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A Tale of Two Cities is a novel written by Charles Dickens in 1859. The novel is about the French Revolution in which the Parisians were protesting against the government and the rich. The setting is in Paris and London because the novel talks about how the rioting and violence of France affect the residents of the two cities. The book is comprised of two men: Charles Darnay, a French aristocrat who wishes to escape the brutal family reputation that he finds himself in, and Sydney Carton, a melancholy Englishman who thought he wasted his life. They both have the same lady's affection, Lucie Manette, whose father was wrongly imprisoned in a French jail. With the revolution becoming increasingly dangerous, the characters have to make hard choices and faceinous danger. The most touching moment in the novel is when Sydney Carton sacrifices his life to save Charles Darnay, proving that even a desperate man can do something incredibly noble. His final words about doing a "far, far better thing" remind us of the power of love, courage, and redemption. This novel is known because of the beautiful story and feelings it conveys.

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TThe First Continental Congress was a meeting of the delegates of 12 of the 13 American colonies in 1774. It took place in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, because the colonies were upset with British laws, the Intolerable Acts. The Intolerable Acts were how Britain reacted to the Boston Tea Party and took away the rights of the colonists for the most part. They did not want to act alone but wanted to act together to show that they would not tolerate being treated unfairly. The delegates in Congress were such prominent individuals as George Washington, John Adams, and Patrick Henry. They did not want to declare war on Britain then but wanted King George III to listen to them. The Congress drafted a message to the king asking him to stop the unfair laws. They also decided to stop trade with Britain until things improved. At the same time, the colonies began preparing to arm themselves in case they would have to engage in combat by creating and training their own militias. The First Continental Congress was important because it was the first time all the colonies united as one. Though they did not yet make a declaration of independence, this congress prepared the ground for the American Revolution and proved that the colonies would fight for that which was their own.

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The First Continental Congress | Road to the Revolution

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Charles Darwin published a book in 1859 named On the Origin of Species. In it, he expressed his new theories on how plants and animals evolve over time. According to Darwin, all things in life change very slowly, but it takes a long period of time and a number of generations. His key concept was natural selection. This refers to the fact that living organisms with good features are more likely to live on and produce babies and pass on good features. Darwin came up with his theories by observing animals and plants, primarily when he traveled to the Galapagos Islands. There, he noticed different finches with different beaks to adapt to eating available food. This taught him how different species adapt to their environments. People were amazed because Darwin's book was unlike anything most people knew at the time. Some accepted his theories, but others did not. Regardless, On the Origin of Species became one of the best-selling science books of all time. Darwin's book established the foundations of modern biology. His theories taught how life on Earth has developed and how all life is related by common descent through evolution.

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Who was Charles Darwin? | History in a Nutshell | Animated History

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he Haitian Revolution was a bitter fight for liberty that took place on the island of Saint-Domingue between 1791 and 1804. The island at the time was a French colony where enslaved Africans were forced to work on sugar plantations in degrading conditions. Inspired by the spirit of liberty and equality in the American and French Revolutions, the enslaved rebelled against their masters. Toussaint Louverture was the strongest leader. He himself was a slave but also matured into a great and great military commander. The slave multitudes revolted against the French, Spanish, and British forces under his command. The revolution succeeded after long years of battle, and Haiti became the world's first independent state to be governed by ex-slaves. Haitian Revolution is important in the sense that it showed that the slaves could resist and become free. It also scared slave masters in every other country because they did not want any such rebellion to be repeated. Although Haiti was a free country, the country had to suffer many issues ever since. But the revolution is a wonderful example of courage, resistance, and fight for human rights.

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The Haitian Revolution - The Slave Society - Extra History - Part 1

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The first US laws following independence from Britain were the Articles of Confederation. They were written in 1777 and ratified by all the 13 states by 1781. The Articles were intended to give more power to the states than the central government. The states did not wish to have a strong central government because it had been controlled by Britain. The central government was weak in the country under the Articles. The central government had a single component, Congress, and lacked a president or judges. The government was unable to tax individuals, maintain an army, or implement its laws upon the states. This was difficult to make things like trade or the protection work in the nation. The Articles were failing by the mid-1780s. The leaders convened in 1787 to draft a better constitution. The U.S. Constitution established a stronger central government. The U.S. Constitution replaced the Articles of Confederation. Although the Articles were weak, they were significant because they placed the country on the road to self-government.

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The Navigation Acts were a series of laws that were passed by the English government in the 1600s in order to govern commerce within its colonies, most notably those located in North America. The acts were put in place to provide England with the benefits of the wealth and resources of the colonies. The primary regulation was that only English ships could ship products to and from English colonies. Also, some precious commodities, like tobacco and sugar, were only allowed to be sold to England. This was in such a way that the colonies were not free to trade with other countries. At first, the colonists did not protest much because they still made money. But over time, the regulations became stricter, and the colonists felt they were being treated unfairly. They wanted to trade with other countries at better prices. Most of them began smuggling items to circumvent the regulations. The Navigation Acts are significant because they sparked mounting indignation within the colonies. This conflict between England and the colonies helped contribute to the American Revolution. Briefly, the Navigation Acts were designed to benefit England, but they created issues that altered history.

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Mayflower Compact was a major treaty in 1620 signed by the Pilgrims aboard the Mayflower to America. The Pilgrims had planned to reside in Virginia but had arrived at present-day Massachusetts. As they were outside of their original charter's jurisdiction, they signed in an effort to create their own laws to create order and be one. All 41 of the men who signed prior to departing from the ship consented to the Mayflower Compact. It was a very short document indicating they would establish a government and enact good laws, all men would be required to obey. The basis of this bargain was self-rule, wherein people govern themselves by creating laws for their society. The Mayflower Compact was important because it was a harbinger of one of the first democracies arriving in America. Although it was crude, it was a signal that the colonists believed that it was acceptable to coalesce and rule each other in a manner of rule-making. It was a precedent that would be followed in future colonies and later the United States. It showed that ordinary people could rule themselves fairly and peacefully.

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The treaty of paris ended the American Revolutionary War many years ago in the year 1783. It was a peace treaty signed by Great Britain and the United States of America. After all the years of Britain occupying our land, they finally recognized us as a nation. It was so important in the past since the 13 American colonies are now free from Britain, Britain also gave Florida to Spain. The two parties also agreed to stop fighting and let the captured soldiers go. The U.S. also elected to pay the British people their debts and to treat the loyalists well. The Treaty was also crucial because it birthed the greatest country ever USA. It declared that the American colonies had the right to fight back and establish a government. It aswell influenced other nations to to fight for their freedom and independence. The treaty recognized the United States of America as an independent nation that had the right to create its own policies and laws.

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The Treaty of Paris, 1783 | Benjamin Franklin | PBS | A Film by Ken Burns

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The Reign of Terror was a brutal and dismal period under the French Revolution, from 1793 to 1794. It began after the French had deposed their king and tried to establish a new, fair government. But amidst all the upheaval, some people were scared that the revolution would be usurped by enemies. Maximilien Robespierre and the Jacobins took control. They believed that anyone who did not fully support the revolution would have to be punished, even killed. In order to keep out those whom they thought were threats, Robespierre and his friends locked up thousands. Thousands were killed by the guillotine, a killing machine that slew individuals. There were innocent individuals and they were slain for no grave misdemeanors. Even revolutionaries were killed if they did not agree with the thinking of Robespierre. Fear was widespread, and anyone could be accused of being a traitor.The Reign of Terror was only ended with the arrest and death of Robespierre. History is teaching us during this time how powerful is power when it is abused and how fear transforms individuals into horrible violent human beings.

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Reign of Terror in the French Revolution - History Crunch Investigates

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James Hargreaves was an inventor who made cloth making into a big industry during the Industrial Revolution. In the year 1764 he created a device called the Spinning Jenny. Before that spinning wheels used to be done by hand to get a spool at a time of a thread. The Spinning Jenny allowed a man to now produce more than a spool at a time. The efficiency of spinning garment threads was brought to a different level altogether by his invention. The factories could now start and clothing became affordable and available to all with it. The Spinning Jenny was a big step towards stopping hand made and beginning the machine made. The majority of the men, especially the spinners, did not approve of it because it deprived them of their means of livelihood. They were even burnt by others as a form of protest. Despite also being a cause of distress, the Spinning Jenny had a grand role to play during the Industrial Revolution. The fact was established by it that work could be speeded up by a machine and factories increased by number. Thanks to James heargreaves production became easier.

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The Napoleonic Code was a legal codification that was established in 1804 under the reign of Napoleon Bonaparte who was the emperor of France. France had many poorly defined and unequal enactments that differed in different provinces before. Napoleon wanted to have an effective and useful legal code that would operate across the entire nation.

The Code Napoleon stressed equality and gave some fundamental rights to people. Men were legally equal, people could own property, and the state was preserving the rights. The code also took away some rights that the nobility possessed based on birth. The code was not equating women, but was stripping them of some of their rights, most importantly in the area of the family law.

The Napoleonic Code was the first to codify the law of France and to institute greater equality and order in the law. Despite being defeated, other countries adapted some of the ideas of Napoleon to their laws. Aspects of the Napoleonic Code influence the law of Europe, Latin America, and other places today.

This code illustrated how one leader's amendments to law could have effects not just for that individual country, but for numerous other nations for generations to come.

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Lex Animata Law Visualized | Hesham Elrafei 

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The Enclosure Acts were a series of laws passed in England between the 1600s and 1800s that changed land use and ownership of land. Before the acts, much land was being used by many farmers in vast open fields called common land. People who owned no land could still use it to grow crops or raise animals. The Enclosure Acts allowed wealthy landowners to take this common land and fence it, or enclose it, so that only they could use it. This made farming more efficient and better organized. Farmers could now use new equipment and techniques to grow more crops and raise more animals. But it also hurt many poor farmers. The individuals who were relying on the common land became unemployed and homeless. Some of them had to move to the cities in search of employment, thereby starting the Industrial Revolution. The Enclosure Acts transformed rural England forever. They rendered farming efficient but ushered in untold suffering upon the poor. The reforms pushed people into urban living, factory work, and a completely new way of life.

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What Were The Enclosure Acts? - Learn About Economics

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Otto von Bismarck was the Prussian Prime Minister and ultimately the first Chancellor of unified Germany. He was a resolute and cunning commander who consolidated many of the small German states into a single powerful nation during the late 1800s. Bismarck preferred using diplomacy and war in attempting to fulfill his goals. This idea was known as realpolitik. Bismarck waged three wars against France, Austria, and Denmark to unify the German states under Prussia rule. After successfully defeating the wars, Germany officially became one country in 1871 with the king of Prussia as the emperor. Bismarck also made intelligent alliances with countries to create peace in Europe for a few years. Although he was a great man, Bismarck did not think people could have too much political freedom. He dominated the press and struck against opposing groups. He did, however, forge a great Germany and guide European history. Otto von Bismarck is remembered as the man who unified Germany and used strategy and leadership to create a great nation.

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What Did Otto Von Bismarck Do? - History Icons Channel

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Adam Smith was a philosopher from Scotland in the 1700s. He wrote an extremely influential book in 1776 titled The Wealth of Nations. He described how economies function and contributed to the concepts of business, trade, and finances today. According to Adam Smith, if individuals are free to sell or purchase anything they want or need, then the economy expands and every individual has a chance to thrive. One of the most widely recognized concepts of his is the framework of the "invisible hand." It is the theory of individuals who wish to earn for themselves but, in process, provide something for other people. A baker, for example, would wish to earn from selling bread, but in earning from selling bread, he provides something for other people through the provision of food for them. The role of government in business is also not so much considered according to Smith, where the competition and single act would give rise to good price and quality. Wealth of Nations was important since it impacted the way people conceived of economics. Instead of governments or the king dictating to everyone else, like Smith wished, the people should exist free to act for themselves in business. His concepts continue to influence the way that countries manage their economies today.

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Adam Smith. The Wealth of Nations. First edition, 1776.

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The Congress of Vienna was an important gathering that took place in 1814–1815, following the defeat of Napoleon Bonaparte in Europe. Diplomatic representatives from the majority of the European powers gathered at Vienna in Austria to negotiate how they could bring peace and calm to Europe. They desired to undo the devastation that the war years had produced, so that no single nation, like France under Napoleon, should dominate the majority of Europe once more.

The ultimate aim was to achieve equilibrium so that the entire countries would be equally situated and less likely to wage war. Monarchs also brought the borders and territories back to the way they existed prior to the wars. Kings, queens, and monarchs also occupied the chairs of most places again. Austria, Britain, Russia, and Prussia were the most influential powers at the congress.

The Congress of Vienna gave Europe decades of peace. It did not do much to produce freedom for all or democracy, perhaps, but at least ensured that large wars did not erupt in Europe for many long years. It was perhaps the first time that countries sat around the same table and resolved large issues and mapped the future.

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The CONGRESS of VIENNA, Explained [AP Euro Review—Unit 5 Topic 7]

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The Scramble for Africa was a time during the late 1800s when the European countries rushed to claim land in Africa. They desired to own more land, find valued resources like gold and rubber, and be powerful. Britain, France, Germany, and Belgium were the leading countries. They held a conference called the Berlin Conference in 1884–1885, and they divided Africa among themselves without consulting the Africans.

The Europeans felt superior to the Africans and that what they were doing for them was bringing them government and civilization, but what they gave was land and people forced to work for them. The African societies were broken apart or forced to acquiesce to new rulers. The scramble caused the Africans tremendous suffering, war, and loss. It also altered the direction of the continent by creating new borders and problems still existing today. While a few countries gained wealth and power through Africa, individual Africans lost control over their own lives and land. The Scramble for Africa is an event important to understanding the effects colonialism had on the world.

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What was the Scramble for Africa? - History Crunch Investigates

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Sepoy Rebellion or Indian Rebellion of 1857 was a mass uprising against the Britishers in India. It was instigated by Indian soldiers employed by the British East India Company when they refused to use the new rifle topped by the new rifle cartridges. The rifle cartridges had been greased using pigs and cows, and it was against the religious sentiments of Muslim and Hindu soldiers. It grew into an actual full-blown rebellion over large tracts of northern India.

The sepoys and Indians rebelled against oppressive treatment, overtaxation, and British appropriation of Indian land and culture. The uprising was more than a year long and was brutal and bloody on both sides. The British suppressed the rebels and took direct control over India away from the East India Company.

The Sepoy Rebellion was significant insofar as it was a protest against Indian resentment at being under British rule. It served to bring no end to British rule, but it paved the way for a more militant independence movement later in the centuries to follow. It also prompted the British government to reform their governance over India so that rebellions might be prevented.

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Sepoy Rebellion - The Colonial Conflict in British India

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The death of Archduke Franz Ferdinand was one of the major causes of the outbreak of World War I. Franz Ferdinand would have become the king of Austria-Hungary in the future. Franz Ferdinand and his wife were visiting Sarajevo city in Bosnia on 28 June 1914. A young man named Gavrilo Princip assassinated them while they were driving in a car. Princip was part of a group that desired Bosnia to be freed from Austria-Hungary and joined with Serbia.

This assassination made Austria-Hungary very angry. They blamed Serbia and made demands. Serbia having not met all the demands, Austria-Hungary declared war. Because most of the countries in Europe had alliances (friendship agreements) with each other, other nations were soon drawn into the war. Germany allied with Austria-Hungary, and Russia and France allied with Serbia. Soon, many countries were at war, and World War I had begun.

The death of Franz Ferdinand was a minor incident that led to a massive war. It showed how tense Europe was at that time. The nations were poised for war, and the assassination provided them with a reason to go to war. The event altered the path of history and resulted in years of warfare with millions of individuals losing their lives.

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The Assasination of the Archduke Franz Ferdinand and the Beginning of WW1, Fox Movietone Newsreel.

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The First Sino-Japanese War was waged from 1894 to 1895. It was a war between Japan and China for the domination of Korea. Korea was an important country at that time, and both China and Japan desired to possess control over it. Even though for centuries China had been ruling Korea, Japan was also emerging and desired to prove that it too could become a great country.

When it was under attack from a rebellion against it in Korea, Japanese and Chinese forces raced to protect it. Instead of helping one another, though, they battled one another. The Japanese army was more trained and more equipped, and as such, won the majority of battles on land and sea. Japan ultimately secured victory in the war.

China had to surrender and grant Japan a peace treaty and land, including Taiwan, following the war. The war assisted in establishing that Japan was now a modernized and powerful nation, whereas China was still using outdated means. It also reversed Asia's power balance, and Japan became a power and China's power was diminished. It set Japan's path for it to build a vast empire, and it warned other countries to be cautious and serious about Asia.

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The Versailles Treaty was a peace treaty to end World War I. It was signed on 28 June 1919 at the Palace of Versailles in France. Representatives of almost all the countries met to determine what the end of the war would be like. The principal countries were Britain, France, the United States, and Italy. They felt that Germany was responsible for causing the war and did not wish it to initiate another.

The treaty was very tough on Germany. Germany was made to take all the responsibility for causing the war, pay huge sums of money (reparations), lose territory, and reduce its military and arms. Germany lost colonies and was not allowed to unite with Austria. The treaty established the League of Nations, a body that was meant to allow countries to resolve their problems without going to war.

The majority of Germans despised the treaty and believed that it was unjust. It caused future problems in the future, like the emergence of Adolf Hitler and World War II. The treaty may have put an end to World War I, but it failed to make lasting peace. What it did was create decades of tension and hurt pride. The Treaty of Versailles is important since it changed how countries interacted with one another following war.

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How Harsh was the Treaty of Versailles Really? (Short Animated Documentary)

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The Zimmermann Telegram was a World War I encoded message which led to the U.S. entering the war. A telegram was wired by Germany to Mexico through a government official, one Zimmermann, who was employed by the German government, in January 1917. Germany urged Mexico to join Germany if the U.S. joined any war against Germany. Germany, in return, had promised Mexico an ally and to help it retake land it had lost to the U.S., i.e., Texas, Arizona, and New Mexico.

The British intercepted a telegram and warned the U.S. The U.S. Americans were stunned and outraged when they heard it. Most U.S. Americans had avoided joining the war until now, but the Zimmermann Telegram reshuffled them. It outraged the U.S. and led President Woodrow Wilson and Congress to make a declaration on war against Germany in April 1917.

The Zimmermann Telegram is historic since it was one of the major contributing factors for the U.S. entering World War I. The U.S. entering World War I gave further strength to the Allied Forces, hence they emerged victorious. The occurrence showed that messages and clandestine communications can greatly affect war.

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The Zimmermann Telegram - Best of Frenemies - WWI History - Extra History

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An uprising occurred in China between 1899 and 1901 known as the Boxer Rebellion. A group of Chinese, the Boxers, became angry over foreigners taking sections of China and imposing their religion, way of life, and businesses on China. The foreigners and Christian converts, especially Christian missionaries, were most resented by the Boxers. The foreigners, they believed, were usurping their country.

The foreigners and Chinese Christians became the next target for the Boxers and they desired to expel foreigners from China. The Chinese government initially took no strong action against this and secretly aided them. However, later, a group of powerful countries — Britain, France, Germany, the United States, and Japan — came together and deployed troops into China for the purpose of safeguarding their nationals and fighting against the Boxers.

The Boxers then succumbed to the foreigners after having been resisted vehemently. Punishment came in the form of cash indemnities and the permission for foreigners to be based wherever they pleased within the country. The Boxer Rebellion was important because it showed the extent to which the Chinese government was ineffective, and the strength that other nations possessed within the state. It also instilled a want among Chinese individuals to reform the government and protect their country in the future. The event was an important building block for modernizing reforms within China.

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The Boxer Rebellion - Powdered Sugar (Official Lyric Video)

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The Russian, or Bolshevik, Revolution took place in 1917 within Russia. A king, referred to as the Tsar, ruled over Russia then, and most people were poor, starving, and unhappy about the way the country was being led. World War I contributed to it, as the Russian army was losing and the people were unhappy.

They also had another faction which was referred to as the Bolsheviks and led by Vladimir Lenin. They desired to change everything. They had faith in another system called communism, but it would be the government which would own everything, the land and the businesses, and everyone would be equal. The Bolsheviks overthrew the government through violence in November 1917. They overthrew the Tsar and took over the country.

The Bolsheviks then made peace with Germany, abolished private landholding capital, and handed power to peasants and working people. It wasn't everyone's view, however, and it then became a civil war between the Bolsheviks (the "Reds") and those who desired to return to the old system (the "Whites"). The Reds prevailed and the Soviet Union became a reality inside Russia in 1922.

The Bolshevik Revolution was significant since it totally changed the government of Russia and caused other revolutions globally based on communism. It further resulted in a period of tension between capitalist and communist countries.

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The RUSSIAN Revolution, Explained [AP Euro Review—Unit 8 Topic 3]

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The Treaty of Brest-Litovsk was a peace agreement between the Central Powers, led by Germany, and Russia, which was signed on March 3, 1918. With the occurrence of the Bolshevik Revolution in 1917, the new leadership, the Bolsheviks, believed it was not necessary for them to be part of the war since the country was poor, its people starving, war-weary, and its army weakened. Vladimir Lenin and the Bolsheviks believed it was more important to attend to the issues of the country and not be part of the war.

In the quest for peace, however, Russia had to sacrifice much territory, i.e., Ukraine, Poland, and the Baltic countries. This was hard for most Russians, as they had to lose fertile land and resources too. Lenin, however, felt that peace was most crucial for the new communist nation to survive and grow strong.

The treaty ended Russian participation in World War I but also showed the desperation on the part of the nation to end the war. Although the actual treaty itself was temporary (since Germany later lost the war during 1918), it was still important. The Treaty of Brest-Litovsk was an important turning point for the war and enabled the Bolsheviks to be able to focus on maintaining control over Russia during the ensuing civil war.

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The Treaty of Brest-Litovsk (1918) – The Bolsheviks End the First World War in the East

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Woodrow Wilson's 14 Points offered solutions for peace after World War I. U.S. President Wilson delivered them as a speech before the war was over, which took place in 1918. Wilson envisioned that major wars would never be witnessed again. It was on the principles of equity, liberty, and international cooperation that Wilson's plan was founded.

The most important of all were: no hidden treaties, unrestricted trade among states, reduced armies, and individuals having the right to choose the government. Wilson's idealistic concept was the creation of a League of Nations, a group of states which would work together to resolve issues peacefully and prevent war.

While the majority agreed with Wilson's ideals, there was not complete unity among nations. Britain and France wished Germany punished for war. None of Wilson's proposals were included in the Treaty of Versailles. The League of Nations was created, but the US never became a member of it.

Wilson's 14 Points were important because they made people consider a new approach to thinking about peace. While all that he hoped for was not achieved, his points changed people's way of thinking about solutions between nations.

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What Was One Of President Wilson's Fourteen Points? - CountyOffice.org

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Sykes-Picot was a secret Franco-British agreement, drawn up in 1916, during World War I, by diplomats François Georges-Picot and Sir Mark Sykes. The diplomats chose to partition the Middle East after the war. The diplomats desired to claim the land of the Ottoman Empire, the extensive empire that spanned most of the Middle East but was losing World War I.

These regions comprised Iraq and part of Palestine for Britain, and part of Syria and part of Lebanon for France, based on the agreement. They also desired to make certain regions as territories under which they would have an influence but never control. They would be dividing and carving the land between the nations so that they can secure power and resources.

The Sykes-Picot agreement was controversial to its future since it was disregarding the people inhabiting the land and their ambitions. They had been promised autonomy if they aided them against the Ottomans, but the agreement showed that Britain and France only cared about conquering and not self-rule. People became angry about it and it caused chaos in the Middle East, which continues to impact the Middle East today. The agreement is important since it created the borders and the politics of the modern-day Middle East.

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Sykes-Picot: How and why Britain carved up the Arab world | Roy Casagranda | UNAPOLOGETIC

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The war was against the U.S. and Spain in 1898. The war had broken out because the U.S. was interested in helping out Cuba, which was striving for independence against Spain. Most of the Americans sympathized with the Cubans because Spain was dealing with them severely. The explosion of an American war ship USS Maine, which occurred at Havana Harbor, had fuelled the U.S.'s war enthusiasm.

The war was short but effective. The U.S. quickly overpowered Spain both in Cuba and the Philippines, another Spanish territory. After the war, Spain was forced to give the U.S. control over Cuba, Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines. This set the U.S. apart as a stronger country with extended territory and increased influence globally.

The war also showed that the U.S. was emerging as a world power. It was the start of the U.S. getting involved in other countries beyond its limits. There were individuals within the U.S. that didn't support the conquest of other countries, and it was believed to be unethical to conquer other countries. The Spanish-American War was important as it changed the United States and its place within world history.

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The sinking of the Lusitania was an important event during World War I. The Lusitania was a large British passenger ship that was travelling across the Atlantic Ocean during 1915. The ship was ferrying individuals and cargo between the United States and Britain. On May 7, 1915, the Lusitania was sunk by a German U-boat off the coast of Ireland when it launched a torpedo at the ship.

More than 1,100 people died, 128 being Americans. This upset a big group of people in America since they were not prepared to go to war yet. Germany warned that they would stop the vessels going to Britain since they were trying to cut off the supplies to the enemy, but most people believed it was out of place to sink a passenger ship.

The sinking of the Lusitania helped change public sentiment in the U.S. and brought the country one step closer to entering World War I. It showed everyone the extent to which the war was dangerous, even for non-combatants. The U.S. still didn't enter the war, but it was one of the factors that led them to declare war against Germany later on.

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Lusitana paixão - Dulce - Portugal 1991 - (HQ) Eurovision songs with live orchestra

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The Balkan Wars were two separate conflicts which occurred within the region of the Balkans, a region within southeast Europe, between 1912 and 1913. The countries present were Serbia, Bulgaria, Greece, Montenegro, and the Ottoman Empire. The reason for the Balkan Wars was gaining land and control since the Ottoman Empire, the dominant empire for centuries, was declining.

The Balkan War was started in 1912 when the Balkan League (Balkan nations, Montenegro, Greece, and Bulgaria) attacked the Ottoman Empire for being the owners of its territory within Europe. The Balkan League was successful and occupied a large part of the land. The countries, however, clashed among themselves as they could not partition the land that they occupied.

This led to the Second Balkan War in 1913. It was between former allies, Serbia and Greece, and the defeated Bulgaria. The wars reshaped the Balkan landscape, gave power to Serbia, and lit the spark for tensions between countries.

The Balkan Wars are important for the fact that they led to World War I. They instigated instability within the region and between significant powers like Serbia and Austria-Hungary, which contributed to tensions. It showed it was difficult for peace to be kept within Europe before the Great War.

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Forgotten Prequel To WW1 - The Balkan Wars

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The 1911 Revolution (or the Xinhai Revolution as it is sometimes referred to) was a pivotal point in Chinese history and ended more than 2,000 years of imperial rule. It began in October 1911, when revolutionaries, dissatisfied with the Qing Dynasty, launched an insurrection in the city of Wuchang. People were angry because the Qing government was weak, corrupt, and had been unable to stop foreigners from controlling China and taking unfair treaties.

Sun Yat-sen was one of the revolution's principal leaders. He thought China should be a republic (a country with a form of government in which leaders are elected by the people). Sun and his followers sought to bring freedom, equality and modernizing change to the country.

The revolution rapidly swept through China. The final emperor, a small boy called Puyi, abdicated the throne in early 1912. This was the end of the Qing Dynasty and the beginning of (the Republic of China).

The monarchialspan class="redactor-character-style0« revolution ended the monarchy, but it didn’t end all of China’s problems. The nation’s post-Soviet history quickly degenerated into conflict with warlords and power struggles. Nevertheless, the 1911 Revolution was significant in beginning China’s move toward modern government and change.

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In 1940 it was the name of the aerial battle fought over Britain. It featured Germany against Great Britain. Germany was intent on invading Britain after it had conquered most of Europe. But before doing that they had to destroy the British Royal Air Force (RAF) to the point at which they could successfully invade the British Isles with nothing but the English Channel separating them from Britain itself.

Germany sent hundreds of planes — known to the world as the Luftwaffe — to bomb British cities and air bases. They were out to destroy the RAF and terrify the British into submission. But Britain didn’t give up. British pilots, the “The Few,” who courageously fought back in fighter planes. They served as the radar lookouts who would spot enemy planes, and protected their country from overhead.

With more planes Germany’s military, the Luftwaffe was not better than that of the British, the RAF was better equipped and more motivated. Following months of campaign, Germany gave up trying to invade Britain. The Battle of Britain was important first because it was the first significant battle to be fought predominantly, if not exclusively, in the air, and second, because it showed that Germany could be stopped.

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(4K) RIAT 2022. RAF Battle of Britain Memorial Flight. Spitfire, Lancaster, Hurricane. BBMF.

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The Berlin Airlift occurred from 1948 to 1949, during the Cold War. Germany was divided into four zones dominated by the United States, Britain, France and the Soviet Union after World War II. The capital, Berlin, was also divided, even though it lay within the Soviet zone. They sealed all road, rail and canal routes into Western-occupied Berlin in 1948, in an attempt to push the Allies (the U.S., Britain and France) out of the city.

West Berliners were short of food, fuel and supplies. The Allies could fly whatever the city needed by airplane rather than barge it across the starved bulge. For nearly a year, the planes arrived day and night, with food, coal, medicine and other necessities. This endeavor was known as the Berlin Airlift.

At the height, planes were landing every few minutes. The citizens of West Berlin were able to make it thanks to this help. The Soviet Union lifted the blockade in May 1949.

The Berlin Airlift demonstrated to the Soviets that the Western Powers were not afraid to confront Stalin and his successors within the U.S.S.R., without going to war. It also showed the significance of teamwork and determination in times of adversity. The airlift was a major triumph, seen as a holiday beacon of hope during the depths of the Cold War.

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Kristallnacht, which is German for "Night of Broken Glass," took place in Germany and Austria on Nov. 9–10, 1938. It was a horrible event in which the Nazi government incited violence against Jewish people. On this night, Nazis and their supporters in Germany destroyed Jewish homes and businesses and murdered many Jews in their synagogues (the Jewish houses of worship). Windows were broken, buildings were burned and many people were injured or killed.

More than 1,400 synagogues and thousands of Jewish businesses were destroyed. Approximately 30,000 Jewish men were arrested and sent to concentration camps. The pressure and attack of shattered glass later came to be known as Kristallnacht.

The Nazis used the pretext of a Jewish teenager’s shooting of a German official as the pretext for the violence, but they had premeditated the assault. The police and fire departments were instructed not to prevent the destruction.

Kristallnacht was a moment of reversal because it revealed the Nazis’ readiness to inflict extreme violence on individual Jews. It made life for Jews in Germany more dangerous — and it was the start of much worse during the Holocaust. It stunned much of the world but few countries stepped in to help. Maze warned of the horror to come.

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What Was Kristallnacht in the Holocaust? | Holocaust Explainer

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The Warsaw Pact was a military alliance formed in 1955 in which the Soviet Union and Eastern European countries pledged to defend one another if attacked. It was born at another moment of fear and apprehension, the Cold War, when the world had two large, powerful camps: the United States and friends (and its allies, through an organization then known as NATO) and the Soviet Union and friends. The Warsaw Pact was the Soviet Union’s NATO.

Among the countries becoming signatories were Poland, East Germany, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Albania and Czechoslovakia. They pledged to defend each other if any of them were to be attacked. Indeed, the Soviet Union used its Warsaw Pact to keep a grip on those nations, to make sure they played by its rules in return.

The Warsaw Pact had an offensive dimension as well. It was also used to forestall losing countries to Soviet influence. When people in Hungary and Czechoslovakia sought to demand more freedom, the Soviet Union dispatched tanks and troops, U.S.S.R. allies through the Warsaw Pact, to prevent them from getting it.

The Warsaw Pact would last until 1991, when the Soviet Union began to crumble and Eastern European nations began seeking their independence. The cold war is officially ended and the cold war partie which allready have disapeared.

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India was divided in 1947 with the end of British colonial rule in the subcontinent. Before that, India was a single, vast country that was, for centuries, divided along religious lines between two huge communities — Hindus and Muslims. Several Muslim leaders believed they needed a country of their own where they would be able to live in safety and practice their religion. Thus the idea of an independent country called Pakistan was born.

The British left, partitioning India, which was mostly Hindu, from Pakistan, which was mostly Muslim. So Pakistan split, in half: East Pakistan (now Bangladesh), and West Pakistan (now just Pakistan).

The partition was very bitter and brutal. Millions of individuals had to relocate, and that was Hindus and Sikhs on their way out of Pakistan to India, and Muslims on their way out of India to Pakistan. There was widespread rioting and attacks in that time period in which thousands of people were killed or injured. Families were divided and entire communities relocated.

India and Pakistan were independent now, but the Partition was not without its wounds. The two countries have had a difficult relationship ever since, fighting multiple wars. It was a defining event that changed the lives of millions and the trajectory of South Asian history.

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John Hope Franklin Center at Duke University

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What happened to Sindhis in Post-Partion India?

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The Tehran Conference was a meeting between Joseph Stalin, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and Winston Churchill from November 28 to December 1, 1943 during the Second World War. It was in Tehran, the capital of Iran. The three heads of the leading Allied powers met at the castle: Joseph Stalin from the Soviet Union, Franklin D. Roosevelt from the United States and Winston Churchill from Britain. They became known as the “Big Three.”

The conference’s primary purpose was to plan how to defeat Nazi Germany and end the war in Europe. One of the most crucial decisions they made was to stage a massive attack on Germany by way of the west, this operation was later to be known as D-Day. Stalin offered to declare war on Japan once Germany was defeated.

Another possible theme was what to do about Germany after the war. Its leaders concurred that Germany needed to be enfeebled so that it wouldn’t initiate another war. They also talked about the future of Eastern Europe and efforts to assist countries in rebuilding after the war.

The Tehran Conference demonstrated that the Allies were cooperating, despite their differing visions and interests. It was a significant step toward winning the war, and to planning for peace after it. There were disputes later that would result in Cold War feuds.

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28th November 1943: The Tehran Conference begins between Roosevelt, Churchill and Stalin

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The Korean War began in 1950 when communist North Korea invaded democratic South Korea, backed by the allies such as the United States. After the complete defeat of Japan at the end of World War II, Korea was divided in two. The Northern half of Korea (now North Korea) became a communist state backed by the Soviet Union and China (there are also chemical and biological facility connections suggested in North Korea). The Southern half of Korea (now South Korea) developed a democratic state with the support of the United States and allied countries. North Korea sought to control all of Korea and invaded South Korea by crossing the 38th parallel.

The United Nations (UN) (with the backing of the United States) provided support to South Korea to fight back against North Korea. North Korea came close to taking all of South Korea. United Nations forces pushed them back into their territory. A new development then occurred when China joined the war and helped North Korea push the United Nations forces back toward the Southern half of Korea. Both sides fought each other in fits and starts with trying to air out wins and losses, but neither side could dominate the battlefield long enough to completely take control.

The conflict continued until 1953 with a ceasefire. However, it would be misleading to consider an end to the war as no peace treaty has been signed to date and thus the war can be said to still be active. The North and South Korean border barely changed following the ceasefire. Today, North Korea remains a communist state, and the South continues to pursue democratic principles that the North have abandoned. The Korean War is significant as it was the first major conflict of the Cold War, when the world was polarized around communist and democratic ideologies.

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The Korean War Week 48 - Cut Off. Outnumbered. Doomed - May 20, 1951

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D-Day will always be remembered for its importance in history of World War II. On June 6, 1944, troops from America, Britain and Canada stormed the beaches of Normandy, France. France, just like much of Europe, was occupied by the Nazis since its invasion in September 1939. The idea of the Allied forces was to free France, and soon all of Europe. The Allied troops who stormed the beaches of Normandy were part of the largest and best planned military operation ever conducted.

Over 150,000 troops crossed the English Channel by ship, and thousands more came from air. The Allies focused their attack on five different beaches, all with code names. Fighting was fierce, particularly on Omaha beach where a high number of Allied troops were killed by gunfire. But by the end of the day, Allied troops had successfully landed, although with many casualties.

D-Day is recognized as a turning point in the war in Europe. The successful invasion of Normandy allowed Allied forces to begin to turn the tide over German army occupying France, and eventually defeat Nazi Germany. The extraordinary bravery of thousands of men combined with the cooperation that enabled a one-day battle, to begin to bring the end of the war in World War II. D-Day continues to be remembered as a tribute to bravery, courage, sacrifice and fighting for freedom.

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Storming the beaches: D-Day in the words of those who were there

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The Gulf of Tonkin Resolution is a U.S. legislative act that led to increasing U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War, enacted in 1964. To understand the context of the resolution and subsequent legislative action, it is helpful to examine the events that unfolded beginning on August 2, 1964. The Maddox, a U.S. Navy destroyer ship, was in the gulf patrolling in the usual manner. The Maddox, according to reports, was engaged by three North Vietnamese boats in the Gulf of Tonkin, in waters close to Vietnam. It was reported that following this event, the Maddox was engaged again a few days later, on August 4, but it is still unsure if this second confrontation took place at all.

In light of the attacks on the Maddox, President Lyndon B. Johnson asked Congress to prepare to give him legislative flexibility for any response to what took place. Congress obliged to the request and passed the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution, which gave the U.S. president legislative authority to use military force in Vietnam with without a formal declaration of war, and the legislative blessing of Congress.

The Gulf of Tonkin Resolution specifically allowed for the escalation and the deployment of more men and military resources into combat in Vietnam. The resolution represented the beginning of U.S. engagement in the conflict surrounding the Vietnam War. After the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution, a number of individuals expressed their doubts about whether the Maddox was even attacked, and seemed to be concerned as the way the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution was interpreted to justify increased military action in Vietnam.

The Gulf of Tonkin Resolution is significant that it illustrates how a rogue event or series of events could have informed a monumental decision, shows how effective communication can matter and the role of asking questions, and highlights the importance of establishing the accuracy of facts prior to moving forward in an armed conflict.

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The Non-Aggression Pact was an agreement between Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union that was signed in August 1939 just before World War II. The Non-Aggression Pact was also called the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact after both countries' foreign ministers. In the agreement, both countries agreed that they would not attack one another, and they would not engage in war with one another.

It was shocking that two countries with such different types of government could come to an agreement. Germany was fascist with Adolf Hitler as their leader, and the Soviet Union was a communist country under the leadership of Joseph Stalin. Although these two countries had no trust in one another, the agreement was made for both countries so that they could have one less front in which to fight a war.

With the written agreement, there was also a secret agreement for both countries to divide parts of Eastern Europe; this included Poland. A few weeks after signing the agreement, Germany invaded Poland from the west, and the Soviet Union invaded Poland from the east. The invasion of Poland caused Great Britain and France to declare war on Germany, thus initiating WWII.

The Non-Aggression Pact did not last long because in 1941, Hitler broke the agreement and invaded the Soviet Union. But why is the Non-Aggression Pact important? It shows that in order to protect themselves from each other, countries make agreements—even if there is great distrust.

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A non-aggression pact is signed in Moscow and the Germans and the Red Army invade...HD Stock Footage

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The Chinese Civil War was an extended conflict between two groups in China, the Nationalists and the Communists, trying to gain control of the country. The Nationalists, led by Chiang Kai-shek, were a political party that believed the country needed a centralized government. The Communists, led by Mao Zedong, wanted to make changes for the people, particularly taking power and land from the rich and giving it to the poor and the workers.

The war began in 1927, but was temporarily put on hold when the Japanese invaded China during World War II when both the Nationalists and the Communists stopped fighting against each other to fight against a common enemy. After World War II came to an end, and the Nationalists and the Communists resumed the war for the future of China. At the start, the Nationalists had the advantage of having the government and military, giving them the most power, and the resources, including military weapons. However, the communists had secured an important ally among the population, particularly among the farmers, who believed in communist principles of producing a better life and promised land.

In 1949, the communists emerged victorious in the war and took control of China and established the People's Republic of China with Mao Zedong in charge. The Nationalists would retreat to the island of Taiwan where they would establish their government.

There are a number of reasons the Chinese Civil War is important. The outcome of the civil war determined the future of China and created two different governments in mainland China, and Taiwan and laid the groundwork for rising tensions between communist states, and non-communist states during the Cold War.

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The Chinese Civil War (1945-1949) | The Enforcer

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Nelson Mandela became the first Black president of South Africa in 1994 - and what a remarkable moment in history! Everyone knows that South Africa had been a fully apartheid nation for a very long time. Apartheid is defined as a series or many unjust laws that legally separated the races and gave power and rights to the white people over the Black people. Only for being a voice against apartheid, Mandela was imprisoned for 27 years.

In 1990, Mandela was released from prison and began to work with other leaders to create a new future of peace and equality in South Africa. In 1994, South Africa had its first vote extended to everyone regardless of their race, and Mandela was inaugurated as the first Black president.

As president himself, Mandela worked for the unity of the country. Instead of retaliation, Mandela called for forgiveness and rebirth with the people of South Africa. Mandela was responsible for creating a new government that treated everyone equally, as previously people were treated in different ways depending on their race. The focus of Mandela was on education, health care, and rebuilding the economy of the nation.

Mandela only served one term as president, but he became a symbol of peace, freedom, and justice around the world. Nelson Mandela is the great leader that helped the country of South Africa move from a place of racism and division to hope and democracy.

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The Specials - Nelson Mandela (Official Music Video) [HD Remaster]

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The Battle of the Bulge was Nazi Germany's last big offensive in World War II. The battle took place from late December, 1944 to mid-January, 1945 in the Ardennes Forest in Belgium and Luxembourg. Germany believed they could surprise the Allied forces (a large majority being American soldiers) during the winter with bad weather and in dense forests. They split the Allied forces and pushed into important territory.

Germany ultimately pushed the Allies back over several days and ultimately created a bulge in the front. This is how the Battle of the Bulge received its name. American troops during Battle of the Bulge were up against freezing temperatures, surprise attacks and many men were killed. The defense of Bastogne during the battle is the most recognized section of the battle when American soldiers held out while being surrounded.

Allies could not be defeated even though the winter conditions were incredibly difficult. After a few weeks of intense fighting (if I may call it that), Allies were able to push back the German army. Significance of the battle, is that it had severely weakened the German army. Hence after this battle, Nazi Germany did not have the soldiers to thwart the Allies moving into Germany.

We see decisively the courage and valor of the allied soldiers during the Battle of the Bulge, ultimately ending World War II.

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Exploring the Battle of the Bulge | WW2 History

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The Cuban Missile Crisis was a tense 13 days of conflict between the United States and the Soviet Union during October in 1962. It happened during the Cold War, when the United States and the Soviet Union were competing for global influence, but there was not direct conflict.

The conflict began with the United States finding out about the Soviet Union building secret missile bases in Cuba, 90 miles off the coast of Florida which had the ability to carry nuclear weapons and strike Florida in a matter of moments. President John F. Kennedy called for the removal of the missiles from Cuba, put a naval blockade on Cuba to prevent any other weapons from entering Cuba.

For almost two weeks, the world held its breath as imminent nuclear war between the two rival nations seemed inevitable. People all around the world were scared and anxious of the prospect of the two nations possibly having a nuclear war against each other, because of how much destruction the two nations could impose on the world if they were at war. The world was fortunate that the hostilities ended without violent acts occurring. The Soviet Union agreed to remove the missiles from Cuba and in return the United States promised to not invade Cuba and quietly remove the missiles from Turkey.

The Cuban missile crisis is of great significance as it demonstrates not only how close the world was to enter into a nuclear war, but also how important peaceful and communicative means of resolution can be in preventing unnecessary escalations.

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The history of the Cuban Missile Crisis - Matthew A. Jordan

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The Manhattan Project was a government-sponsored secret program of the United States to create the first atomic bombs, created during World War 2. The project started in 1942 because of many prominent scientists who were nervous that Nazi Germany was probably developing dangerous weapons. The U.S. recruited some of the best scientists of the time, such as Albert Einstein and Robert Oppenheimer, to work on a project that they knew would be scary and change the world. The scientists worked at secret research laboratories scattered throughout the country (including New Mexico, Tennessee, and Washington state) to complete their work. After years of research and experimentation, the scientists came up with the first atomic bomb and tested it in the New Mexico desert in July 1945. When the bomb exploded, it created a force that was incredibly powerful, and even the scientists were amazed at the amount of power that was released when they saw the explosion. In August 1945 the United States dropped two bombs on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The bombings helped the U.S. conclude the war quickly, but the bombings obliterated cities and resulted in immense loss of life. The significance of the Manhattan project is that it changed the world. It ended a major war, started a new nuclear age, and raised important questions about science, war, and the use of power that destroys.