1512day.year
The Spanish Crown issues the Laws of Burgos, governing the conduct of settlers with regard to native Indians in the New World.
The Laws of Burgos establish rules for Spanish settlers’ treatment of indigenous peoples in the Americas.
On December 27, 1512, King Ferdinand of Spain enacted the Laws of Burgos to regulate colonial behavior.
These ordinances represented the first codified set of rules aimed at protecting native Indians under Spanish rule.
The Laws addressed issues such as labor conditions, land use, and religious instruction for indigenous populations.
Although enforcement was uneven, the legislation marked an early attempt to impose humanitarian standards on colonial practices.
Scholars view the Laws of Burgos as a foundational moment in the development of international human rights norms.
The statutes shaped future colonial policies and sparked ongoing debates about the moral responsibilities of imperial powers.
1512
Laws of Burgos
native Indians
New World
1703day.year
Portugal and England sign the Methuen Treaty which allows Portugal to export wines to England on favorable trade terms.
The Methuen Treaty grants Portugal preferential access to English markets for its wines.
Signed on December 27, 1703, the Methuen Treaty forged a strategic alliance between Portugal and England.
Under its terms, Portuguese wines entered England with lower tariffs, while English textiles enjoyed reduced duties in Portugal.
The agreement bolstered Portugal’s export economy and strengthened Anglo-Portuguese diplomatic ties.
Critics later argued the treaty made Portugal overly dependent on wine exports and stifled local industry diversification.
Despite economic debates, the Methuen Treaty endured for over a century and shaped trade patterns in Europe.
It remains a key example of early modern mercantilist diplomacy and bilateral economic treaties.
1703
Methuen Treaty
wines
1845day.year
Having coined the phrase "manifest destiny" the previous July, journalist John L. O'Sullivan argued in his newspaper New York Morning News that the United States had the right to claim the entire Oregon Country.
Journalist John L. O'Sullivan asserts the United States' right to claim the entire Oregon Country under the principle of Manifest Destiny.
On December 27, 1845, journalist John L. O'Sullivan elaborated on his Manifest Destiny concept in the New York Morning News, arguing that the United States was divinely ordained to expand across North America. This editorial built upon his earlier coinage of the term and claimed that American civilization had a duty to bring progress to the Oregon Country. The article captured public imagination and fueled expansionist sentiment among settlers and policymakers. It became a rallying cry for American territorial growth and westward migration. Manifest Destiny would go on to shape U.S. foreign policy and domestic debates for decades.
manifest destiny
John L. O'Sullivan
Oregon Country
1911day.year
"Jana Gana Mana", the national anthem of India, is first sung in the Calcutta Session of the Indian National Congress.
Jana Gana Mana is first publicly performed at the Calcutta Session of the Indian National Congress, marking a milestone in India's cultural and political history.
At the 1911 Calcutta Session of the Indian National Congress on December 27, Jana Gana Mana was sung for the first time before a large assembly of freedom fighters. Written by Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore in Bengali, the song praised the diversity and resilience of the Indian people under colonial rule. Though not yet adopted as the official anthem, the stirring melody and patriotic lyrics resonated deeply with the nationalist movement. This performance elevated the song's status as a unifying symbol across India's varied cultures. Over time, Jana Gana Mana became integral to India's identity and was officially adopted as the national anthem in 1950.
1911
Jana Gana Mana
national anthem
Indian National Congress
1929day.year
Soviet General Secretary Joseph Stalin orders the "liquidation of the kulaks as a class".
Joseph Stalin orders the liquidation of the kulaks as a class, intensifying Soviet collectivization policies.
On December 27, 1929, Soviet leader Joseph Stalin issued a decree calling for the liquidation of the kulaks as a class, targeting wealthier peasants accused of opposing collectivization. This brutal policy aimed to dismantle rural resistance and accelerate the Soviet Union's agricultural collectives. Kulaks faced expropriation, deportation to remote regions, or execution, resulting in widespread suffering and loss of life. Millions of peasants were uprooted, signifying one of the most violent phases of Stalin's rule. The decree reflected the regime's readiness to use terror to achieve rapid industrial and agricultural transformation. Its impact contributed to famines and deep social scars that endured for decades.
1929
Soviet General Secretary
Joseph Stalin
liquidation of the kulaks as a class
1949day.year
Indonesian National Revolution: The Netherlands officially recognizes Indonesian independence. End of the Dutch East Indies.
The Netherlands officially recognizes Indonesian independence, formally ending the Dutch East Indies colonial era.
On December 27, 1949, following years of diplomatic negotiations and armed struggle during the Indonesian National Revolution, the Netherlands formally transferred sovereignty to the Republic of Indonesia. This event marked the official end of over three centuries of Dutch colonial rule in the East Indies. The transfer took place in The Hague, where the Dutch-Indonesian Round Table Conference agreements were enacted. Recognition of Indonesian independence paved the way for the establishment of a new nation-state under President Sukarno. This milestone reshaped post-colonial geopolitics and inspired decolonization movements across Asia and Africa.
1949
Indonesian National Revolution
Indonesian
Dutch East Indies
1978day.year
Spain becomes a democracy after 40 years of fascist dictatorship.
Spain adopts a democratic constitution, ending four decades of fascist dictatorship under Franco.
On December 27, 1978, Spanish citizens voted in a referendum to ratify a new constitution, officially marking Spain's transition to democracy. The document established a parliamentary monarchy, recognized fundamental rights, and decentralized power to autonomous regions. King Juan Carlos I, who had succeeded Franco in 1975, played a crucial role in guiding the nation toward democratic reform. The peaceful adoption of the constitution ended nearly forty years of authoritarian rule and paved the way for Spain's integration into European institutions. This milestone is celebrated annually as a cornerstone of modern Spanish democracy.
1978
becomes a democracy
dictatorship
2007day.year
Former Pakistani prime minister Benazir Bhutto is assassinated in a shooting incident.
Former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto was assassinated on December 27, 2007, after leaving a campaign rally in Rawalpindi, sparking nationwide unrest.
Benazir Bhutto, Pakistan’s first woman to lead a Muslim-majority nation, had just concluded a political rally. As she exited her vehicle, gunfire erupted followed by a suicide bomb blast nearby. Bhutto was critically wounded and later succumbed to her injuries at a military hospital. Her assassination led to immediate protests and heightened sectarian violence across Pakistan. International leaders condemned the attack and called for a thorough investigation. The event dramatically altered Pakistan’s election timeline and intensified concerns over rising extremism. Bhutto’s legacy remains influential in Pakistani politics and women’s rights.
2007
prime minister
Benazir Bhutto
is assassinated
2007day.year
Riots erupt in Mombasa, Kenya, after Mwai Kibaki is declared the winner of the presidential election, triggering a political, economic, and humanitarian crisis.
On December 27, 2007, violent riots broke out in Mombasa, Kenya, after allegations of election rigging in the presidential vote, leading to widespread unrest.
Following a disputed election result favoring incumbent President Mwai Kibaki, protests escalated into deadly riots. Shopkeepers, public offices, and vehicles were torched in urban neighborhoods. Security forces responded with tear gas and live ammunition to disperse crowds. Kibaki’s opponents accused the electoral commission of fraud, fueling ethnic tensions. The unrest caused significant economic losses and displaced thousands of residents. International observers called for dialogue and an independent inquiry into the vote. The crisis underscored Kenya’s fragile political landscape and the need for electoral reforms.
Mombasa, Kenya
Mwai Kibaki
presidential election
political, economic, and humanitarian crisis
2009day.year
Iranian election protests: On the Day of Ashura in Tehran, Iran, government security forces fire upon demonstrators.
During the Day of Ashura on December 27, 2009, Iranian security forces opened fire on election protesters in Tehran, deepening post-election unrest.
In the wake of the disputed June presidential election, opposition supporters gathered for Ashura commemorations. Security forces employed live ammunition, tear gas, and batons to disperse crowds in central Tehran. The crackdown resulted in numerous deaths and injuries, sparking international condemnation. Video footage of the violence circulated widely online, fueling further demonstrations. Iranian authorities justified the response as necessary to maintain public order. The events highlighted the regime’s intolerance for dissent during a sacred Shiite observance. The Ashura crackdown became a defining moment in Iran’s modern protest movement.
2009
Iranian election protests
Day of Ashura
Tehran
Iran
fire upon