2015 Event Barack Obama becomes the first U.S. president to address the African Union, which includes 54 nations as members; the president emphasized the importance of growing economies, reducing corruption, increasing education, and instituting democracy 2012 Event In his first political speech, marking the five-year anniversary of his mother's death, ex-Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto's son, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, vows to maintain democracy and fight militancy 2012 Event Burmese President Thein Sein and National League for Democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi meet U.S. President Barack Obama, the country's first visit from a sitting U.S. President 2012 Event The 2012 Nobel Peace Prize is awarded to the European Union for 'over six decades (having) contributed to the advancement of peace and reconciliation, democracy and human rights in Europe' 2012 Event Leader of Burma's National League for Democracy, Aung San Suu Kyi, is sworn in as a member of Pyithu Hluttaw, Burma's lower house of the parliament 2011 Event In Poland, the Polish People's Party coalition becomes the first government to be reelected since Poland transitioned to democracy in 1989 2011 Event Following the turmoil of the Arab Spring G8 nations pledge $40 billion to help Arab countries reconstruct and implement democracy 2011 Event China places new controls on text messages sent on mobile phones containing references to democracy, human rights and corruption 1991 Event 400,000 demonstrate for democracy in Madagascar, 31 killed 1989 Event 10,000 Chinese soldiers are blocked by 100,000 citizens protecting students demonstrating for democracy in Tiananmen Square, Beijing 1976 Event Spain's parliament establishes democracy after 37 years of dictatorship 1957 Birthday Amy Goodman, born in Bay Shore, New York, journalist, author, host of 'Democracy Now!' public radio news program, focusing on peace, human rights movements 1957 Event Howard Hanson's "Song of Democracy," premieres in Washington D.C. 1948 Event Dutch Liberal Party forms-People's party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) 1947 Birthday Rosie Barnes, born in Nottingham, England, born Rosemary Susan Allen, politician, founding member of the Social Democratic Party, served the Council for Social Democracy, charity organizer 1947 Event Laos accepts constitution for parliamentary democracy 1947 Event Japan forms a constitutional democracy 1938 Birthday Ricardo Lagos, born in Santiago, Chile, politician, lawyer, Socialist Party, Party for Democracy, 33rd President of Chile, professor, Brown University 1933 Death Irving Babbitt, U.S. writer (Democracy and Leadership), dies at 67 1933 Event Hitler promises parliamentary democracy 1898 Event Social Democracy of America party holds 1st national convention, Chic 1882 Birthday Leonard Nelson, German philosopher, Democracy und Fuhrerschaft 1824 Death John Taylor, philosopher (Jeffersonian Democracy), dies at 70 1805 Birthday Alexis de Tocqueville, France, statesman/writer, Democracy in America 1784 Event Ceylonese student leader Pieter Quint Ondaatje demands democracy 1753 Birthday John Taylor, Virginia, philosopher, Jeffersonian Democracy 1647 Death Thomas Hooker, clergyman, father of American democracy, dies 1641 Event General court declares RI a democracy and adopts new constitution
