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The Berlin Wall -

In 1961, Berlin’s eastern and western sides had stark differences in living conditions, which meant that many East Germans were undergoing mass exodus to the west. To prevent this, East Berlin’s German Democratic Republic (GDR) erected a heavily-guarded concrete wall that encircled West Berlin and separated entire families and communities.

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The Berlin Wall -

The Wall’s construction was met with outrage, and many civilians were killed during attempts to escape over it. On November 9, 1989, the wall was dismantled amid protests and drastic political changes, all of which are still cited as examples of how revolution can be used as a tool against oppression.

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US involvement in Iraq -

In March 2003, President George W. Bush announced that Iraq and its dictator, Saddam Hussein, had weapons of mass destruction in their possession, which prompted much support from civilians to invade the country and seize the weapons.

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US involvement in Iraq -

After nine months and thousands of casualties, Hussein was captured by December 2003 and executed three years later. Afterward, the government confirmed that no weapons of mass destruction ever existed and, coupled with video footage of Hussein being abused and tortured before his execution, the American public has been intensely divided ever since.

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WWII Japanese-American internment -

After Pearl Harbor was attacked by the Japanese military in 1941, an executive order was issued by President Franklin D. Roosevelt that resulted in the mass internment of Japanese Americans. These citizens were commanded to evacuate to camps called “relocation centers” on the basis that they were deemed threats to national security.

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WWII Japanese-American internment -

Living conditions in the camps were inhumane, with most families forced to share close quarters for three years or more. The livelihoods, education, and culture of these families were irreversibly disrupted, and many have cited this period as an example of the American government’s disdain for foreign peoples.

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The civil rights movement -

Between 1954 and 1968, a social movement and campaign spread through America in a concerted effort to abolish legalized racial segregation and discrimination. Civil rights activists such as Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King Jr. highlighted the deep divisions that had been embedded in American society.

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The civil rights movement -

The Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965 were instrumental achievements that outlawed segregation, but many politicians and citizens resisted the legislation. Indeed, the movement’s nonviolent protests were often met with police brutality that can still be felt in the nation today.

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Tiananmen Square massacre -

After the death of pro-reform Chinese leader Hu Yaobang in 1989, students gathered in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square to mark his death. The gathering quickly became a demonstration to protest corruption and call for political reforms. Over a month and a half, the crowds grew and reportedly exceeded one million in number.

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Tiananmen Square massacre -

On the night of June 3, 1989, tanks belonging to the People’s Liberation Army stormed the Square and crushed the protests, at a cost of many lives. The event has sparked much controversy since then, particularly due to the Chinese government’s reluctance in sharing the actual death toll, which is believed to be in the thousands.

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South African apartheid -

Between 1948 and 1994, the white supremacist National Party government in South Africa legalized racial separation in all aspects of life, including housing and education. Brutal suppression became the mandate during this period, and black protesters were often arrested, tortured, or killed.

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South African apartheid -

Countries and organizations around the world imposed sanctions against the South African government, but apartheid still persisted for decades until it was abolished in 1994. To this day, South Africa continues to struggle with racial inequality and division, and many aspects of apartheid can still be felt in the nation.

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Atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki -

On August 6, 1945, the US detonated a 9,700-pound (4,400-kg) uranium bomb over the Japanese city of Hiroshima, achieving a death toll of more than 100,000. Three days later, the administration dropped a second bomb over Nagasaki to force Japan’s surrender, resulting in an estimated 40,000 people being killed instantly.

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Atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki -

A poll in the same year showed that 85% of Americans supported the bombings, but these numbers decreased over time as reports of the aftermath spread globally. Nuclear armament remains a controversial topic in America to this day, and the events of 1945 remain the only time in which nuclear weapons have ever been used in an armed conflict.

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The Munich Agreement -

The Munich Agreement was signed by Britain, France, Germany, and Italy in 1938, which allowed Nazi Germany to annex Sudetenland from Czechoslovakia, an area that was home to more than three million people.

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The Munich Agreement -

The agreement was controversial because it epitomized the policy of appeasement, failing to prevent World War II and actually emboldening Hitler's ambitions to expand Nazi ideals. Critics argue it was a diplomatic failure and that Czechoslovakia's sovereignty was sacrificed for nothing more than the illusion of peace.

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The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand -

Archduke Franz Ferdinand (who was heir to the throne of Austria-Hungary) was assassinated on June 28, 1914, by a Serbian nationalist named Gavrilo Princip. His death was the biggest trigger for World War I, which lasted four years and resulted in the death of an estimated nine million soldiers.

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The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand -

This event was highly controversial, as it led to a complex web of alliances and hostilities, plunging Europe into a devastating conflict. The assassination highlighted the volatile political tensions in the Balkans and set off a chain reaction of military mobilizations and declarations of war.

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The US involvement in the Vietnam War -

The conflict that unfolded between Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1955 to 1975 was heavily influenced by the involvement of the United States military. The goal of the American government was to prevent South Vietnam from becoming communist, but what resulted was actually a chaotic and drawn-out foreign war.

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The US involvement in the Vietnam War -

The growth of television during that time meant that citizens were, for the first time, able to watch the effects of war unfold daily. Social and political protests broke out around the US, and the government’s credibility with regards to the war has been questioned to this day.

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Assassination of JFK -

US President John F. Kennedy was assassinated on November 22, 1963, in the city of Dallas. The only suspect in the murder, a Marine veteran named Lee Oswald, was also subsequently killed two days later.

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Assassination of JFK -

JFK’s death has been marred with conspiracies for more than 60 years, which has been particularly worsened by the fact that some investigative files pertaining to the fateful day are yet to be released by the government. This has created a cesspool of controversy, as people question what the US government is trying to hide.

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The Cuban Missile Crisis -

The Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962 was a 13-day confrontation between the United States and the Soviet Union, when American missiles were deployed in Italy and Turkey and subsequently matched by the deployment of Soviet missiles in Cuba.

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The Cuban Missile Crisis -

The crisis was highly controversial due to the imminent threat of nuclear war, and it ended with the Soviet Union withdrawing their missiles in exchange for the US agreeing not to invade Cuba. The event highlighted the intense Cold War tensions and the crucial importance of diplomatic negotiations.

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The financial crisis of 2008 -

The global financial crisis was a severe economic crisis that was triggered by the collapse of major financial institutions around the world, particularly in the housing market. The crisis led to severe economic downturns, bailouts of banks, and widespread unemployment.

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The financial crisis of 2008 -

At the time, many people believed that financial institutions were not held accountable for the crisis and that the extensive government intervention required to stabilize the economy was not properly put into motion. The crisis raised controversial questions about regulation and economic inequality.

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The Indian Removal Act -

President Andrew Jackson signed the Indian Removal Act into law on May 28, 1830, with the intention of pushing indigenous tribes to move to “unsettled lands” in the Western United States, thus leaving space for states in the Southeast to grow. However, indigenous groups were soon forced to relocate against their will, usually violently.

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The Indian Removal Act -

The law was met with many protests from white Americans, but others saw the act as necessary for the expansion of American society. The government continued to displace and remove indigenous tribes for much of the 19th century, and modern indigenous tribes now experience some of the highest rates of poverty and unemployment in history.

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The Bolshevik Revolution -

Between 1917 and 1923, the Russian Revolution enacted significant changes throughout the Russian Empire. It eventually led to the abolishment of the Russian monarchy and the establishment of a communist regime under the Bolsheviks, led by Vladimir Lenin.

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The Bolshevik Revolution -

The revolution was highly controversial, and it sparked a civil war in Russia that influenced global politics by promoting communist ideology. The revolution ultimately led to the creation of the Soviet Union and significantly altered the course of the 20th century, polarizing opinions on socialism and communism worldwide.

Sources: (Britannica) (History) (Khan Academy) (National Geographic Society)

See also: Pivotal events in recent world history

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