WRITING HISTORY - Essay Example

Historical Events Historical Events The world has seen several historical events in the last decade and the decade ending the 20th century. This paper seeks to analyze three historical events and highlight their importance. The three historical events under the study include the 2008 election of President Obama; the 2008 global economic recession and 1994 Rwandan genocide. 2008 Election of ObamaElected as the 44th President of the United States, President Obama swept away and broke the racial barriers that had amalgamated the American politics (CNN, 2010).

President Obama was elected as the first black president. This was seen as a breakthrough in the rather fraught racial history that had galvanized America since its inception. Who would think of the election two years back? The election of Obama is historical as it opened a chance and possibilities for the country and the world in general. This was a defining moment for America as people even outside America changed their general perception about the Americans. Additionally, the election of Obama in the November 4th polls was a peak point for the electoral process in the US hence being a trademark for the post-civil rights revolution (CNN, 2010).

Thus, historically, it can be affirmed that the significance is big. This was no more the republican versus the democrat dialogue but more of the moment when the struggles of the black will be alleviated. This in essence was unprecedented victory that blew away the 400 years of black slavery as well as legal segregation and institutional racism that has over time shadowed the progress and gains made by the American populace (CNN, 2010).The 2008 Global RecessionThe other historical event can be alluded to be the 2008 global recession that had wide impacts in terms of financial crisis since the Great Depression of 1929-30 (CNN, 2010).

Early 2008, there were signs of serious crisis in the offing. This would be marked by the sharp drop in the profits that were made by Citigroup bank and consequently a fall on the New York Stock Exchange. This would then be followed by very sharp fall in share prices in all the major world markets. Massive losses would then be registered by American and European banks in the end of 2007 financial year (CNN, 2010). The following months would then witness the bankruptcy of Lehman Brothers, the take-over of Merrill Lynch and Goldman Sacks and Morgan Stanley moving to seek banking status so as to be protected from any form of bankruptcy.

This recession was historical as it called for desperate measures in the extra-ordinary times, with the US employing the most dramatic intervention to protect the economies since the year 1930. The measures involved infusion of hundreds of billions of dollars within the US banking system. The collapse of the financial markets was so severe that they could only be compared to decline in real economy. At this point, it was more evident that the world was getting to its point of economic stagnation where the economic growth would purely be negative.

The effects were dire and are felt up to date even though there were measures put in place to absorb the shocks. It was historical given that the world faced the worst economic recession since World War II (CNN, 2010). Rwanda GenocideIn the wake of April 6, 1994, the slaughtering of Tutsis by Hutus began in Rwanda, Africa (CNN, 2010). Sadly, as the killings progressed, the world did not even bother as they stood idle and watched in disguise that it was just but civil wars. In a period of 100 days, the Rwanda genocide led to deaths of approximately 800,000 sympathizers of Tutsis and Hutus.

Returning from a summit in Tanzania, President Juvénal Habyarimana of Rwanda was killed through a surface to air missile that struck his plane out of the Capital city’s sky at around 8.30 P.M on April 6, 1994 (CNN, 2010). This led to the killing of all who were on board. The event of this day would then spark the genocide that would then be termed as the worst in 20th century history. The genocide remains within the historical books given that its impacts were so severe. The genocide is known to have led to the fastest migration in the history of humans as both the individuals from the two divides who were opposed to violence migrated and left their homeland for peaceful areas.

The occurrence of the genocide is important historically as it teaches the world and the security council in particular to be alert to early warnings of any impending danger without disguising anything. From it there is a lesson that change is possible and always there is something that can be done to protect the most vulnerable individual on the surface of the earth. Ideally, protection of any life should never be pegged by any resources available as it was done by the super powers who never moved swiftly to care and protect the Rwandese until the earlier exiled RFP came to the rescue of the country.

References(CNN, 2010). 30 years, 30 events, countless stories. Retrieved from on 12th May 2015