If you could go back in time and change one thing that you think would improve history, what would it be?

Answer 1

We cannot know what would improve history. Events are too inter-related to allow us to determine if a specific action would have a specific result. As an example:

Go back and eliminate Hitler. 100 years later, someone even worse, comes to power that otherwise could not have even existed before your intervention because his paternal progenitors would have been killed in WW2 and his maternal progenitor would have died in a concentration camp.

Answer 2

I'd go back to about 1490 and beat Columbus to America so that we could better manage the birth of the nation and all the negative effects along the way, incl. territory wars, killing off the native population (though this was more because of germs and antibiotics didn't exist back then!), slavery...even things like the Industrial Revolution (working conditions, pollution), civil rights fight, etc.

That way, maybe America wouldn't have such a questionable legacy as it does today: there's good mixed in with the bad. That might also help reduce global conflict we're seeing today, if America had a more productive foreign policy in the last century.

Think about it...if we could start America all over again, how would you do it? The first thing would be to get the trip from Europe to America financed, and then later to sever ties with our financing country (or countries) in order to become independent. Or maybe we would strike up an agreement before hand: make the expedition to America a limited joint venture among 5-10 countries or so, and after 100-250 years, America would become independent? And in the meantime, the partner-nations would share in the wealth, cooperate with each other, and help shape America to be more open and accommodating.

Or if you found a private financier -- someone responsible and moral enough to lead an entire nation (someone like Waren Buffet today) -- then that avoids the whole question of establishing independence later (at least from a country). Again, an arrangement could be struck before the maiden voyage.

It's just a thought...but this is more than just speculation. As we make a push for space exploration, we'll be facing this exact issue this century. People will want to establish space settlements (or the moon or Mars first?), just like the English colonies.

Are we ready to manage *that* process?? Or will it be another gold rush (like the Internet domain name rush), making the final frontier into another Wild West frontier??...

Answer 3

Have Hitler's mom have an affair with eighteen year old Gahdhi in the summer and fall of 1888. Or better yet, make sure the world listened to and heeded the sage advice in John Maynard Keynes' book "The Economic Consequences of the Peace." Had the world listened and followed his advice, Hitler would have remained an obscure painter, and World War Two probably would not have happened at all.

Answer 4

Everything happens for a reason. If one were to change something of the past there could be cataclysmic changes to our future. But, if that were out of the question, there would be much that I would love to change. Hitler is a biggy. Preventing AIDS to reach humans. JFK's killing, what would have happened if he didn't die? 9/11, thousands of people would still be alive (and the ones who are still dying would not be sick). Prevent the black plaque on Europe by showing them correct hygiene. Preventing WWI and WWII. Stopping the troops from going to Iraq. There are so many awful thing that have happened in our history, but it is what has shaped us. It is what has made us who we are.

Answer 5

I would go back in time to when man helped man, everyone cared about each other, when there were no cars and supermarkets and movies and tv or computers. Either everyone worked together or it was a bust. We've lost all of the values from that time, and it's so SAD! That's the way the world started out, look at it now.

Answer 6

Build a wall between the U.S. and Mexico before illigal immigration got so out of control.

Answer 7

I'd go back to the Garden of Eden and prevent the snake from tempting Eve.

Answer 8

I think that drowning Hitler at birth would improve history.

Answer 9

Nothing, because in doing so I could change things that would reallign the future and I may not be in it.

Answer 10

Everything happens for a reason...if you were to change ANYTHING...something would not be the same.

So my answer is.... I'd not go back to change anything.