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Pearl Harbor
On December 7th, 2012, Japan attacked Pearl Harbor. Peral Harbor was a U.S. Navy base located in the territory of Hawaii. It obviously came as a shock to many; America's safety had been torn. They had been attacked, on the mainland. That hadn't happened in decades, if not centuries. And it meant that the only thing to do was go to war. In effect, that meant to go to war.
This left a profound impact on America, signalling it's enterance to the world's biggest and deadliest war. -
Battle of Midway
In the Pacific Theater, the Battle of Midway is considered one of the most important battles. Before the Battle of Midway took place, Japan had naval superiority over the United States, and could usually choose how they wished to attack. The United States Navy during The Battle of Midway ensured America's presence in the Pacific Theater during WWII.
By far, it left an impact upon those who fought in it and brough a kind of confidence that makes one only better in fights. -
D-Day
The storming of Normandy was an allied attack on Axis controlled France. False intelligence was leaked to the Germans that they would storm miles away.
This attack gave hope to the French people hope, in addition, it was a triumph on the home front. Americans celebrated as slowly they came closer and closer to conquering the Axis powers. It was truly a turning point in the war, as the roughly 70,000 America soliders and addtional Canadian and British forces were able to push back the Nazis. -
Germany Surrenders
A week after Gobbels' and Hitler's suicides, the Nazi party was in shambles. Not knowing what to do once their leaders had betrayed them, they surrendered. Immediately, high ranking Nazi officers were taken to trial and Allied Powers wondered what to do with the former socialist nation. It was eventually decided that it was to be split up and soverigned by the Allies. -
Hiroshima
After the bombing of London and the various German cities, it was no longer issue in minds to bomb civilians during war. Hiroshima was Japan's 7th largest city and it had not been bombed to the extent of other cities. It had factories that made materials for war. For the first bomb to be dropped, it was decided that it would strike a nerve in their minds. It did. It shook how they felt and made the Japanese fear much more than they had. A weapon not just physically powerful, but psychologically. -
North Atlantic Treaty signed
Signed in Washington D.C., the North Atlantic Treaty is a treaty signed for an allegiance between many European countries along with Canada and the US. It is, in effect, a domino effect. If one country attacks any of the member states, it will have attacked all of the members. It is an attempt to avoid another world war from happening, and hopefully any war. -
Construction of American bases in Germany starts
In 1952, America needed a base for their operations in Germany. It was decided Heidelburg would be used, as it is the 5th biggest city in Germany. In addition it is located on the Rhine River, a major river in Germany often used for transporting cargo.
A majority of bases(were/are) located around Heidelberg, and they remain as a statement of the past world war. It was however, apart of the cold war, and as it did then, reminds Germans never to fall victim to persuasive leaders again. -
Berlin Wall begins Construction
The Russians, wishing to keep the majority of their subjects in their sector of Germany, built the Berlin Wall; included was constant patrols and rigid immigration points. This was not to keep people out, but people in; oftentimes, people had trouble getting back west. The wall had a powerful psychological impact upon the germans, as a curtain to certain freedom. However, it's tall imposing grey figure surpressed. -
Cuban Missile Crisis
The Cuban Missile Crisis was the closest the world ever got to nuclear war and increased tensions between the U.S. and the Soviets. The crisis began when American planes flying over Cuba brought back photos revealing that sites for ballistic missiles were under construction. These missiles proved a strategic problem, as they could easily hit in the heartland of the US. However, tensions between the two were calmed although Russian forces were involved in the placing of missiles in Cuba. -
The First Antiwar Protest to the Vietnam Conflict
The first demonstrations take place against the Vietnam War. Students across the nation, including New York and Madison, march and protest. In New York, it went directly to the United Nations. Ten days later, 12 young men in New York publically burn their draft cards(which would become a popular option later on). These show that the youth of America can move the majority if they really try. And their offspring are now being raised with their liberal values, and becoming more so as they age. -
Assasination of JFK
President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in Dealey Plaza in Dallas, Texas, at noon, as he rode in an open limousine in a motorcade. President Kennedy was accompanied by his wife. She was splattered in his blood.
The fact that their gracious and kind president had been assasinated left Americans angry, especially with the threat of nuclear war around them. It set a much more montone feeling for America for the rest of the 60's. -
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Operation Rolling Thunder
Operation Rolling Thunder was an extended bombing campaign in North Vietnam to dissuade the residents from supporting war in the south. It was believed that the Northerners would see the horror of war. However, it only agitated them and did not stop a war from coming to fruition. -
Give Peace a Chance released in the UK
The anthem of the Anti-War movement in America during the 70's was released. It wasn't released until the 7th in America, however it caught fire and quickly became a theme for the "flower children" seeking peace from meaningless war. This song is worth mention as it shows how people showed opposition in many different outlets. -
Nixon Resigns
The White House tapes revealed that Richard Nixon knew more than he had admitted, much earlier than he had said. Nixon's congressional support disappeared. Nixon could become either the first president to be forcibly removed from office or the first to resign. His decision to resign was greed based. If he had been impeached, he would have lost his presidential pension and other perks. Resigning meant that he got to keep all that. He told a friend that his descision was only for financial gain. -
Fall of the Berlin Wall
Although the wall was torn down over a period of two years, this is considered the starting date. The fall of the wall was a symbolizing of America being able to cease soverignity over their part of Germany and allow the country to regain it's independence. Many Americans went to help demolish the wall, and many took "souviniers"; broken pieces of the wall, which can be found around America today. -
Reunification of Germany
At first, Britian and France did not want Germany reunited, for fear of another war. However, a majority of Americans and French wanted Germany reuinited. In time, after many talks and oppositions; Germany was granted it's status once more. America began shutting bases down one by one; many today are scheduled to be shut by 2015. It shows how much influence America has in the world, and how it is not afraid to let go and allow other countries to thrive; as long as they are not in bad relations.