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Albert Einstein's Theory Made
Einstein theorized that while the speed of light was constant, things like space and time are not constant. He proposed that space and time are able to change once they approach the speed of light, which is 186,000 miles per second. Einsteins theory is known as the theory of relativity. -
Cubism Founded
Cubism transformed natural shapes into geometrical forms. The objects are broken down into smaller, different parts with sharp angles and edges. Often times, several views are depicted at the same time. Cubism changed the way people viewed visual arts. -
Facist Party Founded By Mussolini
A newspaper editor and politician, Benito Mussolini created the facist party after promising to rescue Italy and rebuild its economy. Mussolini gained many supporters rom the middle class, because he played on the fear of a workers' revolt. Mussolini would eventually become dictator of Italy in the mid 1920s. -
Hitler Legally Gains Power
By 1932, the Nazis became the largest political party and Hitler gained enough followers to make a move. Once in office, Hitler started calling for new elections and became even more popular. Using his new power, Hitler turned Germany into a Totalitarian state. -
Japan Withdraws From League
The League of Nations consisted of all major democracies, except the United States. It also included the three countires that posed a threat to peace--Germany, Italy, and Japan. However, when Japan seized Manchuria the league protested. In return to the protesting, Japan decided to withdraw from the league in 1933, creating a potential ripple in world peace. -
Italy Invades Ethiopia
To avenge an 1890s attack, Mussolini ordered the invasion of Ethiopia in late 1935. Italy was armed with tanks, airplanes, and gases that had no trouble defeating the Ethiopian army that used swords and spears. By giving in to MUssoini in Africa, Britain and France hoped to keep peace in Europe. -
Civil War In Spain
After Spain's monachy was ended in 1931, a republic was declared. The new government was run by mostly socialists and liberals, who led spain through many crises. However, in 1936, army leaders who favored a more facist-style government joined general Francisco Franco in a revolt that started the civil war. -
Axis Powers Created
Hitler's quick growing power was becoming more feared in the 1930s. To avoid future conflicts, Mussolini and Hitler formed an alliance between Germany and Italy in 1936. A month later, Germany made an alliance with Japan, and thus the Axis Powers were created. The Axis Powers that included Germany, Japan, and Italy, was a force to be reckoned with. -
Munich Conference
As France and Britain were preparing for war, Mussolini proposed a meeting for Germany, France, Britain, and Italy. It was called the Munich Conference. The result of this conference was Germany gaining Sudetenland, and the opposers avoiding a war. Also, Hitler pledged to respect Czechoslovakia's new borders. -
Francisco Franco becomes Dictator
After 3 long years of war between the Nationalists and the Rebublicans, the Republican side collapsed. As the Nationalists won the battle, they looked for leadership. Francisco Franco stepped in a position of power in early 1939, becoming Spain's first dictator. -
Blitzkrieg Tested
Germany had a surprise attack planned against Poland that would take place in late 1939. Their stretegy, the Blitzkrieg strategy, worked perfectly. Germany used fast moving airplanes and tanks, followed by a massive infantry designed to take opponents byy surprise. Blitzkrieg is also known commonly as "lightning war". -
Phony War
Both the French and British built up their armies waiting for Germany to make amove, but nothing happened. Finally, in 1940, Germany launched surprise attack on Denmark and Norway, forcing them both to surrender in under 2 months. Now that Germany had bases on the Norwegian and Danish coast, they could attack Great Britain. -
Pearl Harbor
Early in the morning of December 7, 1949, American sailors in Hawaii woke up to the sound of eplosives. Japan had launched a surprise attack on Pearl Harbor. Although the Americans had an idea Japan was planning an attack, no one knew where or when. The Japanese bombings killed more than 2,000 and wounded over 1,000. -
Battle Of Guadalcanal
After learning that Japan was building an air base on the island of Guadalcanal, The Allied Forces began a mission to destroy the base before it came a stronghold. When the fighting began, both sides continued to receive help and the war turned into a bloody stalemate. After 6 months of fighting, Japan abandoned the so called "Island Of Death". -
D-Day
At dawn on D-Day, Britsh, American, French, and Canadian troops fought the Germans on a 60 mile stretch of beach in Normandy. Although the battle lasted nearly 2 months and claimed thousands of lives, the Allied forces marched through the German defence and later liberated France, Begium, and Luxembourg.
