1940's Decade Project

The 1940's, best known or remembered for being the decade in which the major superpowers of the world battled each other for complete domination or supremacy. However, not only was this major conflict which became known as World War II the only significant event which occured during the years 1940 through 1949, there were also several other occurances which have served as either "turning points" or "milestones" in human history. The following will basically be a collection of different events, people, and technology which thrived during the 1940's. You will found out how these various things have greatly influenced the lives of many people, how these various things have affected the way we live, and how they have shaped the world as it is today.

Important/ Significant Events

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1. The establishment of the United Nations (officially came into existence on October 24, 1945): The United Nations is basically the successor or replacement of another peace keeping organization which aimed to enforce international laws and policies in hopes of maintaining order around the world, the League of Nations. After 50 different countries had signed and agreed to a charter, and 5 permanent countries or members had been chosen, ratified, and confirmed (The Soviet Union, France, The United Kingdom, The Republic of China, and The United States of America), the United Nations came into service. The establishment of this organization was significant because to this very day, the United Nations aims to maintain peace and order all over the globe either by enforcing laws, organizing and sending a peace keeping force, or simply intervening in conflicts which are either caused by nature or humans.


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2.The 2nd World War (1939-1945): The conflict which depicted Adolf Hitler and the Nazi’s hatred towards the Jews, and their conquest to reform European society into a complete dictatorship/totalitarianship. Events which occured throughout this period included the holocaust which was an occurance where Adolf Hitler ordered the mass genocide of millions of Jewish people through the use of imprisonment camps and gas chambers. Ultimately, the Allied powers, Britain, America, and the USSR (the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics) managed to prevent Adolf Hitler and the Nazi's from succeeding their goal. WWII was extremely significant because not only was it the event in which millions of people/soldiers died, but if this event had not occured or taken place, Adolf Hitler and the Nazis would most likely still be in power during this very time period.

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3. The Birth of the People’s Republic of China (October 1, 1949): After the Kuomintang or the Chinese Nationalist Party retreated to the island of Taiwan at the end of the Chinese Civil War in 1949, the Communist Party of China took complete control over mainland China as a result. Its party leader, a Chinese military and politcal leader named Mao Zedong, proclaimed or established the People's Republic of China on October 1, 1949. The proclamation of the "People's Republic of China" was significant or significant because it greatly affected mainland China's economy since the country began becoming involved in international trade shortly after the government was established, this resulted in economic reforms which brought approx. 51% of the country's population out of poverty.

Important People/ Figures

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1. Adolf Hitler (20 April, 1889- 30 April, 1945): The leader, chancellor, or Führer (head of state) of the National Socialist German Workers Party, better known as the fascist Nazi Party. Adolf Hitler led the forces and armies Nazi Germany against the nations which composed or made up the "Allies" or the "Big Three" in an attempt to achieve territorial conquest of all of Europe to establish a single government which will usher in an era of totalitarian dictatorship. Hitler's viewpoints on prosecuting the Jewish population led to the period known as the Holocaust which was event that led to the mass genocide or killings of over six million Jews through the use of concentration camps and gas chambers. However, his conquest for total domination of Europe failed/ended when his forces were ultimately overwhelmed and defeated, and when Hitler himself was killed through incineration in bomb bunker. Basically, Adolf Hitler was a significant figure during this decade because he was responsible for gaining large amounts of momentum from the German population. This of course, led to the establishment and formation of the Nazi Party whose goals were one of the key causes that ignited the second World War.

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2. Winston Churchill (30 November, 1874- 24 January, 1965): Sir Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill was a British politician who served in the office of prime minister of the United Kingdom from 1940-1945 and again from 1951-1955. When World War II erupted in Europe, Winston Churchill was once again appointed to the position of "First Lord of the Admirality" in the war cabinet, a position which he had when World War I occured. Basically, from this position, Winston Churchill led the British armies or forces against the axis powers which was composed of the nations of Nazi Germany, Imperial Japan, and Fascist Italy. Winston Churchill was an extremely significant figure during the 1940's because by becoming involved in the second World War, he ensured Britain's victory in the war. If he had not become involved, the axis powers might have most likely overwhelmed the United Kingdom and emerge victorious.

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3. Mahatma Gandhi (October 2, 1869- January 30, 1948): Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was a major religous and spiritual leader in India during the 1940's. He united the entire nation and led what was known as the Indian Independence Movement which was a movement that aimed to rid the country of British rule and oppression. His philosophies on non violence and freedom from tyranny inspired various organizations and different ethnic groups in India to join him on several movements most notably "Quit India" movement on August 1942 to promote Indian independence. For his countless efforts, Mahatma Gandhi was imprisoned on several occasions for opposing British rule through organizing and leading several protests and promoting insurrections. After years of struggle, On August 15, 1947, Mahatma Gandhi managed to gain India its independence by agreeing to the Partition of India which led to the creation of the Dominion of Pakiston and the Union of India. However, shortly after gaining the country its independence, Mahatma Gandhi was assasinated on January 30, 1948. Mahatma Gandhi was an extremely signficant person during the decade because he was widely considered not only in India as a influential figure and symbol of Indian nationalism. The momentum which he built was what resulted in India's indpendece from the Britsh Empire's rule after several decades.

Major Technological Advancements

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1. The development of atomic/ nuclear weapons (1942-1945): The study and development of nuclear weapons was made possible only after centuries of studying a chemical element known as uranium. Conclusions drawn from these studies then led scientists to discover that atoms could be split which would of course ultimately lead to the study of radiation and the development/ research of the first nuclear weapon or atomic bomb by the United States (this military undertaking became known as the “Manhattan Project”). This event was extremely significant because it revolutionized the way wars could be waged or fought and during that time and period, rendered the United States army the most powerful military force on the planet.

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2. The application of jet engines (Spring of 1944): Due to the ongoing conflict of World War II, jet engine engineers were instructed by the United States military to design a jet engine which could be used to develop the first ever fighter jet aircraft. For centuries, the various designs which were previously introduced held several flaws, and as a result, coming up with an efficient jet engine design for military applications became a huge undertaking. However, sometime during the Spring of 1944 an Austrian engineer named Anselm Franz presented the military with a superior design of the jet engine which was made possible only because he adressed the problem with the axial-compressor in the early designs. Anselm Franz's jet engine designs went on to be the first ever design which has ever seen United States military service. This event was significant due to the fact that the jet engines innovated how fast aircrafts could fly and how quickly humans could travel over a great distance.

Famous Musician

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1. Frank Sinatra (December 12, 1915- May 14, 1998) (recorded songs from 1939- 1994): Frank Sinatra was a famous American Jazz singer and perfomer during the 1940's through 1990's, and is considered one of the greatest musician and entertainer in American history. Born on December 12, 1915 in Hoboken, New Jersey as the only child of a Anthony Sinatra and Natalie Dolly Garaventa, Frank Sinatra first recorded his songs on March 18, 1939. In 1943, he signed an agreement with a major record company for the very first time, and from that point, went on to have an extremely successful musical career by selling over 50 million records. Despite his death on May 14, 1998, his music and songs still remain popular to this very day and age.

Famous Book

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1. "The Pearl" by John Steinbeck (1947): A novella written by the author of “Of Mice and Men”, “A Russian Journal”, and “Cannery Row”. Published on 1947 which (like many other of John Steinbeck’s written works) included and promoted themes related to the issues of poverty and wealth. Basically, the novella's storyline revolves around the main character, Kino, who one day discovers a black pearl in the ocean which he believes would solve all of his financial problems and make him and his family wealthy beyond his imagination . As the story progresses or develops, Kino realizes that the prescence of the black pearl somehow seems to evoke or amplify the negative properties of not only himself, but everyone around him including his loved ones.

Important Scientific Discovery

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1. The splitting of the atom (1942): Over several centuries, scientists and physicists have been studying the properties of atoms and attempting to determine whether it can be broken down any further. In 1942, American scientists discovered a way of splitting or seperating atoms, which of course was impossible prior to the 20th century, through the extensive study of various studies and research of atomism made by scientists such as John Dalton, Marie Curie, and Pierre Curie. This scientific discovery was extremely significant due to the fact, as mentioned before, that this discovery led to the study of radiation and therefore lead to the development of the first atom bomb or nuclear weapon which led to the Japanese's surrender during World War II.