Decisions That Changed the World
In 1863, this wartime order declared enslaved Americans free in rebel states.
Emancipation Proclamation
He didn’t invent the lightbulb, but he made it work for everyone.
Thomas Edison
She refused to give up her seat in 1955 and sparked a movement.
Rosa Parks
The “Great War” that introduced trenches, tanks, and trauma.
World War I
This founding father refused a third term, setting a precedent for presidential limits.
George Washington
This Cold War U.S. president chose diplomacy over destruction during the Cuban Missile Crisis.
John F. Kennedy
These two brothers changed transportation forever in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina.
Wright Brothers
This queen ruled Egypt and is often remembered for her relationships—but should be remembered for her politics.
Cleopatra
This 1941 attack brought the U.S. into WWII.
Bombing of Pearl Harbor
A towering voice for justice, this quiet justice was famous for standing her ground without shouting.
Ruth Bader Ginsburg
In 1947, the British decided to divide this colony, creating two nations—and decades of tension.
India and Pakistan
This 20th-century innovator didn't invent the assembly line, but he revolutionized it—making cars affordable to the masses.
Henry Ford
As First Lady and a UN delegate, she redefined what it meant to be a political partner.
Eleanor Roosevelt
This Cold War conflict split Korea permanently in half
Korean War
This South African leader negotiated the end of apartheid and stepped down peacefully after one term as president.
Nelson Mandela
This bold 1803 purchase doubled U.S. territory and helped Jefferson avoid war with France
Louisiana Purchase
He invented the telephone
Alexander Graham Bell
This physicist was the first woman to win a Nobel Prize—and the only one to win in two sciences.
Marie Curie
The 1919 treaty meant to end all wars—but helped start the next one.
Treaty of Versailles
This U.S. president set the precedent of a peaceful transfer of power after losing an election in 1800.
John Adams
In 1945, this U.S. president made the controversial decision to authorize the use of atomic bombs—forever altering warfare and global diplomacy.
Harry S. Truman
He invented the first successful steam engine, powering the Industrial Revolution.
James Watt
She led French troops to victory at Orleans and was later canonized as a saint.
Joan of Arc
This 1968 surprise attack during the Vietnam War shocked the American public and media.
Tet Offensive
He famously refused to accept a crown or title after leading the Russian Revolution, living modestly instead.
Vladimir Lenin