Famous Dates in Modern History Quiz

Answer: July 1, 1997

Under the British, Hong Kong emerged as a showcase for free trade and the success of capitalism with minimum government regulation. In the transfer agreement with the British, the Communist Chinese agreed to maintain Hong Kong's capitalist system and allow the residents to govern themseves for a 50-year period.

Answer: February 26, 1993

This bomb killed 6 and injured more than 1,000.

Answer: January 16, 1991

On January 16, 1991, UN forces the took the offensive and began round the clock bombing of Iraqi troop positions and headquarters. New technology, including highly accurate "smart bombs" and cruise missiles, enabled the air force to select and destroy military targets with minimum damage to Iraq's civilian population centers.

These "high-tech" weapons, developed during the Reagan administration, soon overwhelmed the Iraqi military.

Answer: November 9, 1989

The Berlin Wall was opened on November 9, 1989. Millions of Berliners took to the streets to celebrate, and hundreds of thousands crossed between East and West Berlin to visit relatives long isolated on either side. Young Germans broke down sections of the wall with sledge hammers, and on October 3, 1990, East and West Germany were reunited.

Answer: April 30, 1975

Between April 23 and April 29, the U.S. military evacuated the last remaining U.S. civilians and embassy personnel, as well as 130,000 South Vietnamese refugees. The next day, April 30, 1975, Saigon fell to North Vietnamese. The Communist flag soon flew over all of Vietnam, and Saigon was renamed Ho Chi Minh City.

Answer: October 28, 1962

In October, President Kennedy announced a U.S. air and naval "quarantine" of Cuba because the Soviet Union had installed offensive missiles and bomber bases on the island which could be directed against the United States. As Soviet ships carried additional weapons to Cuba, the world anxiously stood on the brink of War, but on October 28, President Kennedy and Soviet leader Krushchev agreed to end the "Cuban Missile Crisis."

Answer: April 11, 1951

MacArthur was replaced because he opened a second front with the help of Chinese Nationalists soldiers. President Truman wanted a war of "containment." MacArthur had other ideas. MacArthur was replaced by General Matthew B. Ridgeway.

Answer: October 1, 1949

Chiang and about two million Nationalist soldiers with their families were forced to flee to the tiny Chinese island of Taiwan. China is the world's most populous nation.

Answer: January 10, 1946

The UN's first meeting was in London, England. After deciding to establish its permanent headquarters in the United States, the UN received a gift of $8.5 million from John D. Rockefeller. Also the UN received the land as a gift from NYC. The American government loaned the UN $65 million. The UN occupied its curent building in 1952.

Answer: September 2, 1945

The Japanese surrendered on the battleship U.S.S. Missouri while General Douglas MacArthur and General Jonathan Wainright, a POW, looked on. Later, Gen MacArthur became the military governor of Japan.