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Post by Biblically Accurate Angel on Nov 18, 2016 21:02:21 GMT -5
31. The Black DeathOne of the most devastating pandemics in world history happened in Europe during 1346-1353. The "Black Death" was the spread of bubonic plague throughout the continent, as you can see in the map below. The plague killed between 75 and 200 million people, marking one of the worst years in history.
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Post by frankthetriviaman on Nov 18, 2016 21:46:50 GMT -5
30) August 28, 1963- Martin Luther King Jr. Gives I Have A Dream speechRegarded as one of the most influential figures in American History, on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial Dr. King gave the speech which game to be regarded as the "defining moment" of the American Civil Rights movement. Dr. King's call for an end to racism remains one of the most inspiring speeches ever made.
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Post by Biblically Accurate Angel on Nov 18, 2016 22:11:18 GMT -5
29. 2004 Indian Ocean Earthquake and TsunamiOn December 26, 2004, one of the worst natural disasters in history occurred when an earthquake happened in the Indian Ocean, followed by massive tsunamis affecting countries such as Indonesia, India, Sri Lanka, and Thailand among others. The world bonded together to help those affected as a massive relief program began. It was a terrible incident followed by a wonderful response.
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Post by frankthetriviaman on Nov 18, 2016 22:32:53 GMT -5
28. The Death of Princess DianaOn August 31, 1997, Diana, Princess of Wales, died in a crash as her car went through the Pont de l'Alma tunnel in Paris, France. She was trying to get away from paparazzi, who had been following her, but the added fact on her driver being drunk was another key issue in the crash. The world mourned the loss of Diana, a kind woman whom everyone knew as "the People's Princess" for her charity and understanding of the middle and lower class. Her funeral featured many famous people, including Elton John who performed an alternate version of his classic song "Candle In The Wind" just for her. It was truly a moment that made the world stand still.
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Post by Biblically Accurate Angel on Nov 18, 2016 23:03:56 GMT -5
27. The Waco SiegeIn 1993, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) began a siege of a compound belonging to the Branch Davidians, a religious group led by David Koresh. The group was suspected of weapon violations and the ATF tried to raid the compound, but failed after and intense shootout. The FBI then began a standoff lasting 51 days. Finally, they launched an assault on the compound, during which a fire began which killed 76 people, including Koresh. The Waco siege, along with the siege at Ruby Ridge twelve months prior, outraged many people, and both incidents were motivations of the horrific Oklahoma City bombing that occurred two years later.
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Post by frankthetriviaman on Nov 21, 2016 1:41:36 GMT -5
26) 1917- the Discovery of the Zimmermann TelegramWith World War I raging in Europe, the United States is reaching a point where it is considering declaring war on the Central Powers. There is already growing resentment against Germany following the sinking of the Lusitania and the death of 123 Americans, but the Zimmermann telegram only further heightened those tensions. In secret, Germany sent a message to Mexico, promising to help them recover lost territory if they declared war on the United States. Of course, they didn't, and in the ensuing months the United States declared war on Germany.
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Post by Biblically Accurate Angel on Nov 21, 2016 1:55:09 GMT -5
26-B. The Sinking of the LusitaniaOn May 7, 1915, the RMS Lusitania was sunk by a German U-Boat. The British ship was full of many passengers, including Americans. It outraged the world, and while it was not the reason the US joined World War I - that would be the Zimmerman Note - it was something that helped sway them over to helping the Allies defeat Germany.
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Post by frankthetriviaman on Nov 21, 2016 21:55:54 GMT -5
25) Reign of Otto Von Bismarck"Germany" as we know it did not exist for a very long time. Historically, the area we now call Germany was dominated by Prussia and dozens, if not hundreds of smaller states. It was under the leadership of Otto Von Bismarck that at last, Germany was united under a single power, and modern Germany came to be. His leadership was so effective he came to be known as the Iron Chancellor.
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Post by Biblically Accurate Angel on Nov 21, 2016 22:21:05 GMT -5
24. The Assassination of Julius CaesarOn the Ides of March (March 15) in 44 B.C., over thirty Senate members, led by Cassius and Brutus, stabbed the legendary soldier, conqueror, and dictator Julius Caesar to death. This conspiracy was the result of the Senate and Caesar falling out, and Brutus and Cassius believed they would be heroes after killing Caesar. This was not the case, as they had to flee from Rome. Thanks to Shakespeare's adaptation of the event into a play, the words "Et tu, Brute?" has become synonymous with betrayal.
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Post by frankthetriviaman on Nov 21, 2016 22:37:01 GMT -5
23) Dante's Inferno is writtenA classic of Literature, Dante's Inferno is actually the first part in a three part series called The Divine Comedy. However, it is the first part that is the most recognizable and famous. Containing some of the scariest passages ever written, Inferno tells the story of Dante's travels through hell as he is escorted by the Roman poet Virgil. Even centuries later, its legacy still reaches into modern media, and even by today's standards, is pretty darn scary.
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Post by Biblically Accurate Angel on Nov 21, 2016 22:44:50 GMT -5
23B. The Publication of "The Raven"Edgar Allan Poe was the rock star of literature in 1845 with the publication of his narrative poem "The Raven". The poem is about a mourning lover who finds a raven sitting outside his door, repeating mysteriously the word "nevermore". It instills a sense of fear and awe into the reader, and was on the lips of everyone who read it after it was published.
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Post by frankthetriviaman on Nov 21, 2016 23:05:58 GMT -5
22) The Magna Carta is signedSigned in 1215 by King John of England, its purpose was to create a peace between him and the nobility of England, as he had proven to be an unpopular king. Today, it remains significant for establishing some of the most important principles of modern law, such as that everyone is subject to law, and all rights of individuals are guaranteed, including but not limited to a right to a fair trial and the right to justice.
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Post by Biblically Accurate Angel on Nov 21, 2016 23:12:13 GMT -5
21. The Creation of the InternetOne of the greatest inventions of more recent times has been the internet. While computers have been around for a good long while, the internet boosted the benefits of a computer a lot. While some bad stuff can happen online, there is a lot of good and beneficial things that have come from the internet, and is now grounded in our daily lives for many people across the world.
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Post by frankthetriviaman on Nov 22, 2016 0:45:29 GMT -5
20. The Tiananmen Square ProtestsBeginning in April and lasting until June in 1989, Chinese students began to rally at Tiananmen Square in Beijing to protest for freedom from Communist oppression. The world looked on, wondering how it would play out - would the Communists give or take extreme action against them? Sadly, it was the latter, and the world looked in horror and shock at what happened next - the government sent in soldiers and tanks to eliminate opposition. Hundreds of people were killed in the massacre, proving just how dangerous Communism was.
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Post by Biblically Accurate Angel on Nov 22, 2016 0:55:46 GMT -5
19. The Shot Heard 'Round The WorldIn 1775 in Concord, Massachusetts, the first true battle of the War of Independence began. No one knows who fired the first shot, but that shot has gone down in history as "the shot heard 'round the world". While some other shots have been also called by this name, including one that will pop up later on in the list, this is perhaps the most iconic one as far as that goes.
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Post by frankthetriviaman on Nov 22, 2016 1:12:21 GMT -5
18) Citizen Kane is releasedAlthough a commercial failure at the time of its release, Orson Welles masterpiece has gone on to receive much critical acclaim since. Regarded as arguably the greatest movie ever made, it has gone on to influence directors and actors alike, and has served has a template for many movies that have since followed.
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Post by Biblically Accurate Angel on Nov 22, 2016 1:22:52 GMT -5
17. The Challenger DisasterThe Space Shuttle Challenger was watched by millions of Americans as it took off. On board was Christie McAuliffe, who was to be the first teacher in space. However, bright hopes turned suddenly turned deadly. 73 seconds into the liftoff, as the Space Shuttle was already high above the ground, it exploded suddenly to the shock of everyone watching. All crew members were killed, and Americans across the country, including the president himself, mourned the loss of the Challenger, and decided to keep on pushing the limits of space in their memory.
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Post by frankthetriviaman on Nov 22, 2016 22:19:29 GMT -5
16) May 1942- Battle of the Coral SeaThough The battle was not as strategically significant as the Battle of Midway one month later, this battle is more significant for its role in the history of warfare. This was the first aircraft carrier battle in history; where two navies never came within sight of each other. All major offensive operations were handled with aircraft. The significance of this battle was that it served as the template for future navy battles. Gone were the days where the battleship dominated the oceans. The future of the navy was in aircraft carriers. This battle actually had a huge impact in the overall war. Although the United States lost the fleet carrier Lexington and a couple smaller ships, the Japanese losses by comparison were more significant. The Japanese lost the light carrier Shoho, which although was smaller than Lexington, proved to be the greater loss. By losing Shoho, the Japanese were forced to call off their invasion of Port Moresby, which would have given them a staging point for an invasion of Australia if they had succeeded. Furthermore, the carrier Shokaku was damaged, and the Zuikaku's air crew were slaughtered. This meant for the upcoming battle of Midway there would be three less aircraft carriers available to the Japanese Navy, giving the Americans a fighting chance. ......... 16B) June 4-6, 1942- The Battle of Midway
Just six months prior, the Japanese had launched a surprise attack against the US Navy at Pearl Harbor. However, at that time, Admiral Yamamoto was quoted as saying In the first six [months] of a war with the United States and Great Britain I will run wild and win victory upon victory. But then, if the war continues after that, I have no expectation of success." And indeed, almost to the day, Japan suffered one of the greatest military defeats in modern history. When the Japanese launched their attack on the Midway Islands, they expected a crushing defeat that would seal their hold on the Pacific. Instead, in one of the greatest upsets of the war, the Japanese lost four aircraft carriers to the American's one. Akagi, Kaga, Hiryu and Soryu were 4 of the 6 aircraft carriers that had launched the attack on Pearl Harbor, and in the ensuing battle all would be sent to the bottom of the pacific. The battle proved to be significant in that it was the turning point in the Pacific war; after this battle Japan would not launch another major offensive operation, instead focusing on defending what it already had.
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Post by Biblically Accurate Angel on Nov 22, 2016 22:48:55 GMT -5
15. The Hindenburg DisasterThe Hindenburg was a German zeppelin and the biggest thing to fly in all of history. After a good first season filled with many successful flights, it's second season was looking hopeful, and on May 3, 1937, it's second season began as it made its way from Germany to America. On May 6, it arrived at Lakehurst, New Jersey, where it began to land. Cameras were stationed all around, people across the world were watching the giant airship as it began to land when disaster struck. Out of the blue, a small flame appeared at the tip of the Hindenburg's nose, and then it all went down in flames as the hydrogen the airship was using ignited like gun powder. In about 30 seconds, the airship was down on the ground, burning away. A young reported, Herbert Morrison, exclaimed the fateful words, "Oh the humanity!" live over the air, forever immortalizing the broadcasting as one of the most iconic in history. With extensive news coverage, the Hindenburg disaster was one of the first to truly make the world stand still thanks to television. Investigations proved to be futile, as it is still unknown what made the mighty airship catch fire, but what we do know is that it changed air travel forever. While amazingly, only 35 of the 97 people on board died, the public began to see zeppelins as death traps, and thus they were taken completely out of service and scrapped. While the Age of the Airship was over, the Era of Moments that Made the World Stand Still had only just begun.
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Post by frankthetriviaman on Nov 22, 2016 23:01:41 GMT -5
14) "Rock Around the Clock" hits number one on the music charts
Music is one of the oldest forms of human entertainment in human history. With many genres, the appeal is almost universal. It was the 1950s that yielded one of the most influential genres of all time: Rock and Roll.
And on Juy 9, 1955 Bill Haley and his Comets hit number one on the charts with Rock around the Clock, thus beginning the age of Rock and Roll. To this day, though Elvis is the King of Rock and Roll, Bill Haley is regarded as the Father of Rock and Roll.
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