Controversial events in World History?

Question

I have to do a 4-5 minute presentation for my History class on a controversial event. The Holocaust was the first thing that came to mind, but a few people are already doing that. Any other ideas? Thanks!

Answer 1

Well if ya really want to stir things up - - - go for the two-thousand/2000 Election ask the ugly question, Alerted by his brother Jeb did Geo W take advantage of a situation to seize power much as supporters of Rutherford B Hayes pushed him into seizing power in 1876 over Samuel Tilden, once again Florida played a part (and Louisiana).

Or if you're going for world history ;; ;; England's decision to transport conivicts (and families) to Australia - - -

Japan's decision to attack America, when it had been Japan's initial plan to ignore America as long as possible while attacking British possesion in the far east. Without Pearl Harbor would America have entered the war?

Peace....

Answer 2

Controversial Historical Events

Answer 3

Holocaust sound more like tragedy than controversy. There's quite a few.

You can go with US-China trade agreement signed by Clinton in late 90s OR expansion of presidential war power just after 9/11, Google Jon Yoo, former White House lawyer. There's so many more relevant, current events that are very controversial. And that Iraq thing. That's the most obvious one, Iraq.

Answer 4

Should the Jews have been given their own nation in Palestine in 1948? As controversies go, it's a bit of a doozey.

Could communism have succeeded in Russia, or was dictatorship inevitable?

Have corporations taken over the role of Imperial powers of 100 years ago?

Was Vietnam a US defeat?

Did WW2 factory work liberate women forever, or did they meekly go back into the home?

For a more 'pop culture' approach, you could consider just how much of a 'surprise' Pearl Harbour was. Or was MacArthur a good leader (got whupped by inferior force in 1942, nearly started nuclear war over Korea). Would Kennedy have kept the US out of Vietnam?

You don't want anything too big for a 5-minute presentation, so just read the basic lines of popular argument on the issue and give an overview.

Answer 5

If you're looking for controversial events, here are two suggestions that came to mind pretty quick...

First, the Inquisition. Many people were persecuted as heretics of the catholic church and died because of this, it was very controversial in the reasons given why it happened.

Second, the election of 1960. JFK barely beat out Richard Nixon, but instead of demanding a recount or anything, Nixon let it be because he didn't want to show democracy in a poor light to the newly democratic country of Japan. It was pretty controversial because many believe(d) Nixon would have won with a recount.

Answer 6

Contraversial?

How about the US use of small pox to whipe out the indiginous population? You could go on to say how the US had a very poor track record when keeping it's treaties with the native Americans.

Concentration camps - British invention during the Boar wars.

Did Columbus really discover America (La Morica)?

Was Jesus the Roman equivilent of Bin Laden?

If the Allies had not allowed Hitler to keep Chekoslovakia....

Hope these help

Luck

Answer 7

Black listing of suspected communist 1950s USA.

Intern camps for Japanese Americans WW2, USA.

Pogroms in Russia. (world history, right)

Slavery and segregation, USA.

Answer 8

You could do NAFTA, the war in Iraq, the Vietnam war.

Answer 9

Apartheid and the beginning and end of it.

Answer 10

how about watergate?