Where did this Happen?: 1910s Edition Quiz

Answer: China

The Qing Dynasty abolished slavery in 1910. The Qing had an elaborate slave system since the 17th century when the Qing gained power. There were millions of slaves in China at the time. Over the centuries, certain types slaves were very gradually freed by various emperors.

By the time slavery was abolished, many slaves were young women and girls sold as brides. Young men and boys were also sold as slaves. Although slavery was abolished in 1910, it still persisted until 1949. The Yi People in Sichuan had enslaved the Han People for decades after the slavery abolition.

Answer: Morocco

In April 1911, France had expanded its presence in Morocco. Germany wanted compensation from the French for its increased presence in North Africa. Germany sent the Panther warship as a means to stir up nationalist feelings and test the British-French alliance. War was avoided when France gave up its territory in Central Africa near the Congo to Germany.

Although war was averted, the Agadir Crisis increased tensions between Britain (as it opposed the German aggressiveness) and Germany who were already in an arms race.

Answer: Russia

The Lena Massacre was one of the preludes to the Russian Revolution. Hundreds of gold miners in Siberia went on strike to protest the harsh, cold working conditions and meager pay. When the planners of the strike were arrested, the other gold miners rebelled and the Imperial Russian Army began shooting at the rioters. Hundreds were killed or injured. One of the main reporters of the incident was Alexander Kerensky who would later become one of the most influential people during the Russian Revolution of February 1917.

The Lena Massacre is the event that brought Kerensky his first piece of publicity.

Answer: Panama

Woodrow Wilson used a telegraph to cause an explosion on the Gamboa Dike. This caused the Culebra Cut to flood, linking the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. This was the symbolic ending to the building of the Panama Canal. However, the Panama Canal did not formally open until 1914.

The Panama Canal made water journeys much easier and shorter as ships no longer had to sail all the way around South America to reach the Pacific Ocean from the Atlantic.

Answer: Bosnia and Herzegovina

Tensions were very high in Eastern Europe during the 1910s. The assassination of Archduke Ferdinand is often the powder keg of World War I because it is the event that plunged Europe into a war that was brewing for a long time. The assassin was Gavrilo Princip, a teenage member of the Serbian nationalist group Black Hand.

The Black Hand had planned to assassinate the archduke when he visited Sarajevo to open a new museum there after observing the military procedures in the area. Several member of the Black Hand attempted to bomb the archduke's motorcade and failed, while another chickened out. Princip shot the archduke and his wife later in the evening as their motorcade passed the Latin Bridge.

Answer: Germany

On November 25, 1915, Einstein first presented his general theory of relativity to the Prussian Academy of Sciences in Berlin. The general theory of relativity is a unified definition of gravity. The theory proves the existence of black holes. Einstein had previously presented his special theory of relativity in 1905.

Answer: France

The Battle of the Somme was the largest World War I battle on the Western Front with millions of fighters on both sides. Over one million soldiers were injured or killed during the battle. The Battle of Somme was fought in France along the Somme River.

It was primarily a trench battle. Allied forces had tanks and this was the first battle in which tanks were used. However, the tanks were useless in the German trenches. Despite this, the battle is seen is a victory for the British and French forces who were able to penetrate into German territory.

However, the British and French experienced heavy casualties in the hundreds of thousands and did not advance as far as they had hoped.

Answer: United States

The 1910s were a very active time for suffragettes in the United States. Women were active in many different areas during World War I. A group called the Silent Sentinels was formed by Alice Paul. Women would protest their lack of voting rights by blocking traffic and remaining silent.

In 1917, a group of prominent suffragettes were arrested. Their protests led to many suffragettes being arrested and sent to Occoquan Workhouse in Virginia. While imprisoned, they led hunger strikes which led to the Night of Terror where they beaten by prison guards. Women were beaten with metal objects, punched and kicked.

When news of the abuse became a rallying cry for women and support for universal suffrage increased.

Answer: Finland

Prior to 1918, Finland was controlled by Russia. In 1918, a civil war broke out between the Red Finns (who supported Russia) and the White Finns (who supported Germany). The coalition of Germany and White Finns was victorious and Germany was expected to control Finland.

Their win came relatively easy as Russia floundered during World War I. However, after Germany lost World War I, Finland became independent.

Answer: Argentina

The Tragic Week took place in Buenos Aires. It began as a strike at a metal factory which turned violent when strikers fired at police. Over the next few days, the protests became more and more violent and deadlier and deadlier. The protests had to be quelled by the police and the military. In the aftermath, over 700 people died.