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Hitler invades Poland
Germany's invasion of Poland marked the beginning of World War II and Poland was divided up between Lithuania, the USSR, and Germany. -
Bombing of Pearl Harbor
The Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor brought the United States into World War II on the side of the allies, and had a huge effect on the outcome of the war. -
The Battle of Midway Island
The first Japanese naval defeat turned the tidehe war in the Pacific. The battle paved the way for the Americans to Japanese soil and contributed to the Japanese defeat. -
Invasion of Normandy
The massive air and sea invasion of the French coast paved the way for Allied troops to make their way into Germany, and to ultimately defeat the Nazis in their home territory. -
Soviets liberate the first concentration camp
The first liberation of concentration camps by the Soviets at Majdanek began a long series of Allied victories and boosted the morale of everyone on the Allied side. Eventually, the european campaign reached the city of Berlin and the Nazis were defeated. -
Liberation of Paris
The liberation of Paris by Allieed forces in the West was part of a continuing land campaign to liberate continental Europe from Nazi control. Paris was an important step along the way to Germany. -
Battle of Aachen
The Allied victory in this decisive battle allowed the Allies to penetrate the Siegfried Line, the main German line of defences. This paved the way for the Allies to march into Berlin. -
German forces surrender
As the Battle of Berlin drew to a close, German forces were forced to surrender with the suicide of Hitler two days prior. This effectively ended World War II and changed Europe forever. -
Election of George H. W. Bush
The election of Bush 41 ushered in a series of foreign policy reforms. Military operations were performed in Panama and the Persian Gulf, the Berlin Wall fell in 1989, and the Soviet Union dissolved (not because of Bush's actinos). -
Beginning of a major recession
The recession of the early 1990's reflected on George H. W. Bush's lack of focus on domestic policy. The recession was the main reason Bush 41 lost the bid for re-election. -
Bush increases taxes
Bush's campaign promise:"Read my lips: no new taxes" was broken in 1991 when Bush was forced by a democratically-controlled Congress to increase tasxes. This would lead to his failure to be re-elected. -
Dissolution of the Soviet Union
For 50 years, American foreign policy had been aimed at anti-Soviet policies. When the USSR dissolved, foreign policy became much more confusing and inconsistent. -
Bill Clinton elected
Led into a period of domestic reforms, specifically economic policy changes. -
Republican Revolution
Republicans won a majoority in Congress in te 1993 elections. Republicans were elected as both Speaker og the House and President of the Senate. -
Clinton re-elected
A republican-controlled Congress was forced to work with Democrat Bill Clinton, resulting in a government shutdown in 1996. -
Impeachment Trial of Bill Clinton
Bill Clinton was impeached by Congress for his behavior during the Lewinski scandal and other charges, however, he was acquitted by the Senate and not ousted from office.
