Key Events and Figures in Late 19th and Early 20th Century History
The Sepoys
The Sepoys were native Indian soldiers serving the British East India Company. In 1857, a rumor spread that their rifle cartridges were greased with beef or pork fat, which was forbidden for Hindus and Muslims. This sparked a major uprising.
The Zulus
The Zulus had a powerful military empire in Africa, east of the British Cape Colony. They clashed with the British in a series of conflicts. Despite winning some victories, the Zulus were eventually subdued due to the superior resources of the British.
The Boxers
The Boxers were so named by Europeans because they practiced Chinese martial arts. They revolted against Western influence and, for 55 days, besieged foreign embassies in Beijing. An international military force was assembled to suppress the rebellion.
American Indians
In the second half of the 19th century, there were many clashes between Native Americans and settlers in North America. Among the most prominent were the Cheyenne, Apache, and Sioux peoples. Despite achieving legendary victories, they were practically annihilated or confined to reservations.
The Assassination in Sarajevo
On June 28, 1914, the heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, Archduke Franz Ferdinand, and his wife were assassinated while visiting Sarajevo. The perpetrators were Bosnian Serbs, Slavic nationalists who had prepared the operation in Belgrade. The attack provided Austria-Hungary with the perfect excuse to issue an ultimatum to Serbia, demanding conditions that involved Austrian intervention in their affairs.
Lawrence of Arabia
Lawrence of Arabia was a British officer with extensive knowledge of the Arab world. During World War I, he supported Arab nationalist rebellions in countries dominated by the Ottoman Empire, thus furthering Allied interests.
Leopold II of Belgium
Leopold II of Belgium secured control of the area south of the Congo to exploit its mineral wealth and monopolize trade. His actions triggered the territorial expansion of other powers interested in the region.
Bertrand Russell
The British intellectual Bertrand Russell was an active pacifist. He rejected the Anglo-Boer War and was later imprisoned for opposing World War I. After World War II, he advocated for nuclear disarmament.
The Treaty of Versailles
The peace treaties that ended World War I were five in number, signed separately with each of the defeated powers. Each treaty was signed in a palace near Paris, and collectively they were known as the Peace of Paris. The treaty signed with Germany, Austria, and Bulgaria is called the Treaty of Versailles, signed in 1919. Treaties with Hungary and Turkey were signed in 1920.
The Balfour Declaration
The British government, through the Balfour Declaration, promised to provide a homeland for the Jews in Palestine. After the war, Britain allowed the free emigration of Jews to the land. This laid the foundations for the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
The League of Nations
The League of Nations was an international body created to ensure world peace and maintain the established order after the war. It was intended to be composed of all independent states, and its mission was to solve international problems peacefully. Its headquarters was established in Geneva, but it faced several problems: its composition, the resistance of the victorious powers to rehabilitate the defeated, and the discontent of many countries with the postwar settlements.
The Algeciras Conference
The Algeciras Conference was held in 1906 and involved several European countries, as well as the United States and Morocco. The conference agreed to the Franco-Spanish protectorate over Morocco. Britain supported the decision in exchange for France not opposing British dominance in Egypt or control of the African side of the Strait of Gibraltar. Germany failed to break the Franco-British agreement.
The Treaty of Sèvres
The Treaty of Sèvres reduced Turkey to its present-day size. Territories formerly belonging to Turkey became mandates of the League of Nations. Syria and Lebanon were administered by France, while Palestine and Mesopotamia were administered by Britain.