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Indian Independence
After nearly two centuries of British occupation, Britain found itself in debt at the end of World War 2, and could not afford the expense of maintaining and governing the distant colony, Before independence however, there was unrest between the Muslims and Hindus in India, from where the problem of which side would attain power arose. This was "solved" when British officials called for the division of India into separate Hindu and Muslim nations: India and Pakistan. -
Berlin Airlift
After the Soviet Union cut off all traffic and water to West Berlin in hopes that the Allies would give up the idea of reunifying Germany, American and British officials fly in supplies for 11 months. In May 1949, the Soviet Union gave in and lifted the blockade. -
Creation of Israel
After what happened in the Holocaust during World War 2, the United Nations took up the matter of creating a Jewish state. The UN General Assembly called for a Partition of Palestine into two states: a Palestinian state and a Jewish state. Despite all the Islamic countries and Palestinians voting against partition, the creation of an independent Israel was still announced. -
American Vietnam War
A war fought between North and South Vietnam over the reunification of Vietnam under communism, with the USA supporting South Vietnam and China and the Soviet Union supporting North Vietnam. The North won after the South crumbled in 1975 once the US withdrew from the country in 1973, and the country of Vietnam became one under communism. -
Launch of Sputnik
The Soviet Union launched the first unmanned satellite into space using an intercontinental balistic missile, "winning" the first event in the Space Race. The United States followed soon after with their own satellite launched the very next year. -
Bay of Pigs Invasion
The failed invasion of the Cuban government by anti-Castro Cuban exiles trained by the United States CIA. After training the exiles to fight and overthrow the government, the US sent them in without proving the necessary support, making it an easy defeat. This made the Soviets believe that the United States won’t resist their expansion into Latin America. -
Yom Kippur War (Arab-Israeli Conflict of 1973)
A joint Arab attack was planned on the date of the Jewish hoiday Yom Kippur, catching the Israelis by surprise. The Israelis then launched a counterattack that regained most of the lost territory that the Arabs have captured in the surprise attack. After several weeks of fighting, both sides agreed to a truce. -
Assassination of Egyptian President Sadat
After years and years of fighting with Israel, Anwar Sadat of Egypt (an Arab nation) recognized Israel's right to exist, US President Carter invited Sadat and the Israeli prime minister to Camp David, where the two worked to reach an agreement that ended 30 years of hostilities between Egypt and Israel. This enraged the Arab countries, and a group of Muslim extremists eventually assassinated Sadat. -
Tiananmen Square Protest
In May 1989, almost 1 million Chinese citizens (mostly students) crowded into Tiananmen Square in Beijing, calling out for democracy and the resignations of the Chinese Communist Party leaders. Three weeks later, Chinese troops and police stormed into the square, massacring and arresting more than 10,000 of the protestors. This marked the beginning of a massive government campaign to stamp out protest in China. -
Fall of the Berlin Wall
After 28 years, the wall separating East and West Germany was torn down when the head of the East German Communist Party stated that people could pass through the border. This resulted in the collapse of the Communist Party.
