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In the history of every nation, there are certain turning points that end up altering the entire course of where it’s headed. The thing is, you never truly grasp their significance until long after they’ve passed. Looking back at them, though, it’s remarkable to see how one single event could carry so much weight.
One Redditor asked people to share the most notorious photos of instances that changed their countries forever, and the responses were fascinating. Scroll down to see some of the most compelling ones and maybe discover something new along the way.
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#1
Surprised no one has included the Tiananmen Square Tank Man
RELATED:
#2
April 25, 1974, the day of the military takeover that brought down the 48-year dictatorship in Portugal, led by military officers Otelo Saraiva de Carvalho and Salgueiro Maia.
Instead of bloodshed, the military used carnations in the barrels of their guns.
They gained the support of the people and all the military, starting the democracy in Portugal that exists to this day.
Russell Bowman 8 hours ago
And the ongoing military struggles in the African colonies, such as Guinea-Bissau, placed a lot of pressure on the military to take action
#3
Baltic way or Baltic chain. Peaceful protest against soviet occupation.
Human chain of 675 kilometers
#4
Still cooking, but hopefully its impact will be soon and significant.
Nathaniel He/Him Cis-Het 9 hours ago
Trump doing everything he can to distract from the files. Also, recently asked about what the DOJ is doing, he responded they had better things to do. Better than pursue decades of the rich and powerful getting their rocks off over trafficked underage girls? Why do people still support Trump?
#5
Ruby Bridges. An iconic picture depicting what going to school with White kids was like for a Black 6 year old in 1960s America. Ruby’s small stature in isolation to the U.S Marshall’s escorting her, was a pretty powerful illustration of the depth and weight of the Civil Rights Movement. Norman Rockwell went on to paint this picture.
Nathaniel He/Him Cis-Het 9 hours ago
All racists should have a large cactus inserted where the sun does not shine.
#6
This one is fresh in my mind because it happened 50 years ago last week.
The dismissal of the ruling government in Australia following an impasse over the budget.
“Well may we say God save the Queen, because nothing will save the Governor-General.”
The Whitlam Labor government oversaw a lot of social change in Australia in the early 1970s
Gough Whitlam's legacy is defined by transformative social and economic reforms, including the introduction of free universal healthcare (Medibank), free tertiary education, and the Family Court of Australia. He also dismantled discriminatory policies like the White Australia policy and pursued international normalization with China.
Sally Moen 7 hours ago
I would like to find a book that covers this and more history of Australian politics. I want to know what this was all about.
#7
It's one of two in our recent history. 1st contender is Yeltsin. "I quit" speech on 31 dec. 1999. Era of Putin began that night.
#8
Oka, Quebec wanted to build a golf course on indigenous burial grounds. Ended up with the military involved.
#9
I was thinking of infamous photos from other countries, and the Omagh Bombing in Ireland comes to mind. I’m surprised it hasn’t shown up in this thread yet, but Bloody Sunday was more significant . Didn’t realize there were photos.
#10
No words to describe the significance of this day
#11
The Tulsa White Supremacy Riots, (and other similar events) destroying the economic and political power of Black Americans
#12
Lee Han Yeol was fatally hit in the head by a teargas canister during a protest in June 1987 in South Korea demanding a democratic presidential election. His death sparked nationwide protests, which led to full democratization of South Korea.
Geobugi🇰🇷🇰🇭 2 hours ago
Yeah, apart from the one or other military dictatorship after that and no real democracy in sight for many years more. This is tragic, but has not much to do with the process
#13
Willy Brandt, West-German chancellor, kneels at the memorial in the Warsaw Ghetto in 1970. Brandt was in Poland to conclude a treaty. Part of the state visit included laying a wreath at the memorial to the heroes of the Warsaw Ghetto. There, Brandt unexpectedly sank to his knees, a gesture that was a plea for forgiveness for German crimes during WWII.
The kneeling symbolises the Social Democrats' ‘new Ostpolitik’, which establishes a whole series of measures that will shape West Germany for decades. West Germany recognises the GDR as a state. It follows the insight that the reality of two states in Germany must first be acknowledged if it is to be overcome in the long term.
West Germany recognises also the border with Poland, treaties are concluded with the CSSR and USSR and so on.
Initially, this divides the country into opponents and supporters of this policy. Those in favour vote for the Social Democrats, those against vote for the Conservatives.
However, there is a majority in favour and the SPD remains in power until 1982 and even after that, the Conservatives do not noticeably fall behind.
#15
Photo of the assassination of Carrero Blanco in the early 1970s by the terrorist group ETA; this was the beginning of the end of Francisco Franco's dictatorship.
#16
This is Günter Schabowski during a press conference in which he announced new travel laws for the GDR. Because he assumed that these laws would take effect immediately and without delay, people stormed to the border towards West Germany which ultimately lead to the destruction of the Berlin Wall and later German reunification.
Geobugi🇰🇷🇰🇭 2 hours ago (edited)
That is not quite correct. He made that mistake, true but it was only about traveling to the wear for east germans without visa or anything. People did indeed go to the west as quick as possible because it was obvious that it was surely a mistake and they wanted to go see the wesr before it gets revoked. That did not bring the wall down, that was a different thing. People wanted western products, they did not want to become a colony of west germany. Wich is what happened if you ask some people. I worked in former east germany looooong after the wall came down and people were still bitter about it. Ask them if they liked what happened then and you will never hear the end of it. To more i heard about it, the more thing that i found outrageous i was made aware
#17
"The Last Spike" was the last piece of the Trans Canada Railway. The railway was used as a physical political binding piece to bring all the provinces together. As well as for transport of people and supplies. To make a country that spanned from the east to the west coast. Also to make sure BC didn't go to the states.
d b 2 hours ago
Yes, a pivotal piece of Canadian history. Looking at this photo, you would never know that 17000 Chinese men provided the back-breaking labour, under terrible conditions and extreme exploitation just short of slavery. Glad that Canadian kids learn about this in school now (and glad that BC did not go to the States!)
#18
CCTV still of President Viktor Yanukovych’s helicopter as he secretly flees Ukraine to Russia during the 2014 Revolution of Dignity, this moment marked the collapse of his pro-Kremlin regime and changed our country’s path toward Europe forever
#19
In the night from the 27th to the 28th of February 1933, the Reichstag burned.
On the 28th of February 1933, President Paul von Hindenburg signed into law the so-called Reichstag Fire Decree, thereby effectively nullifying the most important civil liberties granted by the Weimar Republic's constitution, allowing the Nazis limitless persecution of communists, and their other political opponents.
#20
The sinking of our Greenpeace flagship Rainbow Warrior by French covert operation on its way to protest French nuclear testing.
#21
Storming of Iranian Embassy by SAS in 1980. Everything changed in a moment. Nothing had been seen like this in the UK before.
#22
Even the Vietnam War went on pause as the world watched
Nathaniel He/Him Cis-Het 9 hours ago
Obviously it was faked by Stanley Kubrick. In order for the fake to look convincing they did film on location though.
#23
The footage of Prince Andrew at Jeffrey Epstein's New York mansion could yet have far greater implications for the entire world.
Nathaniel He/Him Cis-Het 9 hours ago
His Royal Nonceness has been arrested. Things looking shady for Fergie too. I hope this is just the start, but I suspect Andrew will be the sacrificial goat, whilst other offenders get off Scot free.
#24
VIVA VILLA! VIVA ZAPATA!!!
#25
Icestorm Crisis in Quebec, 1998. The ice rain destroyed a lot of the electrical infrastructure all around the province, some of us lost services for 3-4 weeks.
I was in my 4th year of high school at that time, never got back after the crisis. Finished High School at a school for adult (in 2 months) a year later.
#26
This one changed a lot of parents’ attitudes about how safe their kids were and changed the public’s attitude toward getting involved when something seems wrong. For those who don’t know the picture, two 10-year-old boys kidnapped 2-year-old James Bulger, walked him for miles through Liverpool, being seen by dozens of witnesses, then [unalived] him.
Nathaniel He/Him Cis-Het 9 hours ago (edited)
I remember seeing this on television. I was not much older than the two boys. Everything about it was abhorrent. Even the press aftermath was disgusting how it stoked and inflamed people. It showed a very nasty underside to our character in the UK.
#27
Pictured: Lucille Chalifoux, mother of four, hiding her face as the camera snaps the "property" and advertisement on her front lawn. On the top step are Lana, 6, and Rae, 5. Below are Milton, 4, and Sue Ellen, 2.
All children were bought. The cheapest price being $2 from gambling for one of the girls. It was locally serculated that the children were bought into slave labor on farms or for nefarious means.
Chalifoux was pregnant at the time and would later give birth to her fifth child who was later sold.
The decendents of one child's family never met and never found out what happened to their extended family.
#28
Viktor Orbán addressing the public about the rejection of russian imperialism and how Hungary should join the European community etc. just 33 years ago at Imre Nagys' re-hearse.
#29
The beginning of the end
Forrest Hobbs 1 hour ago
That's Hugo Chavez and Fidel Castro. The web page the photo's from mentions the 'Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America-Peoples’ Trade Treaty (ALBA-TCP)' as an important thing. I think my grip on sanity is weak enough without trying to delve deeper into this mystery. 😉🤣
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