1. On December 26, 1776, George Washington's troops marched into Trenton, New Jersey and defeated the Hessian mercenaries stationed there, marking a major turning point in the Revolutionary War. This victory gave the Continental Army much-needed morale and momentum, and led to further victories in the coming days.

2. In 1862, President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation, which declared all slaves in Confederate-held territory to be free. Though the Proclamation did not immediately free any slaves, it was an important symbolic moment and set the stage for the eventual end of slavery in the United States.

3. In 1941, just weeks after the attack on Pearl Harbor, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed a law granting the District of Columbia three electoral votes in presidential elections. Before this, D.C. residents had no say in presidential elections, despite paying federal taxes and serving in the military.

4. On December 26, 1968, the Washington Senators traded outfielder Frank Howard to the Texas Rangers in exchange for four players. Howard was a star player for the Senators and a fan favorite, known for his towering home runs and his larger-than-life personality. The trade sparked outrage among many Senators fans.

5. In 2004, the District of Columbia became the first jurisdiction in the United States to legalize gay marriage. The law was signed by Mayor Adrian Fenty on December 18, and went into effect on December 26. While the law was met with controversy and opposition from some groups, it was seen as a major victory for LGBTQ rights and equality.