1. World War II

On September 1, 1939, Germany invaded Poland, sparking a war in Europe that would soon become a global conflict. The United States officially entered the war in 1941 after the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor by Japan on December 7th of that same year. The war lasted until 1945 and was accompanied by widespread destruction, loss of life, and displacement.

The war had a number of major implications around the world, resulting in food rationing and shortages, civil rights restrictions, and the displacement of millions of people. The Allied forces eventually defeated Germany and Japan on May 8th, 1945 (known as V-E Day) and August 15th (known as V-J Day)—marking the end of World War II.