1. Shays' Rebellion: On December 8, 1786, Daniel Shays and his followers attempted to seize the Springfield armory. This was a pivotal moment in a rebellion against high taxes and government corruption in Massachusetts.

2. JFK's Birth: On December 8, 1917, future US President John F. Kennedy was born in Brookline, Massachusetts. He would go on to serve as President from 1961 until his assassination in 1963.

3. Boston Tea Party: On December 8, 1773, a group of protesters dumped over 300 crates of tea into Boston Harbor to protest British taxes on tea. This event, known as the Boston Tea Party, helped to spark the American Revolution.

4. The Great Boston Fire: On December 8, 1872, a massive fire broke out in Boston's downtown area, destroying over 700 buildings and causing $75 million (equivalent to $1.6 billion today) in damage.

5. Massachusetts Ratifies the Constitution: On December 8, 1787, Massachusetts became the sixth state to ratify the United States Constitution, which helped to establish the federal government and paved the way for the Bill of Rights.