1524day.year
The Kaqchikel Maya rebel against their former Spanish allies during the Spanish conquest of Guatemala.
In 1524, the Kaqchikel Maya rose against their former Spanish allies in the Guatemalan highlands.
During the Spanish conquest of Guatemala, the Kaqchikel Maya rebelled on this day in 1524.
Initially allied with Pedro de Alvarado, they resented encomienda abuses and forced labor.
The uprising disrupted Spanish plans and led to brutal reprisals.
It reflected the complex alliances and conflicts of the conquest period.
Despite fierce resistance, the revolt was eventually suppressed.
The rebellion highlighted indigenous agency and the harsh realities of colonial rule.
It remains an important episode in Guatemalan history and Maya resilience.
1524
Kaqchikel
Maya
Spanish conquest of Guatemala
1565day.year
Pedro Menéndez de Avilés sights land near St. Augustine, Florida and founds the oldest continuously occupied European-established city in the continental United States.
In 1565, Pedro Menéndez de Avilés landed near present-day St. Augustine, founding the oldest European settlement in the continental US.
On August 28, 1565, Spanish admiral Pedro Menéndez de Avilés sighted land near Matanzas Inlet.
He proceeded to establish a settlement named St. Augustine in Florida.
This became the oldest continuously inhabited European-founded city in what is now the continental United States.
The fort of San Agustín served as the administrative and military center.
The colony aimed to secure Spain's claims against French encroachment.
Over the centuries, St. Augustine evolved under Spanish, British, and American rule.
Its rich architecture and history make it a living museum of colonial America.
1565
Pedro Menéndez de Avilés
St. Augustine, Florida
continental United States
1833day.year
The Slavery Abolition Act 1833 receives royal assent, making the purchase or ownership of slaves illegal in the British Empire with exceptions.
The Slavery Abolition Act received royal assent on 28 August 1833, outlawing slavery across most of the British Empire.
This landmark legislation ended the legal institution of slavery in British colonies, freeing thousands of enslaved individuals. Exceptions applied to territories owned by the East India Company and to certain colonial government holdings. The Act included a compensation scheme to reimburse slave owners for lost 'property'. Full emancipation would be phased in over several years under an apprenticeship system. The law represented a major victory for abolitionists and reshaped the social fabric of the Empire.
1833
Slavery Abolition Act 1833
royal assent
British Empire
exceptions
1901day.year
Silliman University is founded in the Philippines. It is the first American private school in the country.
American missionaries established Silliman University in the Philippines, creating the country’s first U.S.-run private higher education institution.
On August 28, 1901, American Presbyterian missionaries founded Silliman University in Dumaguete, Negros Oriental.
It became the first American private university in the Philippines, aiming to deliver Western-style education.
Initially offering primary and secondary courses, it quickly expanded into collegiate and professional programs.
Silliman pioneered coeducational learning, admitting students of all backgrounds.
It gained renown for excellence in agriculture, medicine, and the arts.
More than a century later, Silliman remains a leading center of academic and cultural life in the region.
1901
Silliman University
Philippines
private school
1917day.year
Ten suffragists, members of the Silent Sentinels, are arrested while picketing the White House in favor of women's suffrage in the United States.
Silent Sentinel suffragists are arrested for peacefully picketing the White House, drawing attention to the fight for women's voting rights.
In August 1917, ten members of the Silent Sentinels gathered at the White House gates to demand a constitutional amendment granting women the right to vote.
They held banners and remained silent in protest, directly challenging President Wilson.
Authorities arrested the protesters for demonstrating without a permit, imprisoning them under harsh conditions.
The arrests sparked national debate over civil liberties and the brutality faced by peaceful activists.
Public sympathy grew for the suffrage cause, accelerating momentum toward the eventual passage of the Nineteenth Amendment in 1920.
The courage of the Silent Sentinels remains a landmark in the history of American women's rights.
1917
suffragists
Silent Sentinels
White House
women's suffrage in the United States
1955day.year
Black teenager Emmett Till is lynched in Mississippi for whistling at a white woman, galvanizing the nascent civil rights movement.
Black teenager Emmett Till is brutally lynched in Mississippi after being accused of whistling at a white woman, igniting national outrage and fueling the Civil Rights Movement.
In August 1955, 14-year-old Emmett Till traveled from Chicago to visit relatives near Money, Mississippi. After an alleged whistle at a white store clerk, he was abducted, beaten, and shot by white supremacists. His body was found in the Tallahatchie River, mutilated and unrecognizable, prompting his mother's decision for an open-casket funeral. Photographs of Till's remains circulated widely, shocking the nation. Although his killers were acquitted by an all-white jury and later confessed, they faced no further legal consequences. The brutality of the crime and the failure of justice mobilized civil rights activists. Till's legacy helped spark landmark events like Rosa Parks' protest and the Montgomery Bus Boycott.
1955
Black
Emmett Till
Mississippi
civil rights movement
1963day.year
March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom: Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. gives his I Have a Dream speech.
Martin Luther King Jr. delivers his iconic I Have a Dream speech during the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, a defining moment of the civil rights era.
On August 28, 1963, over 250,000 people gathered on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., for the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his historic I Have a Dream speech before a diverse crowd. He eloquently called for an end to racial segregation and discrimination, envisioning a future of equality. The speech crystallized the goals of the civil rights movement and resonated worldwide. King's powerful oratory and emphasis on nonviolent protest strengthened public support for civil rights. The march and speech pressured lawmakers to advance civil rights legislation. This event is remembered as a watershed in the American struggle for racial justice.
1963
March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom
Martin Luther King Jr.
I Have a Dream
1964day.year
The Philadelphia race riot begins.
The Philadelphia race riot erupts, marking one of the most violent racial disturbances in Northern industrial America.
On August 28, 1964, tensions between African American communities and white residents in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, exploded into violent clashes. The unrest began in the Kensington neighborhood and quickly spread to other parts of the city. Over three days, rioters looted stores, tossed stones, and engaged in street battles with police. The National Guard was called in to restore order. Dozens were injured, and buildings and businesses suffered significant damage. The riot underscored the ongoing civil rights struggles in Northern cities often overshadowed by events in the South. It prompted local leaders to address racial inequality in housing, employment, and education. Philadelphia's experience highlighted the nationwide demand for justice and reform.
1964
Philadelphia race riot
1968day.year
Police and protesters clash during 1968 Democratic National Convention protests as protesters chant "The whole world is watching".
Police clash with protesters in Chicago during the 1968 Democratic National Convention, leading to the chant "The whole world is watching."
During the 1968 Democratic National Convention on August 28, thousands of anti-war demonstrators gathered in Chicago to protest the Vietnam War. Tensions escalated as protesters faced off against police in violent street confrontations. Law enforcement used tear gas and batons, drawing criticism for their aggressive tactics. Television cameras captured the chaos, and protesters taunted officers with the refrain, "The whole world is watching." The televised clashes shocked viewers and fueled debate over civil liberties and police conduct. Mayor Richard Daley's administration defended the heavy-handed approach, calling it necessary for public safety. The events deepened national divisions over the war and influenced the Democratic Party's platform. Chicago became a symbol of 1960s political turmoil and generational conflict.
1968
1968 Democratic National Convention protests
The whole world is watching
1996day.year
Chicago Seven defendant David Dellinger, antiwar activist Bradford Lyttle, Civil Rights Movement historian Randy Kryn, and eight others are arrested by the Federal Protective Service while protesting in a demonstration at the Kluczynski Federal Building in downtown Chicago during that year's Democratic National Convention.
In 1996, antiwar activists, including David Dellinger, were arrested during a protest at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago.
On August 28, 1996, renowned antiwar campaigner David Dellinger, Chicago Seven defendant Bradford Lyttle, historian Randy Kryn, and other activists gathered outside the Kluczynski Federal Building in downtown Chicago.
They were part of a peaceful demonstration against U.S. military policies coinciding with the Democratic National Convention.
Despite obtaining permits, the group was confronted by the Federal Protective Service and arrested for unlawful assembly.
The detentions sparked debate over free speech, civil rights, and the government's response to dissent.
Organizers argued the arrests were politically motivated, aiming to silence antiwar voices during a major political event.
Media coverage spotlighted tensions between protest rights and security concerns at high-profile gatherings.
The incident remains a notable moment in American protest history, reflecting ongoing struggles over public demonstration and expression.
1996
Chicago Seven
David Dellinger
Bradford Lyttle
Civil Rights Movement
Federal Protective Service
Kluczynski Federal Building
Chicago
that year's Democratic National Convention