20th-History

20th Century History ** The 20th Century was a major time period of growth and change. There was a massive shift as changes occurred throughout technology, medicine, world culture, and science.

Also known as the Great War, World War I was a worldwide conflict lasting from 1914 to 1919. This war was fought between the [|Allies] (Great Britain, Russia, France, Belgium, Serbia, United States) and the [|Central Powers](Germany, Austria-Hungary, Ottoman Empire, Bulgaria). At this point in history, no conflict was known to have mobilized so many soldiers or to have resulted in such mass death. WWI is especially known for [|trench warfare], which resulted in a widespread stalemate, especially along the [|**Western Front**]. The most important results of WWI were the League of Nations, the [|Treaty of Versailles] (which largely set up European nations for future conflict; ie WWII), and mass change throughout European nations.
 * WWI**

The Great Depression was a severe, international economic depression that impacted millions worldwide. Starting in the late 1920s and lasting throughout the [|1930s], the depression had devastating effects on people everywhere, despite [|social class]. Unemployment rose to 25% in the United States, and as high as 33% in other countries. The poor conditions throughout the Great Depression especially impacted Germany, which was already left in an enormous amount of debt after [|WWI]. Germany's devastated condition set the stage for [|Hitler] to take power during the 1930s.
 * The Great Depression**


 * WWII**

WWII was a massive military conflict between many major nations throughout the world, including all of the great powers. The war was divided between the [|Allies] (Great Britain, the US, USSR, France, Belgium, Canada, China, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, and Yugoslavia-- among others) and the Axis (Germany, Italy and Japan). Over 70 million people died, making it the most deadly conflict in human history. The war ended in a victory for the [|Allies], the US and the USSR [|emerging as the world's superpowers]. Major events of WWII include the [|Holocaust], [|Pearl Harbor],[|D-Day], and the introduction of the [|atomic bomb].

The Holocaust is term usually used to describe the extermination of six million Jews during WWII. This systematic [|genocide], mainly sponsored by Hitler and [|Nazi Germany], was mostly done through forced work in concentration camps. Jews were murdered in mass shootings, confined to overcrowded ghettos, and often sent to [|death camps]. Although Jews are the predominant minority recognized as being exterminated during the Holocaust, many other groups were treated similarly, including homosexuals, disabled persons, the mentally ill, [|gypsies], and [|Jehova's witnesses].
 * The Holocaust**


 * Introduction of the atomic bomb**



The United States bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki at the end of WWII was highly controversial. The bombings brought an end to the war, effectively minimizing the number of American deaths. However, the bombings created an enormous amount of apprehension throughout nations as the world realized that warfare had changed forever. Tension increased between the world's two super powers, the US and the [|USSR], as a nuclear and missiles arms race ensued.

In 1903, [|Wilbur and Orville Wright]invented the first successful powered airplane. Although the first flight of this aircraft was brief, it was nevertheless a significant day because the [|Wright brothers] knew that "the age of the flying machine had come at last." The airplane was significant, especially in the first part of the century, because a whole new dymanic was added to military conflict.
 * Invention of the airplane**


 * Creation of Israel**

The State of Israel was established on May 14, 1948 after nearly two thousand years of [|Jewish]dispersal, and after 55 years of efforts to create a [|Jewish]homeland. The 61 years since Israeli independence have been marked by conflict with neighbouring Arab states and the [|Palestinian-Arabs]. There have also been many negotiations, and peace has been achieved with [|Egypt]and [|Jordan]. Israel's democracy has survived under difficult circumstances and the country has prospered despite war, ethno-religious conflict, boycotts, mass immigration and terror attacks. Since the creation of the [|Jewish]state, the percentage of the world's Jews in Israel has grown; at present, about 40% of the world's [|Jewish]population are Israeli residents.

Space exploration was instigated when the United States and the [|USSR]were competing to develop the most advanced technology in the late 1950s. The [|USSR]launched the first satellite, the [|Sputnik]. Shortly after, in 1958, [|NASA]was established in the US to plan, direct, and conduct American aeronautical and space activities. The first major accomplishment of [|NASA]was in 1961, when [|Apollo 11] was landed on the moon. Many other important astronomical discoveries and laws were made during the 20th century, including the establishment [|Hubble's law], the discovery of [|Pluto], and the [|"Big Bang" theory] [|"].
 * Space Exploration**


 * Russian Revolution**

The Russian Revolution of 1917 is also called the Bolshevik Revolution or the October Revolution. In 1917 there were actually two revolutions in Russia. One was the [|February Revolution] in which the Tsar abdicated his throne and the [|Provisional Government] took power. The other was the October Revolution in which the [|Provisional Government]was overthrown by the Bolsheviks. The Russian Revolution of 1917 played a very important role in world history and also a major role in the history of the Baltic states of [|Estonia], [|Latvia], and [|Lithuania]. Baltic peoples also played a major role in the 1917 Revolution, particularly the Latvian Bolsheviks who comprised a key portion of the Red Guards that defended the Bolsheviks at a crucial time in its early existence.


 * Fall of the Soviet Union**

The [|Soviet Union's]collapse into independent nations began early in 1985. After years of Soviet military buildup at the expense of domestic development, economic growth was at a standstill. Failed attempts at reform, a stagnant economy, and war in [|Afghanistan]led to a general feeling of discontent, especially in the Baltic republics and [|Eastern Europe]. Greater political and social freedoms, instituted by the last Soviet leader, [|Mikhail Gorbachev], created an atmosphere of open criticism of the Moscow regime. The dramatic drop of the price of oil in 1985 and 1986, and consequent lack of foreign exchange reserves in following years to purchase grain profoundly influenced actions of the Soviet leadership. On June 13, 1990, the official dismantling of the Wall by the [|East German]military began. On July 1, the day [|East Germany] adopted the [|West German]currency, all border controls ceased, although the inter-German border had become meaningless for some time before that. The dismantling continued to be carried out by military units and lasted until November 1991. Only a few short sections and watchtowers were left standing as memorials.


 * The Cold War**

The Cold War is the name given to the relationship that developed primarily between the US and the USSR after WWII. The Cold War was to dominate international affairs for decades and many major crises occurred: The Cuban Missile Crisis, the Vietnam War, and the Berlin Wall being just some. For many the growth in weapons of mass destruction was the most worrying issue.