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Japanese Independence
The Dutch lose control over most of Indonesia to the Japanese. When the Japanese withdrew upon their defeat in WWII, Indonesia declared independence from the Netherlands, leading to a 4-year war in an attempt to re-establish control over Indonesia. -
End of Italian Monarchy
After WWII, Italian King Emmanual III attempted to resurrect the monarchy. When the matter was put to a popular referendum vote, the monarchy was abolished. -
Libya Independence
Italy officially relinquishes control of Libya. -
Indian Independence
United Kingdom grants Indian independence. Partitioned into Hindu and Muslim states (India and Pakistan respectively), which would result in a massive population exchange, and continued violence between the two. -
Yogoslavia breaks from Soviet Union
Communist Yugoslavia breaks from the Soviet Union, refusing to remain part of its integrated economical and military system. -
UDHR
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights is a declaration adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on 10 December 1948 at the Palais de Chaillot, Paris -
Indonesian Independence
The Netherlands officially recognize independence in 1949 after the Indonesian War of Independence. At this point, the Dutch Empire consists of only the Netherland Antilles, a small group of islands in the Caribbean off the coast of South America. -
Germany Torn
The USSR refuses to allow East Germany to be combined with West Germany. establishing a communist East Germany state. Federal Republic of Germany was set up under the oversight of the Western Allies (U.S., U.K., France), which became known as West Germany, claiming sovereignty over all of Germany, but ruling only the Western Allied-occupied zones. -
Sudan Independence
United Kingdom Grants Independence to Sudan. -
Jamaican Independence
United Kingdom Grants Independence to Jamaica. -
Berlin Wall
Before 1961, skilled workers left East Berlin (Soviet-occupied) to find employment in West Berlin, due to higher salaries and to escape political suppression. Berlin was located deep within East Germany, but was divided between the USSR and the Western Allies. The Soviets recognized the problems of losing the majority of the skilled workers in East Berlin, therefore constructed the wall dividing the city in two, and drastically reducing the outflow of East Germans to West Germany. -
Cuban Missile Crisis
The USSR begins to build missile bases in Cuba. The U.S. threatens military action. The USSR backs off with a non-invasion concession from the U.S., and the agreement that U.S. missiles in Turkey would be removed. -
Washington March
1963 demonstration in which more than 200,000 people rallied for economic equality and civil rights. -
Nuclear Non-Proliferation Agreement
Nuclear powers agree to begin the process of destroying stockpiles of nuclear weapons, as part of non-proliferation agreement. -
Constitutional Cuts
Australia and New Zealand also cut last remaining constitutional ties with UK.