast from the United States to the United Kingdom was made by Reginald Fessenden.

Adolf Hitler became Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the German Army, consolidating his control over the military during World War II.

Apollo 17, the final mission of NASA's Apollo program, returned to Earth after the last manned moon landing.

The Sino-British Joint Declaration was signed, agreeing to the transfer of sovereignty over Hong Kong from the United Kingdom to China in 1997.

The United States House of Representatives impeached President Bill Clinton on charges of perjury and obstruction of justice.

The Argentine economic crisis reached a critical point as President Fernando de la Rúa declared a state of emergency amid widespread protests and riots. The crisis was characterized by a severe recession, high unemployment, and a banking freeze.

Libya announces its decision to dismantle its weapons of mass destruction programs, marking a significant step in international diplomacy and non-proliferation efforts.

Park Geun-hye is elected as the first female president of South Korea.

A truck was deliberately driven into a Christmas market in Berlin, resulting in 12 deaths and 56 injuries. The attack was later claimed by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL).

The United States announced it would withdraw its troops from Syria, a decision that sparked widespread debate and concern over the future of the region.