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Invention of the Light Bulb
The invention of the light bulb was a groundbreaking development in the late 19th century. While several inventors worked on electric light, Thomas Edison is credited with creating the first practical and long-lasting incandescent light bulb in 1879. This invention revolutionized everyday life by replacing gas lamps, extending work hours, and leading to the widespread electrification of homes and cities. -
Wright Brothers First Flight
The first successful, controlled, and sustained flight in a powered airplane, piloted by Orville Wright, occurred on December 17, 1903, at Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina. This flight marked the beginning of the age of aviation, as it demonstrated the possibility of controlled, sustained, heavier-than-air flight. -
Sinking of the Titanic
The RMS Titanic sank in the early hours of April 15, 1912, after striking an iceberg on its maiden voyage from Southampton to New York, resulting in the deaths of approximately 1,500 out of 2,224 passengers and crew. This led to significant advancements in maritime safety regulations and practices. -
US entering World War I
The United States formally declared war on Germany and entered World War I on April 6, 1917, triggered by Germany's unrestricted submarine warfare, which included the sinking of the Lusitania and the Zimmermann telegram. -
19th Amendment
The 19th Amendment, passed by Congress on June 4, 1919, and ratified on August 18, 1920, prohibits the denial of the right to vote based on sex. It was the result of decades of work and protest by women's suffrage advocates. -
Invasion of Poland
The invasion of Poland began on September 1, 1939, when Nazi Germany, led by Adolf Hitler, launched a military attack on Poland. This marked the official start of World War II, as Britain and France declared war on Germany in response -
Attack on Pearl Harbor
The Japanese military launched a surprise attack on the US naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, resulting in the deaths of 2,403 Americans and ultimately causing the US to enter World War II. -
Manhattan Project
The Manhattan Project, a top-secret U.S. government research and development project during World War II, resulted in the development of the first atomic bombs, significantly impacted the war's conclusion by leading to the dropping of bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, ultimately forcing their surrender and ending the war. -
Atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki
During World War II, the United States detonated atomic bombs on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki on August 6 and 9, 1945, respectively, resulting in immense destruction and casualties, and ultimately leading to Japan's surrender. This marked the beginning of the nuclear age and sparked discussions about nuclear weapons. -
The Cold War
The Cold War was a period of geopolitical tension and rivalry between the United States and the Soviet Union and their respective allies, characterized by proxy wars, espionage, and a nuclear arms race. The Cold War began after the surrender of Nazi Germany when tensions between the US and the Soviet Union from ideological differences and problems in Germany sparked. -
The Korean War
A conflict on the Korean Peninsula that began with North Korea's invasion of South Korea, escalating into a major Cold War proxy war involving the United States, China, and the Soviet Union. The United States, under the banner of the United Nations, intervened to defend South Korea, viewing the conflict as a key battleground in the containment of communism. -
Discovery of DNA's Structure
The double-helix structure of DNA, a groundbreaking discovery that revolutionized our understanding of genetics, was proposed by James Watson and Francis Crick in 1953. Their discovery was built upon the work of other scientists, particularly Rosalind Franklin and Maurice Wilkins, who used X-ray diffraction techniques to study DNA's structure. -
Interstate Highway System
The U.S. Interstate Highway System, formally known as the Dwight D. Eisenhower National System of Interstate Defense Highways, was officially established on June 29, 1956, when President Eisenhower signed the Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956. This revolutionized American transportation and economic development by connecting major cities and regions. -
Assassination of John F. Kennedy
President Kennedy was struck by two shots fired from an open window on the sixth floor of the Texas School Book Depository. His accused killer was Lee Harvey Oswald, a former U.S Marine who had embraced Marxism and defected for a time to the Soviet Union. -
Apollo 11: The Moon Landing
The United States first landed humans on the moon with astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin, symbolizing a major technological achievement and a victory in the Space Race against the Soviet Union. -
Space Shuttle Challenger Disaster
The Space Shuttle Challenger exploded 73 seconds into its flight, killing all seven astronauts on board. The Challenger disaster led to a significant shift in NASA's approach to safety and a greater emphasis on addressing safety concerns raised by engineers and technicians. -
September 11 Attack
On September 11, 2001, nineteen terrorists associated with al-Qaeda hijacked four commercial airplanes, resulting in the deaths of nearly 3,000 people, marking the deadliest terrorist attacks on American soil since Pearl Harbor. -
Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina, a devastating Category 3 storm, made landfall along the northern Gulf Coast, causing widespread destruction and loss of life, particularly in New Orleans, and is considered one of the costliest natural disasters in U.S. history. -
President Barack Obama
On November 4, 2008, Obama became the first African-American to be elected President. He resigned his seat in the U.S. Senate on November 16, 2008. Barack Obama was inaugurated as the 44th President of the United States on January 20, 2009. -
Covid Pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic began in late 2019, with the first reported cases in Wuhan, China. This virus quickly spread worldwide, leading the World Health Organization (WHO) to declare it a global pandemic on March 11, 2020. The outbreak resulted in widespread lockdowns, overwhelmed healthcare systems, and significant economic and social disruptions.