- East and West Germany reunited, becoming the Federal Republic of Germany. (1990) After 45 years of separation, West and East Germany became one nation, ending the German Democratic Republic. Today, German Unity Day is celebrated on this day.
- The US Congress approved a finance industry bailout bill for $700 billion US Dollars. (2008) The "Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008" enabled the US government to purchase defaulted mortgages and mortgage-backed securities to alleviate the financial crisis rooted in the housing market. Also called the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP), the act was a direct intervention by the US government to try to avoid an economic depression.
- Thanksgiving Day in the US was established. (1863) US President Abraham Lincoln declared the last Thursday in November a national Thanksgiving holiday.
- The US Congress passed the War Revenue Act. (1917) The act allowed the US government to raise income taxes to help fund its war efforts during World War I. Income taxes increased from a range of 2 to 15 percent to a range of 16 to 67 percent. Revenues generated from this tax increase ended up funding about one-third of the costs of US involvement in World War I.
- Britain tested a nuclear weapon for the first time. (1952) The British government tested the "A-bomb" off the coast of Australia. Many of the scientists who developed the atomic bomb for the US worked on this project for Britain in secret.
- The first long-range missile in the world was launched. (1942) The Germans launched the V-2 rocket, also called an A4-rocket, which became a pivotal wartime weapon, as it was nearly impossible to intercept. The V-2 also was the first man-made object capable of being launched into space.
- Iraq gained its independence. (1932) Iraq had been controlled for centuries under the Ottoman Empire and then under Britain from 1915 until this day, when it became the Kingdom of Iraq.
- The Prince of Wales became the first high-profile person to be executed by being hanged, drawn and quartered. (1283) Prince Dafydd ap Gruffudd was also the first person on record to be found guilty of high treason against the governing King.
- A three-run home run at the bottom of the ninth inning advances the Giants to the World Series. (1951) Bobby Thompson made the amazing play helping the New York Giants beat the Brooklyn Dodgers and win the National League pennant, sending his team to the World Series. The hit was thereafter known as the "shot heard around the world." The New York Giants had come back from being 14 games behind.
- O.J. Simpson was found innocent of killing his ex-wife Nicole and Ronald Goldman. (1995) Also on this day in 2008, Simpson was found guilty of armed robbery in Las Vegas, Nevada, and was sentenced to a prison term of nine to 33 years.
- The first buffalo wings were served. (1964) The wings were reported to have first been made in Buffalo, New York, at the Anchor Bar. They were served with blue cheese dressing and given away for free. The bar now sells the wings nationwide through its website.
