Europa
- Austria-Hungary Declares War on Serbia (1914)
On July 28, 1914, Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia, marking the official beginning of World War I. This declaration came exactly one month after the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria and his wife Sophie by a Bosnian Serb in Sarajevo, an event that triggered the so-called July Crisis and led to the escalation of tensions among the major European powers. - Execution of Thomas Cromwell (1540): In England, Thomas Cromwell, chief minister to Henry VIII, was executed on Tower Hill. On the same day, Henry VIII married his fifth wife, Catherine Howard.
- First Use of Fingerprints for Identification (1858): William Herschel used fingerprints as a means of identification for the first time, laying groundwork for modern forensic science.
- Last Public Execution in Scotland (1865): Dr. Edward Pritchard was hanged for poisoning his wife and mother-in-law, witnessed by a crowd of 100,000 people.
- IX Summer Olympics Open in Amsterdam (1928): The 1928 Summer Olympics began in Amsterdam, marking a significant event in European sports history.
America
- Fourteenth Amendment Ratified (1868)
On July 28, 1868, the Fourteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was officially certified, granting citizenship and equal civil and legal rights to African Americans and emancipated slaves. This amendment, a cornerstone of Reconstruction, forbids any state from denying any person “life, liberty, or property, without due process of law” or from denying “equal protection of the laws.” Its broad language continues to underpin civil rights claims in the United States today. - Bonus Army Eviction (1932)
U.S. Army troops, under the command of General Douglas MacArthur, forcibly evicted thousands of World War I veterans (the “Bonus Army”) from their encampments in Washington, D.C. The veterans had marched to the capital demanding early payment of bonuses promised for their service, but were met with military force, leading to public outcry. - Empire State Building Plane Crash (1945)
A U.S. Army B-25 bomber accidentally crashed into the 79th floor of the Empire State Building in New York City, killing 14 people and causing significant damage to the landmark. - National Aeronautics and Space Act Passed (1958)
The U.S. Congress passed the National Aeronautics and Space Act, establishing NASA and marking the beginning of the American space program. - Silent Parade (1917)
On July 28, 1917, approximately 10,000 African Americans marched silently down Fifth Avenue in New York City to protest racial violence and lynchings, making it one of the first major civil rights demonstrations in the U.S.. - In 1898, during the Spanish-American War, Spanish troops in Ponce, Puerto Rico, surrendered to U.S. forces.
- In 1915, U.S. forces invaded Haiti, beginning a military occupation that lasted until 1924.
Asia
- Isahaya Mudslide in Japan (1957)
On July 28, 1957, a catastrophic mudslide struck Isahaya in western Kyushu, Japan, following heavy rainfall. The disaster killed 992 people, making it one of the deadliest natural disasters in postwar Japan. - World War I and Asia (1914)
While the immediate declaration of war on July 28, 1914, by Austria-Hungary against Serbia was a European event, it had major repercussions in Asia. The Middle Eastern theatre of World War I, which began shortly after, drew in territories of the Ottoman Empire and affected regions across the Asian continent. - Hawaii Clipper Disappearance (1938)
On July 28, 1938, the Hawaii Clipper, an airliner operating the trans-Pacific China Clipper service, disappeared between Guam and Manila. This was the first loss of an airliner in the trans-Pacific service, impacting aviation history in Asia and the Pacific. - Soviet Order No. 227 (1942)
On July 28, 1942, during World War II, Soviet leader Joseph Stalin issued Order No. 227, famously known as the “Not One Step Back” order. This directive, issued in response to German advances, mandated severe penalties for unauthorized retreat and played a critical role in the Soviet defense during the war, particularly affecting the Asian part of the Soviet Union. - Conflicts in the Middle East: July 28 marks the beginning of World War I, which soon involved the Middle Eastern theatre, shaping the modern history of West Asia.
- Ancient and Medieval Conflicts: While no major ancient Asian events are directly tied to July 28, the date falls within a broader context of ongoing historical conflicts and political changes throughout Asian history.
Africa
- Abolition of Slavery in Danish Colonies (1847)
On July 28, 1847, the Danish King decreed the abolition of slavery in Danish colonies, including those in Africa. From that date, children born to enslaved people were to be born free, while the existing enslaved population remained in bondage for a transitional period. This was a significant milestone in the broader movement toward emancipation on the continent, particularly impacting areas such as the Danish Gold Coast (present-day Ghana). - Liberia’s Independence (July 26, 1847): Just two days before July 28, Liberia became the first independent African republic, a landmark event in African and global history.
- Broader 19th Century Emancipation Movements: The mid-1800s saw a wave of emancipation laws and anti-slavery actions across African colonies, with Denmark, Britain, France, and others enacting legislation that gradually ended the transatlantic slave trade and slavery itself.
- No major pan-African political events, wars, or independence milestones are directly recorded on July 28 in the 20th or 21st centuries. However, the broader context of July includes significant events such as the end of the Rwandan Genocide in July 1994 and various anti-colonial uprisings, but not specifically tied to July 28.
This day in history: 28 july