May 28

Events - Politics & Government

1533day.year

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Thomas Cranmer, declares the marriage of King Henry VIII of England to Anne Boleyn valid.

On May 28, 1533, Archbishop Thomas Cranmer validates King Henry VIII’s marriage to Anne Boleyn, a pivotal act in England’s break with the Catholic Church.
Amid King Henry VIII's quest for a male heir and desire to annul his marriage to Catherine of Aragon, Archbishop of Canterbury Thomas Cranmer declares the royal union with Anne Boleyn valid. This bold declaration contravenes papal authority and solidifies the King's control over ecclesiastical matters. Cranmer's decision lays the groundwork for the English Reformation and the establishment of the Church of England. It marks a defining moment in Tudor history, reshaping religious and political landscapes. The act accelerates Henry's split from Rome and leads to profound changes in English society and governance.
1533 Archbishop of Canterbury Thomas Cranmer Henry VIII Anne Boleyn
1830day.year

U.S. President Andrew Jackson signs the Indian Removal Act which denies Native Americans their land rights and forcibly relocates them.

On May 28, 1830, President Andrew Jackson signs the Indian Removal Act, authorizing the forced relocation of Native American tribes from their ancestral lands.
The Indian Removal Act grants the U.S. federal government authority to negotiate land-exchange treaties with Native American tribes in the southeastern United States. Proponents, led by President Andrew Jackson, argue the policy will protect indigenous peoples from encroaching settlers. In practice, it results in the coercion and displacement of thousands of Native Americans, including the Cherokee, Creek, and Choctaw nations. The forced marches known as the Trail of Tears cause widespread suffering and significant loss of life. The act profoundly alters the landscape of American society and leaves a lasting legacy of injustice and displacement.
1830 U.S. President Andrew Jackson Indian Removal Act Native Americans
1871day.year

The Paris Commune falls after two months.

After a two-month rule, the revolutionary Paris Commune is suppressed on May 28, 1871, ending a radical experiment in worker-led government.
The Paris Commune rises after France's defeat in the Franco-Prussian War and the collapse of the Second Empire. On May 28, 1871, government troops retake the city in a final assault during the Bloody Week (La Semaine Sanglante). The suppression results in thousands of deaths and the arrest of many working-class insurgents and civilians. The Commune's radical policies, including workers' control of industry and secular education, leave a lasting influence on socialist and anarchist movements. Its fall marks a tragic end to one of modern history's most famous uprisings and continues to inspire debates on democracy and social justice.
1871 Paris Commune
1918day.year

The Azerbaijan Democratic Republic and the First Republic of Armenia declare their independence.

Azerbaijan and Armenia each proclaim independence, establishing their first modern republics in the aftermath of the Russian Empire's collapse.
On May 28, 1918, the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic and the First Republic of Armenia simultaneously declared their independence following the disintegration of the Russian Empire. The Azerbaijan Democratic Republic became the first secular democratic republic in the Muslim world, while the First Republic of Armenia asserted its sovereignty amid regional unrest. Both nations emerged from the Transcaucasian Federation and faced immediate challenges including territorial disputes, political fragmentation, and ethnic conflicts. Despite their short-lived autonomy—both were Sovietized by late 1920—these declarations laid the groundwork for modern national identities. Today, May 28 is celebrated as Republic Day in Azerbaijan and an important commemorative date in Armenian history.
1918 Azerbaijan Democratic Republic First Republic of Armenia
1926day.year

The 28 May 1926 coup d'état: Ditadura Nacional is established in Portugal to suppress the unrest of the First Republic.

A military coup in Portugal overthrows the unstable First Republic, inaugurating the Ditadura Nacional.
On May 28, 1926, conservative military officers led by General Manuel Gomes da Costa staged a coup d'état that ended the turbulent Portuguese First Republic. They established the Ditadura Nacional (National Dictatorship) to restore order, dissolve parliament, and suppress political parties. The new regime centralized power, curtailed civil liberties, and laid the foundation for the Estado Novo under António de Oliveira Salazar in 1933. This authoritarian period would endure until the Carnation Revolution of 1974, profoundly shaping modern Portuguese society. The 1926 coup marked a decisive break from liberal democracy and initiated nearly five decades of dictatorship.
1926 28 May 1926 coup d'état Ditadura Nacional Portugal First Republic
1948day.year

Daniel François Malan is elected as Prime Minister of South Africa. He later goes on to implement Apartheid.

Daniel François Malan secures election as South Africa’s Prime Minister, paving the way for the formal establishment of Apartheid.
On May 28, 1948, Daniel François Malan of the National Party was elected Prime Minister of South Africa. Malan’s victory ushered in a new era of racial segregation policies under the banner of Apartheid. Immediately after taking office, his government began to enact laws that would formalize the separation of races in every aspect of South African life. Key legislation included the Prohibition of Mixed Marriages Act and the Immorality Act, criminalizing interracial relationships. Under Malan’s leadership, the state apparatus became increasingly repressive towards non-white populations. These policies would remain in place for decades, drawing international condemnation and fueling internal resistance movements.
1948 Daniel François Malan Prime Minister of South Africa Apartheid
1964day.year

The Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) is founded, with Yasser Arafat elected as its first leader.

The Palestine Liberation Organization is founded with Yasser Arafat elected as its first chairman.
On May 28, 1964, representatives from various Palestinian groups met in Cairo to establish the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO). Yasser Arafat was chosen to head the newly formed organization, which aimed to represent Palestinian interests and seek national liberation. The PLO Charter called for the creation of a Palestinian state and rejected the existence of Israel in its original draft. Under Arafat’s leadership, the PLO evolved into an umbrella group encompassing political, military, and diplomatic efforts. In the following years, the PLO would gain recognition from Arab states and international bodies. The founding of the PLO marked a defining moment in the Middle East conflict, shaping regional politics for decades to come.
1964 Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) Yasser Arafat
1974day.year

Northern Ireland's power-sharing Sunningdale Agreement collapses following a general strike by loyalists.

Northern Ireland’s Sunningdale power-sharing executive collapses after loyalist-led strikes force its disbandment.
On May 28, 1974, the power-sharing executive established by the Sunningdale Agreement in Northern Ireland collapsed. A general strike organized by unionist and loyalist groups effectively paralyzed public services. Protesters opposed the executive’s cross-community governance and the proposed Council of Ireland. Without the means to govern, the power-sharing institutions were formally dissolved by British authorities. The collapse entrenched divisions and led to the return of direct rule from London. The failed experiment at Sunningdale foreshadowed the long and complex journey toward peace in Northern Ireland.
1974 Northern Ireland Sunningdale Agreement general strike loyalists
1979day.year

Konstantinos Karamanlis signs the full treaty of the accession of Greece with the European Economic Community.

Greece signed its full accession treaty to the European Economic Community, paving the way for EEC membership.
On May 28, 1979, Greek Prime Minister Konstantinos Karamanlis signed the treaty formally incorporating Greece into the European Economic Community. This moment followed years of negotiation after Greece's military dictatorship ended. The accession marked a major step in Greece's post-war democratic consolidation and economic integration with Western Europe. The treaty granted Greece access to EEC funding, markets, and political cooperation frameworks. It also required Greece to undertake significant legal and economic reforms to align with EEC standards. Full membership was achieved in 1981, strengthening economic ties and mobility for Greek citizens. The event stands as a milestone in European integration history.
1979 Konstantinos Karamanlis European Economic Community
1987day.year

An 18-year-old West German pilot, Mathias Rust, evades Soviet Union air defences and lands a private plane in Red Square in Moscow, Russia.

West German pilot Mathias Rust evaded Soviet air defenses and landed his small plane in Moscow's Red Square.
On May 28, 1987, 18-year-old Mathias Rust took off from Helsinki in a Cessna 172 and breached multiple layers of Soviet air defense. He flew undetected across Soviet territory and ultimately landed near St. Basil's Cathedral in Red Square. Rust's dramatic flight embarrassed the Soviet military, revealing flaws in its radar network and defensive protocols. The incident prompted a shake-up in the Soviet armed forces and was used by Mikhail Gorbachev to justify military reforms under perestroika and glasnost. Rust claimed his mission aimed to foster peace between East and West during the Cold War. He was arrested, tried, and imprisoned, but released in 1988. The landing remains one of the most audacious peacetime stunts of the era.
1987 Mathias Rust Soviet Union Red Square
1996day.year

U.S. President Bill Clinton's former business partners in the Whitewater land deal, Jim McDougal and Susan McDougal, and the Governor of Arkansas, Jim Guy Tucker, are convicted of fraud.

Business partners of President Clinton and the Governor of Arkansas were convicted of fraud in the Whitewater land deal scandal.
On May 28, 1996, Jim McDougal, Susan McDougal, and Arkansas Governor Jim Guy Tucker were found guilty of fraud related to the Whitewater land development. The convictions stemmed from investigations into a failed real estate venture involving President Bill Clinton and First Lady Hillary Clinton. Prosecutors alleged misuse of funds and fraudulent financial dealings during the deal. The high-profile trial drew intense media scrutiny and fueled partisan debates over the Clintons' involvement. Jim McDougal and Susan McDougal faced prison sentences, while Tucker was forced to resign. The outcome underscored the legal and political ramifications of the long-running Whitewater controversy.
1996 Bill Clinton Whitewater land deal Jim McDougal Susan McDougal Governor of Arkansas Jim Guy Tucker
1998day.year

Nuclear testing: Pakistan responds to a series of nuclear tests by India with five of its own codenamed Chagai-I, prompting the United States, Japan, and other nations to impose economic sanctions. Pakistan celebrates Youm-e-Takbir annually.

Pakistan conducted its first nuclear tests, codenamed Chagai-I, in response to India's tests, triggering international sanctions.
On May 28, 1998, Pakistan detonated five underground nuclear devices in the Chagai Hills of Balochistan under the operation name Chagai-I. The tests came just weeks after India carried out its own series of nuclear detonations in Pokhran. Pakistan's move was hailed domestically and marked its emergence as the world's seventh nuclear-armed state. The international community, led by the United States and Japan, imposed stringent economic sanctions on Pakistan. The Pakistani government declared May 28 as Youm-e-Takbir, celebrating the nation's nuclear capability each year. The tests drastically shifted the strategic balance in South Asia and heightened tensions between the two rivals. Debates over regional security and non-proliferation intensified worldwide following the tests.
1998 Nuclear testing Chagai-I economic sanctions Youm-e-Takbir