This Day in History: August 29
1. 1533 – Atahualpa, the Last Inca Emperor, Executed by the Spanish
On August 29, 1533, Atahualpa, the last emperor of the Inca Empire, was executed by Spanish conquistadors under Francisco Pizarro. Captured during the conquest of Peru, Atahualpa had offered a massive ransom of gold and silver for his release, which the Spanish accepted but then reneged on, fearing his influence over his people.
This marked the effective end of the Inca Empire and opened the way for Spanish dominance in South America. The execution highlighted the brutal clash of civilizations and the devastating impact of European colonization on indigenous societies.
Interesting fact: Despite his death, the ransom room in Cajamarca remains a symbol of one of the greatest treasures ever collected in history.
2. 1786 – Shays’ Rebellion Begins in Massachusetts
On this day in 1786, farmers in western Massachusetts, led by Daniel Shays, rose up in armed rebellion against economic injustices and aggressive tax collections. Many Revolutionary War veterans faced crushing debt and the threat of losing their land.
The rebellion exposed deep flaws in the Articles of Confederation and underscored the need for a stronger central government. It was a direct catalyst for the Constitutional Convention of 1787 and the eventual drafting of the U.S. Constitution.
Interesting fact: George Washington, then retired at Mount Vernon, was so alarmed by Shays’ Rebellion that he agreed to attend the Constitutional Convention, which he initially resisted.
3. 1842 – Treaty of Nanking Ends the First Opium War
On August 29, 1842, Britain and China signed the Treaty of Nanking, ending the First Opium War. The treaty forced China to cede Hong Kong to Britain, open five ports to British trade, and grant “most-favored-nation” status.
The treaty marked the beginning of China’s “Century of Humiliation,” during which foreign powers dominated Chinese trade and politics. For Britain, it was the start of consolidating its empire in Asia.
Interesting fact: The treaty was the first of many so-called “unequal treaties” imposed on China by Western powers in the 19th century.
4. 1949 – USSR Tests Its First Atomic Bomb
On August 29, 1949, the Soviet Union detonated its first atomic bomb, codenamed “First Lightning” (or RDS-1), at the Semipalatinsk test site in Kazakhstan. This ended the U.S. monopoly on nuclear weapons and escalated the global Cold War arms race.
The successful Soviet test shocked American leaders and directly influenced U.S. foreign policy, leading to the development of the hydrogen bomb. It marked the beginning of the nuclear standoff that defined international relations for decades.
Interesting fact: The Soviet bomb design was heavily based on espionage reports from the Manhattan Project, particularly from scientist Klaus Fuchs.
5. 2005 – Hurricane Katrina Devastates New Orleans
On August 29, 2005, Hurricane Katrina made landfall near New Orleans, Louisiana, as one of the deadliest hurricanes in U.S. history. The storm surge overwhelmed levees, flooding much of the city and displacing hundreds of thousands of residents. More than 1,800 people lost their lives.
Katrina revealed serious failures in disaster preparedness and emergency response at local, state, and federal levels. It also highlighted systemic inequalities, as the poorest and most vulnerable communities were hit hardest.
Interesting fact: The storm caused over $125 billion in damages, making it the costliest natural disaster in U.S. history at the time.
