Key Historical Events from 1910 to Present

1910-1920: Mexican Revolution

  • Context of the Revolution

    • Mexico was under the rule of dictator Porfirio Díaz.

    • During this time, the country experienced relative stability but had a high wealth disparity.

  • Initiation of Revolution

    • In 1910, Díaz had the opposing candidate, Francisco Madero, jailed.

    • This act sparked greater opposition against Díaz’s policies, leading to the onset of the Mexican Revolution.

    • Madero managed to escape and set up revolutionary offices in Texas.

  • Key Events

    • In 1911, revolutionary troops, led by Francisco Villa, defeated Mexican troops, resulting in the exile of Díaz.

    • Emiliano Zapata, another revolutionary leader, began to redistribute land to peasants.

    • The political instability continued until 1920, though hints of stabilization emerged around 1930.

  • Casualties and Impact

    • The conflicts during this period resulted in around 2 million deaths out of a population of 15 million.

    • Adopted a new constitution in 1917:

    • Restructured land distribution.

    • Established suffrage.

    • Focused on education.

  • Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI)

    • Formed in 1929, dominated Mexican politics for years.

    • All presidents until 2000 were members of PRI.

    • The PRI has faced criticism for being corrupt.

1911: Chinese Revolution

  • Ethnic Tensions

    • China saw significant ethnic tensions between the Han and Manchus, persisting even after 200 years.

    • Severe population issues led the country towards imminent famine.

  • Imperial Decline

    • China, once wealthy, became weaker during industrialization and imperialism, particularly against European powers.

    • Post-Opium War, China ceded Hong Kong and opened its ports to European nations.

    • Sun Yat-Sen led the movement to overthrow the Qing Dynasty in 1911, integrating both Christian and Confucian ideals.

  • Key Figures and Politics

    • Yuan Shikai: a military official who helped end Qing rule, later declared himself emperor.

    • Chiang Kai-shek: a nationalist politician who led the Republic of China from 1928 until 1975.

  • Political Ideology

    • Sun aimed for power distribution among the people and fair tax systems, promoting patriotism.

    • Faced challenges in ruling due to limited military strength, ultimately yielding power to a military leader after two months in office.

    • The Kuomintang (KMT), led by Sun, regained control and ruled for two decades before losing to the communists.

1914-1918: World War 1

  • Allied Powers

    • Included countries like U.K., Russia, France, and later Japan.

    • Triple Entente formed prior to the war.

    • The U.S. supported the Allies but did not officially join initially.

    • Italy remained neutral before joining the Allies in 1915.

  • Central Powers

    • Comprised of Germany, Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria, and eventually the Ottoman Empire.

  • Causes of War (MAIN)

    • Militarism: Nations built up their armies; Russia mobilized on the Austria-Hungary border, prompting military build-ups in Britain and France.

    • Alliances: Interconnected treaties delayed actions post-assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, as Austria-Hungary sought to assess safety from a Russian invasion.

    • Imperialism: The Scramble for Africa and Asian imperialism (e.g., Indo-China by Britain) heightened tensions.

    • Nationalism: Serbian nationalism spurred the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand.

  • Armenian Genocide (1915)

    • The genocide began via forced deportations and massacres of up to 1.5 million Christian Armenians within the Ottoman Empire.

    • Additional minorities targeted included Assyrians and Greeks, reflecting intense Turkish nationalism.

    • The Tehcir Law passed on May 27, 1915, mandated the relocation of Armenians for security reasons.

1917: Major Events in WWI

  • U.S. Joins WWI

    • Joined the fight primarily against Germany following:

    • The Lusitania Incident in 1915, where a British submarine with 150 American passengers was attacked.

    • The Zimmerman Telegram, where Germany proposed a military alliance with Mexico against the United States.

  • Russian Revolution

    • Bolshevik ideals, driven by Lenin, focused on Marxism and socialism, pursuing proletarian leadership in governance.

    • The Bolshevik takeover of St. Petersburg occurred during a harsh winter in 1917.

Post-War Events (1919-1923)

  • Greek Attacks on Ottoman Empire

    • Greece took advantage of Ottoman instability and launched attacks in 1919.

    • Led by Mustafa Kemal, known as Ataturk, who successfully liberated Turkish territories.

  • Impact of World War I

    • The war officially ended in 1919, with the Paris Peace Conference paving the way for the Treaty of Versailles.

    • Treaty penalized Germany with debt, military restrictions, loss of territories, and full blame for the war.

    • Creation of the League of Nations in 1920 aimed to maintain global peace, although it faced criticisms and proved ineffective.

    • Isolationism among U.S. Congress members resulted in the U.S. abstaining from League membership.

1927-1945: Chinese Civil War

  • Sun Yat-sen's Leadership

    • After the 1911 Chinese Revolution, he established a more westernized approach based on Three Principles of the People: nationalism, socialism, and democracy.

    • Yuan Shikai, who succeeded Sun, attempted to create a monarchy, leading to subsequent power struggles.

  • Formation of Political Alliances

    • KMT sought Soviet assistance for military training, leading to cooperative strategies.

    • The alliance faltered during the Northern Expedition, where KMT aimed to eliminate warlord factions.

  • CCP Emergence

    • The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) grew in power amidst socio-political unrest and later civil war, with Mao Zedong gaining prominence.

  • End of Civil War

    • The CCP captured mainland China in 1949, establishing the People's Republic of China (PRC).

    • The Republic of China (KMT) retreated to Taiwan, where it continues to claim legitimacy.

1928-1933: Stalin's Five-Year Plans

  • Stalin's Economic Policies

    • Introduction of the First Five-Year Plan in Soviet Russia aimed at massive industrialization.

    • Designed to transition from agricultural to collective farming, leading to considerable resistance from peasants.

  • Consequences

    • The policy led to severe famine, particularly in Ukraine, termed the Ukrainian genocide, due to government neglect during shortages.

1929-1933: Great Depression

  • Global Economic Crisis

    • The Depression was partly precipitated by Germany’s massive debt-related inflation from WWI reparations.

    • Perceived failures of capitalism led to greater government intervention in economies.

  • FDR's New Deal

    • Enacted to stimulate economic recovery through public works and job creation initiatives.

  • Conclusion

    • WWII played a significant role in ending the Great Depression through military mobilization and weapon production demands.

1939-1945: World War 2

  • Germany's Rise

    • Post-WWI dissatisfaction fueled Hitler's rise, blaming Jews and Slavs for economic struggles and national disgrace.

    • Hitler’s military expansion violated treaty restrictions, leading to international tensions.

  • Powers Involved

    • Axis Powers: Germany, Italy, and later Japan; Allied Powers: Great Britain, France, Russia, and the United States.

  • Key Events

    • Pearl Harbor Attack: Japan's various territorial expansions and oil stoppage culminated in the attack on U.S. forces on December 7, 1941.

    • Major battles included D-Day and Stalingrad, pivotal in turning the tide against Axis expansion.

  • Aftermath

    • Germany’s defeat culminated in its division among the Allies, and the legacy of the war fostered the creation of the United Nations in 1945.

1975: Khmer Rouge and Pol Pot in Cambodia

  • Rise of Khmer Rouge

    • Pol Pot aimed to eradicate Western influence and establish a communist regime, leading to a genocidal regime killing millions.

    • The regime also faced invasion from Vietnam in 1979, leading to a significant shift in Cambodian leadership.

1994: Rwandan Genocide

  • Conflict Background

    • Ethnic tensions escalated between the Hutu majority and Tutsi minority, resulting in massive violence starting in April 1994.

    • The international community's failure to halt the violence saw indiscriminate killings of Tutsis by Hutu militias.

2003: War in Darfur

  • Ongoing Conflict

    • The genocide began in 2003, involving government-sponsored militia targeting civilians and causing widespread destruction and displacement.

Major Trends from 1900 to Present

  • Industrialization: Transformed warfare with advanced weaponry; communication technologies changed cultural exchanges across nations.

  • Political Climate: The interplay of militarism, alliances, imperialism, and nationalism shaped global conflicts and agreements, leading to the rise of socialism and fascism post-Great Depression.

  • Decolonization Movements: Post-war agreements and rising nationalism among colonial subjects fostered decolonization.

  • Global Organizations: Establishment of bodies like the League of Nations and the United Nations aimed to maintain peace and order across nations.