This Day in History: August 8

1988 8888 Uprising in Myanmar Begins

The catalyst for the pro-democracy uprising in Myanmar was a student protest in the capital city, Yangon. Outraged by the single-party rule of General Ne Win, hundreds of thousands of citizens took to the streets. Protests raged for over a month before being violently silenced by the government. The end came in the form a coup orchestrated by the State Peace and Development Council, a group of senior military officers who formed a military junta. Known as the 8888 Uprising, the protests were named for their start date, August 8, 1988.

1974 Nixon Announces His Resignation

As the 37th President of the United States, Richard Nixon resigned due to the Watergate Scandal. A break-in at the Democratic National Committee headquarters was covered up by the Nixon government, sparking the scandal. Congress initiated impeachment proceedings against Nixon after the details were exposed. Nixon made history as the first American president to resign while in office.

1969 Photographer Iain Macmillan Takes an Iconic Photograph of the Beatles

Considered one of the most iconic images of the twentieth century, Iain Macmillan's photograph captured The Beatles in the midst of crossing a zebra-stripped crosswalk on Abbey Road, in London. Immortalized as the cover for their 11th album, Abbey Road, the image remains instantly recognized around the world.

1967 ASEAN is Founded

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) was established following the signing of the Bangkok Declaration by the heads of Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand. The organization's aim is to encourage regional peace, stability, and economic development. Today, the organization has grown to include 10 member states.

1908 Wright Brothers Publicly Show Off Their Flying Machine For The First Time

Just five years after their first successful flight in 1903, the Wright Brothers unveiled their flying machine for the first time at a racecourse in Le Mans, France. Wilbur piloted the flight, which lasted a brief 1 minute and 45 seconds, and successfully captured the imaginations of the audience, and silenced critics and doubters.

1509 Emperor Krishnadeva Raya is crowned, marking the beginning of the regeneration of the Vijayanagara Empire in Southern India

His coronation signaled a new era of prosperity and growth for the Vijayanagara Empire in Southern India.

1609 Venetian senate examines Galileo Galilei's telescope

This event marked a pivotal moment in the study of astronomy and contributed significantly to future scientific discoveries.

1786 US Congress unanimously chooses the dollar as the monetary unit for the United States of America

This was a significant milestone in developing the nation's unique identity and bolstering its burgeoning economy.

1925 1st national march of Ku Klux Klan (between 25,000 and 40,000 marchers) in Washington, D.C.

Marking a dark period in American history, the first national march by the Ku Klux Klan saw an estimated 25,000 to 40,000 participants take to the streets of the U.S. capital.

1945 USSR establishes a communist government in North Korea

This marked a significant shift in the geopolitical landscape of the region and kicked off a new era of communist rule.

1974 US President Richard Nixon announces he will resign at 12pm the next day

Following the scandal and subsequent impeachment proceedings triggered by his involvement in the Watergate cover-up, Richard Nixon became the first US President to resign while in office.

1988 Ceasefire between Iran & Iraq takes effect after 8 years of war

This year marked the end of a long and destructive war between these two nations, providing hope for peaceful resolution and improved relations in the region.