The past holds memories of some truly shocking historical events. These events are now etched in history books, but they carried profound sadness. While some of these events reported far fewer casualties, they still had a significant impact on their victims.
The Transatlantic Slave Trade (15th to 19th Century)
Following the desire for European empires to establish themselves as economic power houses, they enslaved West African civilians. The slaves were placed in cramped ships and forced to endure deplorable conditions at sea. The ships were cramped, with food rations low and sanitary conditions dismal. Estimates put the number of African slaves who died over the course of Middle Passage at 60 million. Sadly, the inhumane trade carried on for four centuries and was finally abolished in the United States on January 1, 1808.
The Witches of Salem (1692 – 1693)
In January 1692, two young girls in the village of Salem in colonial Massachusetts began suffering from fits of loud outbursts and violent contortions. A local doctor by the name of William Griggs diagnosed the girls’ symptoms as bewitchment. As other girls began showing similar symptoms, mass hysteria broke out, with the girls claiming to be possessed by the devil. Based on the fictitious evidence of the girls, the hearings and trials of men and women inculpated of witchcraft began. Over 200 people stood accused, and by the end of the trials in early 1693, 19 people had been sentenced to death. The colony eventually admitted wrongdoing and compensated the families of those who were convicted. In an effort to uncover the truth, a 1976 scientific study established that the fungus ergot was responsible for toxicity that led to the symptoms the girls experienced.
Jack the Ripper (1888)
The late summer of 1888 saw the rise of one of England’s most infamous serial killers. Jack the Ripper brought terror to the streets of England, killing and mutilating the bodies of at least five women. He would disembowel his victims, removing organs such as uteruses and kidneys. The mutilations he carried on the bodies after brutally stabbing his victims displayed a deep hatred for women. Several theories have been put forward as to why Jack the Ripper stopped killing, with some arguing that heightened police vigilance put him off while others suggest he might have been locked up for a different crime, or he died. Maybe time will unveil why the world’s most infamous serial killer vanished without a trace.
Sinking of the RMS Titanic (1912)
On her maiden voyage on the night of April 12th, 1912, the grandest luxury liner of its time sank in the Atlantic Ocean after colliding with an iceberg. The Titanic was not your ordinary cruise ship. Boasting an incredible length of 882 feet and a maximum capacity of 3,547 passengers, this was the ship of dreams. The ship was famously lauded as “unsinkable”, but sadly met its demise barely a third into its journey from Newfoundland, England to New York. On that fateful night, approximately 1,500 of the 2,224 passengers on board perished in the icy waters of the Atlantic. Today, the remains of the RMS Titanic lie at the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean, along with the dream of a maiden voyage that never saw shore again.
World War I (1914 – 1918) and World War II (1939 – 1945)
World War I, also referred to as The Great War, broke out in the center of Europe following the assassination of Archduke Ferdinand. The two antagonistic sides were the Allied Powers (Britain, France, and Russia) and the Central Powers (Germany, Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria and the Ottoman Empire). The war lasted for four years from 1914 to 1918 and resulted in 16 million deaths of civilians and combatants. 21 years later in 1939, World War II broke out after the invasion of Poland by German forces. The second world war lasted for six years with at least 70 million people losing their lives. Both wars caused massive financial and psychological devastation on the countries involved.
Pearl Harbor (1941)
On December 7th, 1941, the Japanese sprung a surprise aerial attack on the United States naval base in Hawaii. Thanks to worsening relations over the past ten years, the USA cut all economic ties with Japan. The USA then started providing financial support and materials to China, who were Japan’s adversaries. Following the attack, 2,335 military personnel lost their lives, and the USA declared war on Japan the following day, leading them to World War II.
The Holocaust (1941 – 1945)
Perhaps one of the world’s most known act of barbarity the Holocaust saw the detaining and killing of over six million Jews. Assuming Jews as weaker individuals, the Nazis aim was to stop the Jews from procreating. The Nazis carried out mandatory sterilization and segregation of anyone they saw as “genetically diseased.” The Jews suffered about 400,000 forced sterilizations and 275,000 euthanasia deaths in what remains one of the darkest times in recent history.
Hiroshima and Nagasaki Bombings (1945)
On Monday, August 6th, 1945, the USA deployed the world’s first atomic bomb on the Japanese city of Hiroshima. The bomb killed approximately 80,000 people representing 90 percent of the city’s population. Three days later, another bomb fell on the city of Nagasaki, killing about 40,000 people. That event remains the only time an atomic bomb was deployed in times of war. Japanese nationals still honor that brutal period each year, with survivors helping drive the movement against nuclear weapons.
Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant Disaster (1986)
On the night of April 26th, 1986, Nuclear Reactor 4 in the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant exploded following a sudden power surge. What ensued was the release of radioactive debris, nuclear components, and toxic fumes that were carried by wind as far as 60 miles. The gravity of the situation was not immediately apparent. However, in the aftermath of the explosion, radiation poisoning became evident to those close to the site. 34 years later, Chernobyl remains uninhabitable, owing to the still high levels of gamma radiation in the region.
The Genocide in Rwanda (1994)
The year was 1994. Two of Rwanda’s warring tribes, the Hutus and the Tutsis, attacked each other in what is Africa’s worst genocide. The civil war broke out due to a coup by the Rwandan Patriotic Front in an attempt to overthrow the Hutu led government. What followed was a rebellion by the Hutu tribe and the subsequent death of about five hundred thousand to a million Rwandans, mostly Tutsis. The war lasted for three months and continues to haunt the survivors of the atrocities. 26 years later, some Rwandans still bear the physical scars of the war, with many more carrying the psychological effects of that dark event.
