What do you think is the single most historically significant event of the last 100 years?

Question

In my opinion..it was the all consuming conflagration of Hitler's Riechstag on 2-27-1933. This set the stage for Hitler being able to assume full and absolute control of Germany and the soon to follow establishment of Nazi Germany. This single event was pivotal to Hitler's rise to power and the ensuing war and Holocaust events. You thoughts???

Think large scale and impacting a diverse group and not just one group, country, religion, etc.

I'm not debating that if Hitler didn't use the Riechstag as a jump off point it would have been something else. If that was the case..i'd be citing "something else". My point is that WAS the event..so i'm using it.

Answer 1

The most historically significant event in the last 100 years was the assassination of Archduke Ferdinand in 1914 by a young Bosnian Serb radical named Gavrilo Princip (a member of a terrorist group called the Black Hand and was state-supported by Serbia - check it out, state sponsored terrorism isn't simply a late 20th century invention!). It set the stage for the rest of the 20th century. Because he was killed the Austrian Empire declared war on the Serbia.

Think about it...if the Archduke had not been assassinated World War One probably would not have been fought. If World War One had not been fought, there would have been no need for a Versailles Treaty and thus no springboard into World War Two and it probably would not have been fought. The Russian Revolution might not have happened (it was a result of Russia's entrance and continued participation in the "Great War" and lack of food and money in the Russian Empire). If this had not happened (and WW2) the Cold War would not have happened. One could perhaps take this even further and state that Israel would not have become a state and Iraq would still be under the control of Jordan. Colonial powers might still be in charge of various colonies around the world. Vietnam might not have happened as well since the communists would not have had support from Chinese Communists (who wouldn't have existed - to the extent they did). Heck, the AK-47 might not have ever been invented.

We'd definitely be living in a different world. Hitler, Stalin, et al may have never come to power to kill millions.

Roosevelt would not have won four elections.

You could go on and on.

The Archduke's death was by far the most significant event in the last 100 years. The 20th century was a snowball event from those gunshots. The effects of Ferdinand's assassination cross not only national boundaries but regional and continental boundaries to include the world's major religious groups, racial and ethnic groups and nationalities. The assassination is still affecting us today. The significance of this event rates right up there with William the Bastard's invasion of England in 1066, the Black Plague in Europe of the mid-14th century, the defeat of the Persian king Xerxes I at the hands of the Greeks at the Battle of Salamis in 480 BC, and other monumental events.

Incredible uh?

Answer 2

I really doubt it was the assassination of the arch duke. All the nations were pretty much itchin' for war, and alliances were already established (except for the British and Americans) The assassination just gave everyone an excuse to mobilize. It didn't have to be that though, it could have been almost anything, They were all looking for a fight, especially Austro-Hungry.
Of the events in World War I that had the most impact, I'd say it was the Schlieflen plan (Germany's plan that involved invading Belgium.) Had it not been for that, Britain would not have gotten involved, and Italy would have stayed allied with Germany and Austro-Hungry. Pretty much leaving France, Russia and Serbia to fend for themselves, and eventually lose. If that's the way it had gone down, who would be a world power today?

Answer 3

I think you are close to an answer. At least from today's perspective. However, as time marches forward the affects of something else may loom larger.

Assuming you are close to the answer consider the following:

The choice to use an Appeasement policy or (Munich) as a specific event, may be more significant. After all, as a reaction to Germany it failed. It may be more significant as Hitlers power may have been confined by forceful action.

Also, the Versailles Treaty would have to be considered. As the treaty did much to set the stage for Hitlers rise.Of course this brings to mind events that proceeded the treaty.

I wish History could be understood in terms of singular events. However, interesting the question History does require we consider our perspective and the context in which events occur.

Do you agree?

Answer 4

Mostly good responses thus far, I would argue for the sining of the Treaty of Versailles (11/11/19). I agree that the assasination of the ArchDuke set WWI in motion, but this was a point in history where things could have been different, reperations could have been lower, more support for reconstruction in Europe possible, many ways to avoid the disasterous situation in Germany that would eventually lead to the Nazi rise to power.
The fire at teh Riechstag may have been set by Nazi's, either way they were looking for ways to sieze power, if not then, they woud have found another way. Once Hitler got his foot in the door, he was going to find a way to assume full power of Germany.

Answer 5

I agree with Eric T. The first world War changed so many things. It was also a turning point in the mentality of the world too. Up to that point, even though it was in the 1900's people still had a 1800's mentality. everything that could be known was known, everything that could be invented was invented, man had conquered his enviroment and was in control of his world. The first world war showed everyone just how wrong they were and forcibly propelled people into the 20th century mindset.

Answer 6

I think it was the Yalta conference.

Yalta was essentially the beginning of the Cold War and we are still paying for the excesses of the Cold War.

The horrendous governments that were propped up in either the name of Capitalism or Communism remain a plague on the 2nd & 3rd worlds. The rise and spread of terrorism can be closely linked to Cold War policy. Our inability to resolve these new crisises is a direct result of a UN that was set up to keep the Cold War from becoming WWIII. The Cold War super-powers had the power to keep their puppets in line, now those former puppets have become dictators hiding behind an inadequate system and passing resolutions justifiying their own inhumanity.

Answer 7

When you think about something being historical, that means people are going to be looking back on the event hundreds of years from now. Considering where society will probably be at that point (in space or exploring it more and more and going farther and farther), I would say that the most historical event would then be when man first entered space, accomplished by the Russians, followed by the U.S. putting a man on the moon.

Answer 8

I doubt the the Reichstag fire would've stopped Hitler's rise to power. His momentum and manipulation of the Industrialists, General Staff corps, and his hypnotic effect on the german people would've put in at the top anyway.

My pick is December 2, 1942: Enricco Fermi has the first controlled nuclear fission..... From that day forward, the earth has stared into the nuclear abyss and every policy and national/military strategy has succumbed to the deterrence of nuclear war.

Answer 9

This second world war had pushed the world 100 years ahead of time.Had there not been the war the progress would have been much slower.According to me invention of Atom Bomb and V-1 and V -2 rockets along with the Gasoline from Hard coal are the most significant " gift "of world war - II which cataclysmic ally put the world on today's volcano.One now wonders where we will go ?

Answer 10

Perhaps you can redefine your question as "What do you think is the single most historically significant event of the last 100 years to [ ]?"

Different groups of people view history in their different perspectives. So, let's say I'm a communist, I'd say the Russian Revolution was the most important.

Personally, I think historical events are so inter-related that it's impossible to trace the 'single most historically significant event'.