On This Day in History December 20 Historical Events 1522 Suleiman the Magnificent accepts surrender of the surviving Knights of Rhodes, who are allowed to evacuate. They eventually settle in Malta and become known as the Knights of Malta.  1803 French flag lowered in New Orleans to mark the formal transfer of the Louisiana Purchase from France to USA, purchased for $15m.  Illustration of Rumpelstiltskin from Andrew Lang's The Blue Fairy Book (1889) 1812 "Grimm's Fairy Tales" or "Children's and Household Tales" by Jacob Grimm and Wilhelm Grimm is first published.  1860 South Carolina General Assembly votes 169-0 to secede from the United States, declaring itself an "independent commonwealth". Is quickly followed by other Southern states triggering the American Civil War.  1917 Soviet state security force and forerunner to the KGB, the Cheka forms, under Felix Dzerzhinsky after decree by Vladimir Lenin 1960 The National Liberation Front, better known as the Viet Cong, is officially formed in South Vietnam.  More Historical Events  Famous Birthdays Bonnie Prince Charlie 1720 - 1788 Harvey S. Firestone 1868 - 1938 Branch Rickey 1881 - 1965 Kylian Mbappé 25th Birthday More Famous Birthdays  Famous Deaths Sacagawea - 1812 Erich Ludendorff 1865 - 1937 More Famous Deaths  Slavery Divide Triggers America’s Civil War South Carolina voted to secede from the United States on this day. The move was quickly followed by other Southern states and led to the American Civil War.  South Carolina Votes to Secede