|
Years
|
|
Hint
|
|
Answer
|
|
2017
|
|
This North Korean leader threatens to nuke Guam
|
|
Kim Jong-un
|
|
2016
|
|
This controversial businessman is elected U.S. president
|
|
Donald Trump
|
|
2015
|
|
The U.S. restores diplomatic relations with this country
|
|
Cuba
|
|
2014
|
|
The Olympic Winter Games are held here
|
|
Sochi
|
|
2013
|
|
A big meteor passed this Russian city
|
|
Chelyabinsk
|
|
2012
|
|
This ship runs aground off the Tuscan coast
|
|
Costa Concordia
|
|
2011
|
|
Nuclear disaster caused by an earthquake / tsunami
|
|
Fukushima
|
|
2010
|
|
33 miners are found alive after a huge rescue operation in this country
|
|
Chile
|
|
2009
|
|
First Afro-American U.S. president
|
|
Barack Obama
|
|
2008
|
|
Olympic Games location
|
|
Beijing
|
|
2007
|
|
Name a country which joined the EU in 2007
|
|
Bulgaria or Romania
|
|
2006
|
|
Planet which loses its status, now a dwarf planet
|
|
Pluto
|
|
2005
|
|
This well-known video sharing website starts
|
|
YouTube
|
|
2004
|
|
What kills 250,000 people on Boxing Day?
|
|
Earthquake / Tsunami
|
|
2003
|
|
The U.S. arrests this former President
|
|
Saddam Hussein
|
|
2002
|
|
This nation is the first one to become independent in 21st century
|
|
East Timor
|
|
2001
|
|
This encyclopedia goes online
|
|
Wikipedia
|
|
2000
|
|
Russian politician who becomes de-facto leader
|
|
Vladimir Putin
|
|
1999
|
|
This man becomes president of Venezuela
|
|
Hugo Chávez
|
|
1998
|
|
This Cambodian politician dies
|
|
Pol Pot
|
|
1997
|
|
The U.K. hands over this territory to China
|
|
Hong Kong
|
|
1996
|
|
Rapper fatally shot in Las Vegas
|
|
Tupac Shakur
|
|
1995
|
|
A terrible massacre is happening in this Bosnian village
|
|
Srebrenica
|
|
1994
|
|
This happens in Rwanda
|
|
Genocide
|
|
1993
|
|
This nation gets its independence from Ethiopia
|
|
Eritrea
|
|
1992
|
|
Racial riots in this U.S. city
|
|
Los Angeles
|
|
1991
|
|
This superpower collapses
|
|
Soviet Union
|
|
1990
|
|
This socialist state dissolves
|
|
East Germany
|
|
1989
|
|
Tim Berners-Lee invents this part of the Internet
|
|
World Wide Web
|
|
1988
|
|
This Soviet statesman is visiting NYC
|
|
Mikhail Gorbachev
|
|
1987
|
|
Zimbabwean who becomes President
|
|
Robert Mugabe
|
|
1986
|
|
Space shuttle which broke up 73 seconds after take-off
|
|
Challenger
|
|
1985
|
|
Brussels stadium disaster
|
|
Heysel disaster
|
|
1984
|
|
This country becomes the last Western European one to allow women's vote
|
|
Liechtenstein
|
|
1983
|
|
Official beginning of this world-wide communication network
|
|
Internet
|
|
1982
|
|
First nation to have more than 1 billion people
|
|
China
|
|
1981
|
|
This Egyptian is killed
|
|
Anwar Sadat
|
|
1980
|
|
Mark David Chapman assassinates this Liverpudlian
|
|
John Lennon
|
|
1979
|
|
Revolution in this Asian country
|
|
Iran
|
|
1978
|
|
This man becomes the first Pole to be Bishop of Rome (Pope)
|
|
John Paul II
|
|
1977
|
|
The deadliest accident in aviation history happens on this island
|
|
Tenerife
|
|
1976
|
|
Founding Father of China dies
|
|
Mao Zedong
|
|
1975
|
|
The fall of this city ends the Vietnam War
|
|
Saigon
|
|
1974
|
|
This U.S. president resigned the presidency
|
|
Richard Nixon
|
|
1973
|
|
The queen opens this world-famous Sydney building
|
|
Sydney Opera House
|
|
1972
|
|
Attack during the Olympics in this city
|
|
Munich
|
|
1971
|
|
This country receives its independence from Pakistan
|
|
Bangladesh
|
|
1970
|
|
Shootings happen at this Ohio university
|
|
Kent State
|
|
1969
|
|
This music festival is held at a New York farm
|
|
Woodstock
|
|
1968
|
|
The Summer Olympics are held in this city
|
|
Mexico City
|
|
1967
|
|
War between Israel and Egypt
|
|
Six-Day War
|
|
1966
|
|
This country wins its first FIFA World Cup
|
|
England
|
|
1965
|
|
Human rights activist assassinated in Manhattan
|
|
Malcolm X
|
|
1964
|
|
This incident leads to the Vietnam War
|
|
Gulf of Tonkin incident
|
|
1963
|
|
This civil rights activist delivers his "I Have a Dream" speech
|
|
Martin Luther King Jr.
|
|
1962
|
|
Most recent ecumenical council of the Catholic Church
|
|
Second Vatican Council
|
|
1961
|
|
First man in space
|
|
Yuri Gagarin
|
|
1960
|
|
This man becomes the youngest to serve as President of the U.S.
|
|
John F. Kennedy
|
|
1959
|
|
The last state to be admitted to the Union so far
|
|
Hawaii
|
|
1958
|
|
This French general founds the Fifth Republic
|
|
Charles de Gaulle
|
|
1957
|
|
This terrorist is born in Riyadh
|
|
Osama bin Laden
|
|
1956
|
|
Revolution in this European country
|
|
Hungary
|
|
1955
|
|
Collective defense treaty among the USSR and its satellite states
|
|
Warsaw Pact
|
|
1954
|
|
Where a soccer miracle happens
|
|
Bern
|
|
1953
|
|
He is sworn in as 34th POTUS
|
|
Dwight D. Eisenhower
|
|
1952
|
|
This English monarch becomes Queen
|
|
Elizabeth II.
|
|
1951
|
|
American couple sentenced to death because of telling secret nuclear plans
|
|
Julius and Ethel Rosenberg
|
|
1950
|
|
War between the communist north and the capitalist south
|
|
Korean War
|
|
1949
|
|
This Federal Republic is founded
|
|
Germany
|
|
1948
|
|
David Ben-Gurion declares the independence of his country
|
|
Israel
|
|
1947
|
|
This famous Chicago gangster dies
|
|
Al Capone
|
|
1946
|
|
This war begins in the former French colonies of Southeast Asia
|
|
First Indochina War
|
|
1945
|
|
What V-E-Day means
|
|
Victory in Europe Day
|
|
1944
|
|
On 20 July, Claus von Stauffenberg attempts to assassinate ...
|
|
Adolf Hitler
|
|
1943
|
|
Bloodiest battle in the history of warfare
|
|
Battle of Stalingrad
|
|
1942
|
|
Decisive naval battle in the Pacific Theater of WWII
|
|
Battle of Midway
|
|
1941
|
|
A date which will live in ....
|
|
Infamy
|
|
1940
|
|
He has nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears and sweat
|
|
Winston Churchill
|
|
1939
|
|
Nazi Germany attacks this country
|
|
Poland
|
|
1938
|
|
Term used to describe the annexation of Austria
|
|
Anschluss
|
|
1937
|
|
German zeppelin catches fire in Lakehurst, NJ
|
|
LZ 129 'Hindenburg'
|
|
1936
|
|
Guerra Civil Española, in English
|
|
Spanish Civil War
|
|
1935
|
|
Three laws that were set into practice in Germany
|
|
Nuremberg Laws
|
|
1934
|
|
Hitler calls himself now ....
|
|
Führer
|
|
1933
|
|
This German state is dissolved
|
|
Weimar Republic
|
|
1932
|
|
Ibn Saud found this country (the name appears in the country name)
|
|
Saudi Arabia
|
|
1931
|
|
This NYC skyscraper becomes the tallest building in the world
|
|
Empire State Building
|
|
1930
|
|
Uruguay wins the first .....
|
|
FIFA World Cup
|
|
1929
|
|
Great economic crisis that started after the U.S. stock market crash
|
|
Great Depression
|
|
1928
|
|
The Winter Olympics are held in this Swiss village
|
|
St. Moritz
|
|
1927
|
|
First aviator to fly nonstop from New York to Paris
|
|
Charles Lindbergh
|
|
1926
|
|
This Cuban revolutionary is born
|
|
Fidel Castro
|
|
1925
|
|
This autobiographical book by Hitler is published
|
|
Mein Kampf
|
|
1924
|
|
The founder of the Soviet Union dies
|
|
Vladimir Lenin
|
|
1923
|
|
Mustafa Atatürk declares the independence of his country
|
|
Turkey
|
|
1922
|
|
Howard Carter discovers this Egyptian Pharao
|
|
Tutankhamun
|
|
1921
|
|
This republican becomes U.S. president
|
|
Warren G. Harding
|
|
1920
|
|
Term for the ban on the production and sale of alcohol in the U.S.
|
|
Prohibition
|
|
1919
|
|
This Asian country is the only one becoming its independence in 1919
|
|
Afghanistan
|
|
1918
|
|
The Armistice of Compiègne ends this war on 11 November
|
|
World War I
|
|
1917
|
|
The last Emperor of Russia abdicated
|
|
Nicholas II
|
|
1916
|
|
Largest and longest battle of the First World War between France and Germany
|
|
Battle of Verdun
|
|
1915
|
|
German U-Boot U-20 torpedoes this ocean liner
|
|
RMS Lusitania
|
|
1914
|
|
Gavrilo Princip assassinate this Archduke
|
|
Franz Ferdinand of Austria
|
|
1913
|
|
The Australians begin with the construction of their new capital
|
|
Canberra
|
|
1912
|
|
This ocean liner sinks after hitting an iceberg
|
|
RMS Titanic
|
|
1911
|
|
Roald Amundsen becomes the first person to reach this
|
|
South Pole
|
|
1910
|
|
Dom Manuel II is the last king of this country
|
|
Portugal
|
|
1909
|
|
This famous cycling race is organized for the first time
|
|
Giro d'Italia
|
|
1908
|
|
This MLB team will wait 108 years until they'll win the World Series again
|
|
Chicago Cubs
|
|
1907
|
|
This nation joins the 'Entente Cordiale' making it the 'Triple Entente'
|
|
Russian Empire
|
|
1906
|
|
This California city is strucked by an earthquake
|
|
San Francisco
|
|
1905
|
|
This English football team is founded in London
|
|
Chelsea F.C.
|
|
1904
|
|
This is the first deaf-blind person to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree
|
|
Helen Keller
|
|
1903
|
|
The Wright brothers are the first with a successful...
|
|
Airplane
|
|
1902
|
|
Martinican volcano responsible for the worst volcanic disaster in 20th century
|
|
Mount Pelée
|
|
1901
|
|
This English Queen dies
|
|
Queen Victoria
|
|
1900
|
|
What is held in Paris (NOT the Olympic Games)
|
|
Exposition Universelle
|
|
1899
|
|
This war breaks out in South Africa
|
|
Second Boer War
|
|
1898
|
|
This conflict starts due to sinking of the USS Maine
|
|
Spanish-American War
|
|
1897
|
|
This guy becomes 25th President of the United States
|
|
William McKinley
|
|
1896
|
|
First modern Olympic Games are held here
|
|
Athens
|
|
1895
|
|
This German physicist discovers the X-rays
|
|
Wilhelm Röntgen
|
|
1894
|
|
Political scandal in France (antisemitism)
|
|
Dreyfus affair
|
|
1893
|
|
Karl May publishes this novels about Indians
|
|
Winnetou
|
|
1892
|
|
This politican becomes US president for the second time (non-consecutive)
|
|
Grover Cleveland
|
|
1891
|
|
The longest railway in the world is now under construction
|
|
Trans-Siberian Railway
|
|
1890
|
|
This German chancellor is removed
|
|
Otto von Bismarck
|
|
1889
|
|
This Parisian tower becomes the tallest building in the world
|
|
Eiffel Tower
|
|
1888
|
|
Best known unidentified serial killer of London
|
|
Jack the Ripper
|
|
1887
|
|
Most widely spoken constructed language is created
|
|
Esperanto
|
|
1886
|
|
This Bavarian 'Märchenkönig' dies in the Starnberger See
|
|
Ludwig II of Bavaria
|
|
1885
|
|
LaMarcus Adna Thompson obtains a patent for this type of amusement ride
|
|
Roller coaster
|
|
1884
|
|
European colonization and trade in Africa is regulated in this conference
|
|
Berlin Conference
|
|
1883
|
|
This Indonesian volcano erupts (36,000 deaths)
|
|
Krakatoa
|
|
1882
|
|
The longest tunnel in the world opens in the Swiss mountains
|
|
Gotthard Tunnel
|
|
1881
|
|
This president is assassinated
|
|
James A. Garfield
|
|
1880
|
|
This Cologne monument is completed
|
|
Cologne Cathedral
|
|
1879
|
|
This Scottish bridge collapses
|
|
Tay Bridge
|
|
1878
|
|
War on a Pacific island, killing around a third of the population
|
|
Nauruan Tribal War
|
|
1877
|
|
The prestigious tennis tournament is held for the first time
|
|
Wimbledon Championships
|
|
1876
|
|
Battle commonly referred to as "Custer's Last Stand"
|
|
Battle of the Little Bighorn
|
|
1875
|
|
Georges Bizet publishes his most successful work
|
|
Carmen
|
|
1874
|
|
This Italian inventor, known for his radio, is born in Bologna
|
|
Guglielmo Marconi
|
|
1873
|
|
This type of pants is patented
|
|
Jeans
|
|
1872
|
|
The U.S. founds its first national park
|
|
Yellowstone National Park
|
|
1871
|
|
He said "Dr. Livingstone, I presume?"
|
|
Henry Morton Stanley
|
|
1870
|
|
The first white sees this impressing geyser located in Western U.S.
|
|
Old Faithful
|
|
1869
|
|
This U.S. state becomes the first one to allow women to vote
|
|
Wyoming
|
|
1868
|
|
The Meiji Restoration happens in this country
|
|
Japan
|
|
1867
|
|
Name for the United States' acquisition of Alaska from the Russian Empire
|
|
Alaska Purchase
|
|
1866
|
|
This Welsh surveyor (after whom the highest mountain was named) dies
|
|
George Everest
|
|
1865
|
|
This alpine mountain is climbed for the first time
|
|
Matterhorn
|
|
1864
|
|
Prussia vs. Denmark
|
|
Second Schleswig War
|
|
1863
|
|
The bloodiest battle during the American Civil War is fought near this town
|
|
Gettysburg
|
|
1862
|
|
Bloodiest single-day battle in American history
|
|
Battle of Antietam / Sharpsburg
|
|
1861
|
|
This nation declares its independence from the United States
|
|
Confederate States of America
|
|
1860
|
|
This Great Emancipator becomes the first Republican president
|
|
Abraham Lincoln
|
|
1859
|
|
On the Origin of Species is published by this biologist
|
|
Charles Darwin
|
|
1858
|
|
The Treaty of Tientsin ends this war
|
|
Second Opium War
|
|
1857
|
|
The Queen decides to make this city the capital of Canada
|
|
Ottawa
|
|
1856
|
|
Workers find very old human bones in this German valley
|
|
Neandertal
|
|
1855
|
|
First inexpensive industrial process for the mass production of steel
|
|
BessemerProcess
|
|
1854
|
|
This party is founded in Ripon, Wisconsin
|
|
Republican Party
|
|
1853
|
|
This conflict between Russia and the Ottoman Empire breaks out
|
|
Crimean War
|
|
1852
|
|
"Women and children first" is used for the first time on this ship
|
|
HMS Birkenhead
|
|
1851
|
|
This London palace is built for the first World's Fair
|
|
Crystal Palace
|
|
1850
|
|
This U.S. state becomes the 31st state
|
|
California
|
|
1849
|
|
What happened in 1849 in California?
|
|
Gold Rush
|
|
1848
|
|
Many of these happen in Europe
|
|
Revolutions
|
|
1847
|
|
Brigham Young founds this city
|
|
Salt Lake City
|
|
1846
|
|
Johann Galle becomes the first man to see this astronomical body
|
|
Neptune
|
|
1845
|
|
This event will kill 1 million Irish during the next seven years
|
|
Great Famine
|
|
1844
|
|
This country declares its independence from Haiti
|
|
Dominican Republic
|
|
1843
|
|
This world-famous Copenhagen amusement park opens
|
|
Tivoli Gardens
|
|
1842
|
|
This hall of fame of German history opens
|
|
Walhalla
|
|
1841
|
|
He was the first U.S president to die in office
|
|
William Henry Harrison
|
|
1840
|
|
The Treaty of Waitangi creates this country
|
|
New Zealand
|
|
1839
|
|
Slave revolt on this ship (you might know the 1997 Spielberg film)
|
|
La Amistad
|
|
1838
|
|
This British island territory becomes the first one to allow women's votes
|
|
Pitcairn Islands
|
|
1837
|
|
26th state admitted to the Union
|
|
Michigan
|
|
1836
|
|
Pivotal event in the Texas Revolution
|
|
Battle of the Alamo
|
|
1835
|
|
The "Great Moon Hoax" is published by this newspaper
|
|
The Sun
|
|
1834
|
|
William Lyon Mackenzie becomes the first mayor of this city
|
|
Toronto
|
|
1833
|
|
The British re-establish their rule on these islands, which displeased Argentina
|
|
Falkland Islands
|
|
1832
|
|
Ecuador annexes these islands
|
|
Galápagos Islands
|
|
1831
|
|
The inventor of Coca-Cola is born in Georgia
|
|
John Pemberton
|
|
1830
|
|
This country declares its independence from the Netherlands
|
|
Belgium
|
|
1829
|
|
Raphael Rivera finds this oasis and names it "the meadows"
|
|
Las Vegas
|
|
1828
|
|
B & O becomes the first ... in the United States
|
|
Railroad
|
|
1827
|
|
This animal called Zarafa arrives in Europe (the first since 300 years)
|
|
Giraffe
|
|
1826
|
|
He becomes first president of Argentina
|
|
Bernardino Rivadavia
|
|
1825
|
|
The Stephenson brothers invent this steam vehicle
|
|
Locomotive
|
|
1824
|
|
Ludwig van Beethoven's final complete symphony
|
|
Symphony No. 9
|
|
1823
|
|
U.S. policy of opposing European colonialism in the Americas
|
|
Monroe Doctrine
|
|
1822
|
|
The Grue Church fire disaster is the deadliest in this country
|
|
Norway
|
|
1821
|
|
Napoleon dies on this island
|
|
Saint Helena
|
|
1820
|
|
This ancient Greek statue is discovered on the island of Milos
|
|
Venus de Milo
|
|
1819
|
|
Gran Colombia is founded and reigned by this president
|
|
Simón Bolívar
|
|
1818
|
|
Mary Shelley publishes this horror novel
|
|
Frankenstein
|
|
1817
|
|
Name an element which was discovered in 1817
|
|
Cadmium, Selenium or Lithium
|
|
1816
|
|
This state becomes the 19th to be admitted to the Union
|
|
Indiana
|
|
1815
|
|
Napoleon vs. Wellesley
|
|
Battle of Waterloo
|
|
1814
|
|
This song is written by Francis Scott Key
|
|
The Star-Spangled Banner
|
|
1813
|
|
Jane Austen publishes this romance novel
|
|
Pride and Prejudice
|
|
1812
|
|
Napoleon fails to conquer this city
|
|
Moscow
|
|
1811
|
|
This English king serves as Prince Regent during his father's illness
|
|
George IV
|
|
1810
|
|
The Republic declares its independence but is annexed by the U.S. only a month later
|
|
Republic of West Florida
|
|
1809
|
|
He becomes 4th President of the United States
|
|
James Madison
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1808
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Two whalers can announce the existence of this very remote small Atlantic island
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Bouvet Island
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1807
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|
This famous Confederate general is born in Virginia
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Robert E. Lee
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|
1806
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Construction for this Paris monument begins
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Arc de Triomphe
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1805
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These explorers reach the Pacific Ocean
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Lewis and Clark
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1804
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This Latin American country becomes to first to declare its independence
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Haiti
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1803
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The U.S. doubles its area by buying this territory
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Louisiana
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1802
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He becomes French consul for life
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|
Napoleon Bonaparte
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1801
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He becomes 3rd President of the United States
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|
Thomas Jefferson
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1800
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He is elected Bishop of Rome
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|
Pius VII
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1799
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This pivotal event in European history comes to an end
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|
French Revolution
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1798
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The Helvetic Republic is installed on territory of this present-day country
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|
Switzerland
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|
1797
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|
Ludovico Manin is the last ... of Venice
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|
Doge
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1796
|
|
Edward Jenner is using vaccine for this disease
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|
Smallpox
|
|
1795
|
|
On July 14, this song becomes the new French anthem
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|
La Marseillaise
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|
1794
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|
France abolishes this
|
|
Slavery
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|
1793
|
|
This French Queen is beheaded
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|
Marie Antoinette
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1792
|
|
The French National Guard storms this Palace
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|
Tuileries Palace
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|
1791
|
|
This Austrian composer dies aged 35
|
|
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
|
|
1790
|
|
The Residence Act creates this planned capital
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|
Washington, D.C.
|
|
1789
|
|
The storming of this prison started the French Revolution
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|
Bastille
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|
1788
|
|
The First Fleet arrives in this country
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|
Australia
|
|
1787
|
|
First U.S. state to ratify the Constitution
|
|
Delaware
|
|
1786
|
|
Jacques Balmat and Michel-Gabriel Paccard are the first to climb this mountain
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|
Mont Blanc
|
|
1785
|
|
This country starts to control the island of Saint-Barthélemy
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|
Sweden
|
|
1784
|
|
This U.S. state (nowadays northeastern Tennessee) is founded
|
|
State of Franklin
|
|
1783
|
|
This treaty set the boundaries between the British Empire and the United States
|
|
Treaty of Paris
|
|
1782
|
|
Last person to be executed in Europe for witchcraft
|
|
Anna Göldi
|
|
1781
|
|
William Herschel discovers this astronomical body
|
|
Uranus
|
|
1780
|
|
This secret network of routes used by slaves who want their freedom is founded
|
|
Underground Railroad
|
|
1779
|
|
This explorer dies on the Sandwich Islands
|
|
James Cook
|
|
1778
|
|
This famous Milan theater is inaugurated
|
|
La Scala
|
|
1777
|
|
This famous German mathematician is born
|
|
Carl Friedrich Gauss
|
|
1776
|
|
This country declares its independence
|
|
United States of America
|
|
1775
|
|
The Battles of Lexington and Concord are part of this war
|
|
American Revolutionary War
|
|
1774
|
|
This author publishes The Sorrows of Young Werther
|
|
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
|
|
1773
|
|
This 'party' happens in Boston
|
|
Tea Party
|
|
1772
|
|
Yves Joseph de Kerguelen de Trémarec discovers this archipelago
|
|
Kerguelen Islands
|
|
1771
|
|
Carl Wilhelm Scheele discovers this very important element
|
|
Oxygen
|
|
1770
|
|
A massacre is happening in this U.S. city
|
|
Boston
|
|
1769
|
|
He becomes pope
|
|
Clement XIV
|
|
1768
|
|
This island falls under French rule
|
|
Corsica
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