On this day

5 December in history.

5 moments from 1776 to 2014: discovery, creativity and courage, each with a source to read more.

5 moments

1914

Shackleton sets out for Antarctica. The Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition set out to make the first land crossing of Antarctica. Its ship was later crushed by ice, and every member of the crew survived.

Photo: Frank Hurley / Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)

1776
Phi Beta Kappa meets for the first time
Phi Beta Kappa, the oldest academic honour society in the United States, held its first meeting at the College of William & Mary.
Wikipedia: Phi Beta Kappa Wikipedia: College of William & Mary
1935
Mary McLeod Bethune unites women's groups
Educator and activist Mary McLeod Bethune founded the National Council of Negro Women in New York City.
Wikipedia: Mary McLeod Bethune Wikipedia: National Council of Negro Women
Photo: Carl Van Vechten / Adam Cuerden / Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)
1955
The Montgomery bus boycott begins
Four days after Rosa Parks' arrest, Black residents of Montgomery, Alabama, began a boycott of the city's segregated buses, led by E. D. Nixon and Rosa Parks.
Wikipedia: Montgomery bus boycott Wikipedia: E. D. Nixon
Photo: UPI / Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)
2014
Orion's first test flight
NASA launched Exploration Flight Test-1, the first flight of the Orion spacecraft.
Wikipedia: Exploration Flight Test-1 Wikipedia: Orion (spacecraft)
Photo: NASA/Sandra Joseph and Kevin O'Connell / Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)

Moments chosen for discovery, creativity and courage. Each one links to a source where you can read more; photos are credited to their owners.