July 28 has been marked by the outbreak of world wars, constitutional amendments, and architectural marvels.
Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia, one month after the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand. This declaration triggered a chain of alliances that plunged Europe into the most devastating conflict the world had yet seen.
Secretary of State William Seward certified the ratification of the 14th Amendment, which granted citizenship to all persons born in the US and promised equal protection. It became central to civil rights law.
Henry VIII's chief minister Thomas Cromwell was beheaded on Tower Hill on charges of treason and heresy. Cromwell had masterminded the English Reformation but fell from favor after arranging Henry's marriage to Anne of Cleves.
US Army troops led by General MacArthur forcibly evicted 20,000 World War I veterans camped in Washington demanding early payment of their bonuses. The violent action damaged President Hoover's reputation.
A magnitude 7.6 earthquake struck the Chinese city of Tangshan, killing an estimated 242,000-655,000 people. It was one of the deadliest earthquakes in recorded history and devastated the entire city.
English explorer Sir Walter Raleigh is credited with introducing potatoes to Ireland and Britain from the New World. The humble tuber would become a dietary staple that transformed European agriculture and cuisine.
A US Army B-25 bomber crashed into the 79th floor of the Empire State Building in fog, killing 14 people. The building survived the impact and reopened for business two days later.