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Birth
Winston Churchill was born on November 30, 1874 to Lord Randolph Churchill and Jeanette Jerome. Lord Randolph was a staunchly conservative British statesman, and Jeanette (or "Jennie") was a beautiful New York socialite. This event was significant because if Winston Churchill had not been born, he would not have gone on the do the many important world-altering things that he did. Source: (Editors) -
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Churchill's Life
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Graduates from the Royal Military College at Sandhurst
In December of 1894 Churchill graduated from the royal Military College at Sandhurst. Not much is known about his 15-months there, except that he graduated 8th out of 150 other cadets and went into the 4th Queen's Own Hussars soon after. Source: (Jenkins 21) -
The World Enters the 20th Century
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20th Century
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Wins a Seat in the House of Commons
On October 24, 1900 Churchill won the seat of Oldham in the House of Commons. He then went on a speaking tour of Britain and the United States, raising over a million dollars in today's money. Source: (Jenkins 47) -
World War 1 Starts
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World War 1 Ends
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The Great Depression Starts
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The Great Depression Ends
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Begins 1st Term as Prime Minister
On May 10, 1940 Churchill was asked to be Prime Minister by King George VI. This was because the previous Prime Minister, Neville Chamberlain, had resigned, and Lord Halifax had turned down the position. This was arguably one of the most important events in Churchill's life, as the effects of this were to be seen throughout the next five years. Source: (Gilbert 645) -
Battle of Britain
On July 10, 1940 the Battle of Britain began. This was a bombing of London by German planes happening every night for almost 4 months. However, Churchill, with his rousing speeches, was able to instill a sense of hope in Londoners, which got them through the war and eventually led them to victory. Source: (Editors) -
Cold War Begins
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Attends Yalta Conference
From February 3 to February 14, 1945 Churchill attended the Yalta Conference in Crimea. He met with Franklin D. Roosevelt, then President of the United States at the time, as well as Joseph Stalin, the dictator of the communist USSR. They discussed strategies for the defeat of the Axis Powers and their ideas for the future after the war. Source: (Editors) -
Loses UK General Election
On July 26, 1945 the results from the UK general election were posted and Churchill lost to Clement Attlee. Many theories were put out as to why he lost, most citing the idea that voters thought he could lead them in war, but not in peace, or that it was a reaction against the Conservative Party's record in the 1930s. Source: (Editors) -
Reelected as Prime Minister
On October 25, 1951 Churchill was reelected as Prime Minister. This was his second term in office, and it would bring about the Mines and Quarries Act of 1954 and the Housing Repairs and Rent Act of 1955, of which the former improved working conditions in mines and quarries and the latter raised tax allowances. Source: (Gilbert 896) -
Retired as Prime Minister
In 1955 Churchill resigned as Prime Minister, marking the end of his political career. In his later life, he would suffer several strokes and spend most of his time at his home, Chartwell, in Kent. -
Death
On January 24,1965 Winston Churchill died of a severe stroke suffered nine days earlier. Britain went on the mourn him for more than a week, and his state funeral was the largest in history at the time. Source: (Jenkins 905)
