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Industrial Revolution
The Industrial Revolution was a European Revolution where resources and good were rapidly being produced and growing do to new technology. There was a new focus on capitalism and colonization. -
Opium Wars
The Opium Wars began in 1839-42 and ended around 1856-60. China did not want open trade with European countries like Great Britain, and China was self-sufficient. China always had the favorable balance of trade. Great Britain needed China's goods like tea, porcelain and silk. Britain began to sell China Opium. China threw British Opium in the ocean as a symbol of its anger towards Britain. They fought over Britains right to sell Opium. There was a treaty that gave land and money to Britain. -
Matthew Perry
Japan has always isolated itself from European influence by resisting trade and being self-sufficient. In 1853 Matthew Perry, an American military leader, broke into Japan using 80+ canons and forced Japan to trade. -
The "Sepoy' Rebellion
The Sepoy rebellion was a revolt by Indian Sepoys against Britain because Britain used beef and pork fat to seal their cartridges in the guns sold to India. This caused outrage in India because of the cultural insensitivity of Britain. -
The Meiji Restoration
The Shogunate was overthrown, and the Meiji Emperor was restored. Japan became modernized and industrialized. -
Suez Canal
The Suez Canal was finished in 1869 and built by Ferdinand de Lesseps. The canal was built to shorten the distance from Europe to India. It reduces it by 43% and it is a 14 day journey instead of a 24 day journey. -
Scramble for Africa
The Scramble for Africa was a time period where Europeans invaded Africa and divided up its territory in order to colonize and gain land and resources like rubber, ivory, and gold that could be found in Africa. Almost all of Africa had been taken by the end of it. -
Berlin Conference
Otto von Bismark organized the conference where France, Germany, Britain, Austria, Italy, and Russia all came together to divide Africa without African representation. -
Congo
Congo was taken over by Leopold II during the Scramble for Africa, and he took it personally instead of for his country. He treated the natives extremely unfairly and population decreased by 50%. He had the hands chopped off of the people who did not produce enough ivory. -
Boxer Rebellion
From 1898 to 1901 Chinese rebels revolted against the European control and influence in the Boxer Rebellions. They hated the foreign influence and they believed that they were indestructable and they took the European Section of Beijing hostage. The foreign powers eventually ended the rebellion. -
Treaty of Versailles
The Treaty of Versailles was a treaty signed on June 28, 1919 by representatives from countries around the world that put the blame of WWI on Germany and forced Germany to limit their army and pay repirations. -
Washington Navel Conference
On November 12 1921 naval powers met in Washington DC to discuss ways to repair growing distrust between countries and their naval powers. The Five-Power Treaty, the Four-Power Treaty, and the Nine-Power Treaty all came out of the Washington Naval Conference. -
Mussolini as Prime Minister
Benito Mussolini became Prime Minister of Italy in 1922 and he used his position to spread totalitarianism and fascism throughout Italy. He wanted Italy to rise as a world power and become more powerful than the Roman Empire. -
Beer Hall Putsch
On the 8th and 9th of November 1923 Hitler and Nazi Germany led a coup d'etat while trying to seize power in Southern Germany. It failed and landed Hitler in prison where he wrote Mein Kampf. -
Death of Vladmir Lenin
On January 21, 1924, Vladmir Lenin, a Russian communist, died. He spread Russian communism before Stalin came into power and after his death Stalin took over in his place and made Russia fully communist. -
Dawes Plan
In August of 1924 Dawes Plan was created to fix the problems that having Germany pay reparations created in Europe. It had other countries like the US helping get Germany out of debt. -
Mein Kampf
Mein Kampf or My Struggle was published on July 18, 1925. Hitler wrote Mein Kampf while in jail. It described his ambitions and political views. After he came into power, everyone needed to have read and owned Mein Kampf in support of Hitler. -
Hirphito becomes Emperor
Hirohito becomes Emperor in December of 1926. He was a japanese ruler who attained power. He created a militaristic Japan which wanted to seize control of lands in China because of need for land and raw materials. -
First Five Year Plan
In 1928 Stalin implimented his first Five Year Plan meant to industrialize Russia and begin collectivization of farming. These five year plans were meant to establish complete communism and control in Russia. -
Wall Street Crash
The US stock market crashed in 1929 which plunged the US into the Great Depression. The stock market had nothing supported and when people began to pull their money from the stocks the whole economy fell. -
Dachau Built
Dachau was the first concentration camp created. The concentration camps were used to eliminate those who opposed Hitler and his views. Dachau was opened on March 22 of 1933. -
First Neutrality Act is passed: August 31, 1935
The Neutratlity Acts were meant to protect the US from having to become invovled in future global conflicts by prohibiting the selling of arms to countries in war, -
Signing of the Anti- Comintern Pact: November 25. 1936
Japan and Germany signed an Anti-Cominterm Pact in 1936 against the Soviet Union. On November 6, 1937, Itlay signed the pact as well. Hitler and Mussonlini wanted to eliminate the threat of Soviet control. -
Hitler declares Austria as part of the Third Reich: March 12, 1938
Hitler wanted to expand and gain more power and prestige for Germany. -
Mussolini invades Albania: April 7 1939
Although Italy and Germany were considered allies they both believed that they were superior races. Mussolini felt that he did not have as much control as Htler. Mussolini invaded Albania to gain more power and land. -
German-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact signed: August 23, 1939
Hitler and Stalin created and signed this aggreement to not invade either teritorry or to step on each others toes. -
Germany attacks Poland: September 1, 1939
Hitler attacked Poland, despite the fact that the idea was unpopular among the people of Germany. Germany bombed and invaded Poland. -
Signing of the Rome-Berlin Axis
The signing of the Rome-Berlin Axis linked together the two fascist powers of Germany and Italy. -
Germans invade Denmark and Norway: April 9,1940
Germany invaded Denmark and Norway on April 9, 1940. Norway surrendered after a few hours of attack. Denmark surrendered as well. -
Winston Churchill is named as Prime Minister of Great Britain: May 10, 1940
Winston Churchill was named as Prime Minister of Great Britain. He was widely popular and he later signed the Munich Pact with Hitler. -
Dunkerque is evacuated: May 26, 1940
Dunkerque surrendered to Germany earlier that year, but then were evacuated and rescued by the British. -
Battle of Britain: July 10, 1940
Germany began bombing British ships from above on July 10, 1940 with over 70 bombers. Britain did not have nearly as many airplanes but they had radar systems that gave them a strong advantage over Germany. -
Japan forms an alliance with Germany and Italy: September 27, 1940
Japan formed the Tripartite Pact which created the Axis Alliance between Germany, Italy and Japan. They all believed that their were superior than the other which created a power struggle. -
Germany attacks the Soviet Union: June 22, 1941
Hitler had built up the army of Germany, and then he eliminated the Soviet Union's military forces. Hitler was concerned about the Soviet Union as a potiential threat against Germany. Germany attacked the Soviet Union to gain leverage over the Soviet powers. -
Pearl Harbor is attacked: December 7, 1941
Japan bombed Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. This was a major use of nuclear warfare and caused great devastation. -
Wannsee Conference: January 20, 1942
A meeting in Nazi Germany comprised of officials meant to resolve the conflict with Jews and World War II, and create the Final Solution. -
Bataan Death March: April 9, 1942
American troops who were prisoners were marched out of Bataan by the Japanese. Many died during this trek which granted this the name 'Bataan Death March'. -
Battle of Stalingrad July 17,1942
This battle was when Stalin defended Stalingrad against the German advances into Russia. -
V-J Day: August 15, 1945
It was the day of the end of World War II which was celebrated around the world, but was announced as V-J day by the United States. -
German troops sent to invade Czechoslovakia: March 15, 1939
