Significant World Events (1648-Present) by Ike Bean

1648, Peace of Westphalia

izak0042bean — 2025-04-26 19:36:46 UTC

A series of treaties ended the Thirty Years' War. These treaties divided Germany into separate states with sovereignty and a monopoly over the legitimate use of violence. This event marks the beginning of the current international state system.

1815 - 1915, The Concert of Europe

izak0042bean — 2025-04-28 15:11:56 UTC

The Concert of Europe was an international agreement between Britain, Prussia, Austria, and Russia in response to the French Revolution and the Napoleonic Wars. It was created to ensure balance and peace between the great powers of Europe. It had several successes in its goal and was significant until the beginning of WW1, roughly 1914. The Congress of Vienna was the meeting that initiated the Concert.

1803-1815, The Napoleonic Wars

izak0042bean — 2025-04-28 15:13:01 UTC

Led by Napoleon, France sought to establish greater dominance in Europe, pushing its influence further. The wars shifted the alliances in Europe and led many European countries towards more conservative views of monarchy and the feudal system.

1787 - 1799, The French Revolution

izak0042bean — 2025-04-28 15:20:50 UTC

Liberalism and the progressive ideas of the people led to an upheaval of the aristocracy and the long-standing feudal system. The revolution enabled Napoleon to ascend to power.

1830, Formal organization of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

izak0042bean — 2025-04-28 20:40:51 UTC

On April 6th, Joseph Smith and five other men were officially organized as the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It has grown exponentially since, and, according to its doctrine, will spread to all corners of the Earth.

1776, United States Declaration of Independence

izak0042bean — 2025-04-28 20:43:44 UTC

The United States of America officially succeeded from Britain as the first modern democracy. This declaration inspired changes in other countries and over time the United States has become a major power in the international stage.

1914 - 1918, World War I

izak0042bean — 2025-04-28 20:51:17 UTC

The first war to span globally, WWI began due to interstate tensions following the assassination of Austria's archduke. It was primarily fought in Europe between the Allied forces (Great Britain, France, Russia, Italy, Romania, Canada, Japan, and the United States) and the Central Powers (Germany, Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria, and the Ottoman Empire). (History.com, World War I). The technologies developed during the war and the interactions between countries make it of global significance.

1939, Hitler invades Poland, first battle of WWII

izak0042bean — 2025-04-28 20:52:07 UTC

Hitler invaded Poland, considering it a strategic position from which to further extend Germany's borders and influence. Both France and Britain had promised Poland military support should Germany invade. Two days after the invasion, France and Britain declared war on Germany, beginning the war. (history.com, World War II)

1920, The League of Nations is established

izak0042bean — 2025-04-28 21:02:05 UTC

In the aftermath of WWI, the League of Nations was organized to promote peace and human rights. The League of Nations wasn't supported by the US. This and other factors eventually led to its replacement by the United Nations following WWII.

1962, Cuban Missile Crisis

izak0042bean — 2025-04-28 22:37:35 UTC

At the height of the Cold War, the Cuban Missile Crisis was a 13-day standoff between the US and the Soviet Union brought about by the presence of the SU missiles in Cuba in response to US missiles in Turkey. This was probably the closest the world has come to a full scale nuclear war.

2019-2021 The COVID-19 Pandemic

izak0042bean — 2025-04-28 22:41:36 UTC

The COVID-19 pandemic impacted international relations and countries worldwide. It showed how countries would react in a state of emergency and weakened international communication.

1853-1856, The Crimean War

izak0042bean — 2025-04-28 22:44:04 UTC

The Crimean War was fought between the Russian Empire and the Ottoman Empire, backed by France and Britain. This war shows the rivalries and tensions in Europe that would escalate into WWI in the 19th century.

1947, The Indian Independence Act

izak0042bean — 2025-04-28 22:50:11 UTC

In this act, Britain granted independence to British India, after years of anti-colonial views led by Gandhi and other leaders. The area was split into India and Pakistan along lines of the dominant religion.

1914, Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand

izak0042bean — 2025-04-28 22:55:46 UTC

The catalyst of WWI, Ferdinand's assassination came about from a Serbian nationalist who protested the Austria-Hungary annexation of Serbian provinces. The murder raised interstate tensions higher than ever resulting in the First World War.

1929-1939, The Great Depression

izak0042bean — 2025-04-28 23:08:37 UTC

Global market crash and economic downturn stemming from the United States stock market crash. It was the worst and longest depression seen by the Global North. Led the US and others to pull back from major international involvement in the 1930s. The Great Depression and states' reactions to it are among the causes of WWII.

1945, Formation of the United Nations

izak0042bean — 2025-04-28 23:22:05 UTC

At the close of WWII, the United Nations was organized "to maintain international peace and security, give humanitarian assistance to those in need, protect human rights, and uphold international law. (un.org, History of the United Nations)"

The five permanent members of the UN's Security Council are the United States, France, China, Russia, and the United Kingdom. The UN is still alive and is an established system for diplomacy among states.

1941, Bombing of Pearl Harbor

izak0042bean — 2025-04-28 23:50:35 UTC

In its efforts to secure control of territory in the East China Sea, Japan preemptively bombed the U.S. Naval base in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. This strike solidified US views of the war and its joining of the Allied forces.

1945, Atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki

izak0042bean — 2025-04-28 23:59:36 UTC

The first atomic bombs used in warfare, an estimated 140,000 people died in Hiroshima and 74,000 people in Nagasaki, not including deaths from longer-term radiation. These drastic measures led to Japan's surrender and the end of WWII with the acceptance of the Potsdam Declaration.

1991, Collapse of the Soviet Union

izak0042bean — 2025-04-29 00:10:33 UTC

A failed coup against Gorbachev, the Soviet President, led to the dissolution of the Union. First with Russia, then with the other fourteen states.

2022, Russia invades Ukraine

izak0042bean — 2025-04-29 16:25:33 UTC

Russia began a full-scale invasion of Ukraine after annexing Crimea in 2014. The war has become of international importance as other NATO members have supported Ukraine and several countries have become involved.

2008, The Great Recession

izak0042bean — 2025-04-29 16:26:32 UTC

The biggest economic downturn since the Great Depression. This market crash changed international economic relations and has had lasting impacts.

2001, 9/11 terrorist attacks

izak0042bean — 2025-04-29 16:31:41 UTC

Al Qaeda terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center led to President Bush's War on Terrorism and greater military involvement of the United States in the Middle East.

1688, The Glorious Revolution

izak0042bean — 2025-04-29 23:51:43 UTC

King James II is deposed, and the Parliament establishes rights over the monarchy in England.

1861 - 1865, American Civil War

izak0042bean — 2025-04-29 23:59:26 UTC

Issues of slavery and states' rights led the U.S. to a civil war. This shifted the global economy and led the U.S. to become an international advocate against slavery following the war.

1917, Russian Revolution

izak0042bean — 2025-04-30 00:00:07 UTC

Russia's monarchy was overthrown by the Bolsheviks, creating the first ever communist state. This presented an example for other states' communist parties to emulate or build on.

1969, Apollo 11 Moon Landing

izak0042bean — 2025-04-30 00:01:43 UTC

As Soviet satellites developed ahead of U.S. space advancements, the space race became a political ground to prove which country was more technologically advanced.

1948, The state of Israel is proclaimed

izak0042bean — 2025-04-30 00:05:02 UTC

Israel was proclaimed a state after the United Nations agreed to divide Palestine between the Jews and the Arabs in 1947. This is one of the main causes of the current conflicts between Israel and the surrounding states.

1810 - 1826, Latin American Independence Wars

izak0042bean — 2025-04-30 00:07:51 UTC

Led by Simon Bolivar and others, Latin American countries fight for their own nationalistic views. Most of the current-day countries in Latin America ended European rule during this time and created new states.

1949, The Founding of the People's Republic of China

izak0042bean — 2025-04-30 00:09:27 UTC

Ending the Chinese Civil War, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) established the People's Republic of China with Marxist ideologies and goals of industrialization in mind for the country.

1954 - 1975, The Vietnam War

izak0042bean — 2025-04-30 00:10:52 UTC

After defeating French colonists, Vietnam became a hot spot for the Cold War. Their civil war became a proxy war for the United States, China, and Russia. Each country supplying North Vietnam (communist government) or South Vietnam (more conservative)

1853, Britain's Opium War

izak0042bean — 2025-05-01 16:53:44 UTC

The British traded opium in China in exchange for tea. China later realized opium was wack and the government tried to stop the East India Trading Company. Start of the Century of Humiliation in China.