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.

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.

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.

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.

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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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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.