Tuesday, February 14, 2017

Alternative History

Choose an event in History and write what would have happened if something different had happened to change the outcome of the event. Once an event or person has been written about in this blog, you must choose a different event (basically, I do not want 50 or 60 people writing about what would have happened if Hitler had been hit by a bus. I want to read many different alternative histories). Please consider more than just several ramifications of the alternative history that you choose to write about.

44 comments:

  1. What if 9/11 never happened?

    The 9/11 terror attacks have been highly influential in determining US foreign policy, military expenditure, and political leaders. Following 9/11, “Osama Bin Laden” became a household name. The terror attacks shocked the nation leading to immense fear and distrust. No one in the USA has not heard of 9/11. However, what would have happened if the plans to hijack those four planes had been thwarted or never developed in the first place? While it is most likely, that another terrorist attack would have prevailed, it is interesting to think about what the current political and social climate would be like if the attacks never occurred. Following 9/11, racism and xenophobia skyrocketed. Hate crimes against American Muslims became heavily prevalent. If 9/11 never occurred, Islamophobia and hate crimes would occur far less often. 9/11 was used as a reason to go to war in Afghanistan and Iraq. Therefore, if the attacks never occurred, the Bush Administration probably would not have had enough support to go to war. 9/11 and terror attacks are often used in political elections to explain and justify foreign policy plans. For that reason, Bush most likely would not have been able to be reelected in 2004 if he weren’t able to campaign as a wartime president. In terms of national security and personal privacy and freedom, the government would be far less involved in individual citizen’s lives today. There would be less airport security, racial profiling, and “watch lists.” Perhaps with this lack of security, an even larger terrorist attack would have prevailed later on. All in all, 9/11 was a highly transformative event in US history. It is hard to say what would have happened if 9/11 never occurred, but it can be assumed that the USA would be less nationalistic and xenophobic, leading to very different political leaders and foreign policies today.

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  2. What if Henry VIII had not divorced Catherine of Aragon?

    Henry's dissatisfaction with Catherine of Aragon and her inability to produce a male heir was the reason for annulment, yet what if this was never allowed to happen. Henry's father Henry VII, had arranged the marriage in order to cement an alliance with Spain which was at the time Europe's most powerful country. However by divorcing Catherine England changed religious control within the catholic church which consequently lead to Protestantism and English Reformation. If the annulment never happened reformation would have certainly occurred but with significantly less support. Additionally if Henry was not able to argue unlawful marriage between himself and Catherine, England would have been forced to respect the Treaty of Tordesillas between Portugal and Spain, which would have granted Spain control of the Western Hemisphere affecting the process of colonialism historically.

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  3. What if Martin Luther King Jr. survived the assassination attempt?

    Martin Luther King Jr. had many plans for the future, all of which included spreading the ideology of peace and love rather than hatred. If he had survived the assassination, it is possible that there would be not quite as much racial tension as there is today, as he would have continued to spread his ideals. Inevitably, some racial tension will always exist, but given the strides MLK made during his lifetime, it is very possible that racial tensions would be more subdued than they are currently. With MLK's views towards war, it is also quite possible that more Americans would dislike the concept of war, and in addition, violence. It is also interesting to consider what MLK's effects would be on the issue of gun violence/gun control, given the impact it has in our country currently. Maybe he would be able to persuade some to recognize this as a real issue. MLK was also suspicious of the United States Government and their "good" intentions. Given his power and the impact his voice had on the American people, it is interesting to consider what our country would be like if the people were more divided from the government. Currently, we are facing this as a large issue, but if MLK survived the assassination, this issue would be amplified, which unfortunately seems like an issue America will face in the future nevertheless.

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  4. What if the American Colonists decided to reconcile with Great Britain?
    Within the colonies there was a lot of political opposition and indecisiveness during the American Revolution because the colonies were split into three groups. The Continental Congress was mainly comprised of moderates who wanted to reconcile with Great Britain and just work out the kinks with some nice diplomatic negotiation in order to coexist peacefully. They wanted to avoid attacking the most powerful military in the world but also avoid being wimps and just letting Britain exploit them. The Continental Army on the other hand wanted to risk complete annihilation by the British Army in order to secede and become their own independent nation because they were completely sick of exploitation. And lastly there were loyalists who feared Great Britain’s wrath at any extent and wanted to appease in every form possible. In the end, the army and congress agreed that waging and winning a war was the only was possible to get Great Britain to even consider negotiation and if needed, it would result in secession if Britain didn’t comply. If the colonies ended up going with Congress’s choice to remain a British colony but implement regulations that made colonial life better, I propose that the following would have happened: Great Britain would have seen the threat the American colonists posed against their empire considering they were defeated in war. In order to defend their reign over most of the world, they would create a mass global army with the resources of all of their colonies and attack the North American continent with every ounce of power possible in an extremely stealthy and explosive surprise attack. Since the colonists were isolated on North America, they wouldn’t expect a thing. Then after defeating the American colonists, they would be even more cognizant of their power and begin to pick off every country or state left on the globe. World wars would start, but they would be all to no avail because the British empire now consisted of the two greatest armies in the world plus millions of other colonies scattered everywhere. Global domination would be reached and from this point on I’m not sure what would happen.

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  5. What if China had adopted Mao’s Communist Party?
    The 1949 Chinese Revolution caused the abolition of the Nationalistic Chinese government and replaced it with Mao Tse Tung’s Communist government. Mao’s unbelievable actions in combination with the significant political position of China led to a continuous string of leaps of change, literally. The Great Leap Forward of 1958 under the control of Mao and his Communist Party became one of the greatest failures in history, causing the starvation of approximately 7 million Chinese citizens, an embarrassing attempt to match the West’s economic power, and further discrediting communism in the eyes of the world. That is just one of the many failures that occurred under the dictatorship of Mao. So, if Mao’s Communist Party had not been in favor during the 1949 revolution, and China had embraced Democracy, then the world would be entirely different. China was not recognized by the UN for many years because of the US’s goals of communist containment and the racist world war 2 propaganda thus. If China became a democracy, then the US would have given a substantially larger amount of aid instantaneously to further box Russia in. Also, the Korean War would have resulted in South Korea prevailing over the entire peninsula, and North Korea would not exist today because of the massive Chinese forces pushing back against UN troops and the US’s strategic nukes. Taiwan would also have been merged into the mainland China, and the tension caused from recognition over Taiwan as a nation in conflict with the People’s Republic of China’s interests would be nonexistent. The effects are endless.

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  6. What if Pearl Harbor never happened?
    The attack of Pearl Harbor was a surprise military strike by the Japanese against the United States on December 7th, 1941 as an attempt to dominate the pacific. To begin, if this incident never happened Japan would have control over most of Asia, because by July 1941 Japan had already taken over Southern Indochina and would continue the expansion. Also, the United States most likely would not have joined WWII, because US was isolationist and skeptical about getting involved into a European war after the casualties of WWI. Germany could have won world World War 2, because france and Great Britain were losing the war at the point Hitler took over Paris by the end of 1940 and ordered air raid against Britain. Some even say the United Nations would not have formed because Pearl Harbor got US involved in WWII, which encouraged President Roosevelt to create the United Nations.

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  7. What would have happened if The Beatles never existed???

    The Beatles came around in what the early 60s? (I'm not a huge Beatles fan so forgive me if I'm wrong). SO in the 60s the whole free love movement was occurring which many people believe that The Beatles helped inspire however I think with the 60s peace an love vibe would have remained pretty much the same! What defiantly would have changed was the music scene in the late 60s, 70s, and 80s could have dramatically changed. It is well known that The Beatles have inspired many other bands however I think a better topic to focus on is the fact that The Beatles started the great British invasion within the American music industry. They helped British rock and blues develop properly and fully grab the American people. With No British invasion this very well could mean No Led Zeppelin!!!! No Free, No Cream, maybe even life without Black Sabbath! And Yes the British invasion could have happened even without The Beatles but when would it have happened and would it have been to far in the future in which other influential bands would have also never existed.

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  8. What if the film "Moonlight" did not win the Oscar for best picture?

    Although it might not seem like a huge deal for some people that the film "Moonlight" won best picture but, it does matter to a huge population of people who are apart of the LGBTQ+ community."Moonlight" was a film about the self discovery of a young black teen coming to terms with his sexuality with other life challenges he faces throughout the movie. And the reason for it so being such an historic moment in time is because an LGBTQ+ film with the main character being LGBTQ+ has never won in that category. It is a major milestone for LGBTQ+ film makers, actors and even just "normal" daily people. No movie with an LGBTQ+ protagonist has ever won the best picture award and only a couple of LGBTQ+ films have even been considered for the award. The major win for “Moonlight” was a very necessary step for major and important award shows like the Oscars, because for some reason, hollywood has always struggled to treat queer films (and other art) as having the same importance and relevance as its heterosexual competition. And another reason why this happening is so major is because it inspires young artist to make their own films and try out for acting roles because they see that everyone could have an equal opportunity. Or even current film makers, actors could see this and "come out" and feel more at ease with being who they are. Another thing is "normal" people who are kids, young adults or even actual adults could see what has happened and that could help them become more comfortable with themselves when it comes to living in the "real" world.

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  9. What would have happened had the US and Great Britain invaded the Soviet Union?
    Everyone is aware of the cold war that occurred between the West and the Soviet Union that lasted for almost 50 years. But little know about operation "Unthinkable", proposed by Churchill to FDR, wanting their two countries to spearhead an invasion into the communist country. It was refused point blank, but had America agreed, many interesting things would occur. I propose the West would arm and train surrendered German Units, and send them back to fight the Russkies. They did that in way in our own history, by industrializing and rebuilding Germany in order to stand against a hypothetical war with Russia. While effective, these men would likely make little difference. America would more likely drop multiple atomic bombs on strategic Soviet Cities and armies, until they surrendered or Stalin was dead. The latter unlikely, the war would likely rage on with many more dead, as the soviets no doubt would fight fiercely. If the western allies were victorious, we would likely see something similar to the end of world war 1, where the traditional government collapses, and an Armistice is signed placing rules and restrictions on new Russian Democratic Government (or anything besides the commies). What would come next is anyone's guess. Maybe the Russians would be thankful for the Americans getting rid of such a brutal dictator. More likely we'd be seen as imperial aggressors and relations would remain permanently soured. There would be a new cold war, one with a lot more heat.

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  11. What if George Joesph Legesque was never born?

    If my great grandfather was never born. Not only would I never have been born. But my great grandmother would never have emmigrated to the United States as her and my great grandfather ran away to the States to flee World War I. As a result our family bakery would have never been opened on the east coast, and people would not get to taste my great grandmas bomb food, which would result in utter chaos. Another change would be the non-birth of my father which is still debatable if that were to be a bad thing considering his irritating existemce, yet he produced me and and my brother which may counteract his inadequacies. Finally if my great grandfather was never born i also would not have been born which means 1. My other siblings may ir may not have been born as my mothers interaction with my father may have led to her relationship with my stepfather and the production of several children. 2. I would not be in Mr. VT's TOK class which would be nonetheless tragic. *mic drop*

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    Replies
    1. this is why i love you lol

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    2. I would have a hard time not having experienced all of the Mr. Vikings...:)

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  12. What if the Golden State Warriors won game 7 of the NBA finals?

    The Warriors loss in the 2016 NBA finals was one of the most stunning upsets in NBA history. With the splash brothers and breaking the NBA record for most wins in a season the championship would be the cherry on top of a perfect season. But things began to take a turn when Lebron James and the Cavaliers made an unbelievable comeback from 1-3. If the warriors had won game 7 of the NBA finals Kevin Durant would not have gone to the Warriors while a free agent. Kevin Durant could have gone back to OKC or maybe even the Celtics. Without Durant, the Warriors might not be 50-11 at this point in the season. Also if the Warriors wouldn't have blown a 3-1 lead there would not be such publicity on that joke. At this point in sports whenever a team is down 1-3 in a series everyone refers to the Warriors.

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  13. What would happen if Hitler would of just stayed in art school?

    Yes I know you wrote that you can’t immediately say something like “what if Hitler got killed by a bus”, but I am interested not really in his death but more in his future. Hitler having attend then leaving art school was a major impact on his life in which some can say fueled his desire to start the Nazi Party in Germany, and rise to chancellor of Germany in 1933, but my look is more focused on what if he still pursued his goal as a skilled painter. First thing is that he may not of risen to chancellor, and Germany would have not become the fascist state that it did. The hate for jews may still of been present seeing that it was already present following WWI, but not to the extent of Concentration and Death camps. The U.S. war with Japan may still of occurred seeing that the main reason for Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbor was due to resources. One major difference that I see is that the Cold War may of not occurred the way it did in our timeline. The competition over Germany would not be present, but their still may have been some tension between the two powers seeing that Russia was also industrializing. The A-Bomb as well may have never been used in the Pacific seeing that the U.S. had the ability to dedicate more man power to the Pacific theatre and not have had to fight two wars at once. This are just some of the major things I believe would have happened if only Hitler would have stayed in art school, and become a skillful painter.

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  14. What if the U.S didn't drop Little Boy and Fat Man on Japan?

    Generals Patton and MacArthur were strongly against dropping the atomic bombs on Japan, instead favoring a massive invasion of the country, with USSR invading north and west while the US invades the other end, Operation Downfall. Whether this invasion would've worked is up for debate, however given enough time the allied force of USSR and US would most likely of taken the country within a few years, however massive casualties on both sides would occur. The estimated death toll is around 10 million on both sides (mostly Japanese civilians). With a country full of citizens believing their leader is a god as well as having a code of honor that compels them to fight to the death and never give in would prove a massive challenge for the allied invasion. Nevertheless, the war would most likely be over within 2 years, and Japan would be left burnt to the ground. A situation much like Germany or Korea would most likely occur; as the US and USSR capture Japan halves would be drawn and the two halves would fall under control of each power. From here on the Cold War would still most likely happen, as both powers would demonstrate/leak the weaponry available, and the arms race would occur. The US would most likely set up a government in Japan, as well as a military base to keep an eye on now Communist North Japan. I can see a situation much like Korea to occur, as the US would fight another proxy war in Asia, this time on Japan. Without a united country, Japan would not become as technically advanced as they were. South Japan might develop into what Japan was in the 50s and 60s (country on the rise) yet North Japan, already ravaged and razed, struggles under a Communist rule.

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  15. What if the Khmer Rogue didn't exist?

    If the Khmer Rogue didn't exist, I think Cambodia would be very different in relation to its politics, economy, and society. Although Cambodia already had communist influence within its government and would have proceeded to become a communist government without the Khmer Rouge, I think the way the government ruled would have been much less drastic and reckless. I also believe that if the Khmer Rogue didn't exist, the citizens of Cambodia and modern life in Cambodia would be much more advanced. The Khmer Rogue killed off all intellectuals and anyone who had any influence upon its society, and centralized their economy on agriculture. If there wasn't such a great emphasis on only agriculture and eradicating educated individuals, I think Cambodia would have many more technological advancements and a better economy. Similar to what was previously stated, Cambodia's population and percentage of those educated would be far greater if it weren't for the genocide executed by the Khmer Rogue. On a more personal level, if the Khmer Rogue did not exist, my biological grandmother would still be alive. In addition, my grandfather and mother would have never immigrated to America, where my mother met my father. Therefore, I would have never existed.

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  16. What if the 19th Amendment had never been ratified?
    The 19th Amendment, the amendment added to the Constitution that gave women the right to vote, the amendment that pushed the US farther in the direction of women's rights, the amendment that advocated for a more equal America, the amendment that shaped the United States into the society it is now and people's roles throughout it. Many people argue that if the 19th Amendment had never been ratified women would still get the right to vote, but farther down the road. But what if women never got the right to vote? I believe that if the 19th Amendment had not have been ratified and women never gained the right to vote, then women's suffrage and women's rights as a whole would be close to nonexistent. Yes there would still be women fighting for their rights and equality among the sexes, but it would never have been as strong as it was and still is. The right to vote was the one thing that pushed women over the separating line between men and women and able to break through one of the first levels of the glass ceiling. There is no telling what horrible and sexist society (way more than we are today) we would live in if women had never gained this right. I think our lives would honestly end up paralleling those in "The Handmaids Tale" by Margaret Atwood where women have little to no rights and are only assets to society by being wombs, maids, prostitutes, wives, and teachers. In the novel, women's rights were taken away, but if the 19th Amendment had never been ratified there would be no rights to take away, because women would never Constitutionally have any. This type of dystopian society parallels a lot to our society now, and it pushes the notion that a society like this is completely possible. Without the 19th Amendment, and if women never got the right to vote, I believe that this would be our reality. We live in a sexist society now where women still have to fight for equality, but I would much rather have a place where I can fight for what's right rather than not being able to fight at all.

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  17. What if social media never existed?

    If social media never existed, the world would be a much simpler place. Ever since Facebook came out in 2004 the spiral of many other social media apps followed quickly. Snapchat, Instagram, and Twitter are just a few of the many social media apps in today's society. With most of our society obtaining these apps, our world is so focused on social media, instead of the real world. people are so locked in onto their devices, that almost everywhere you go, instead of socializing, people have their heads down focused directly on their phones. Without social media, the world would be more open and obtain more advanced social skills that would greatly help them throughout life. The world of social media is taking it's toll on society everyday. Without it, the world would be a much better place.

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  19. What if Steve Jobs was never born?
    June 29, 2007, the first iPhone was released. The iPhone was created and headed by Steve Jobs, Apple co-founder. Based on this,if Steve Jobs was never born, the creation of the iPhone would have never happened, or at least been extremely delayed. So lets, for a second, imagine if iPhone's never existed. Imagine how different the world would be. For an entire summer, people would not have had their heads stuck in their phones while walking and driving trying to catch virtual Pokemon, people would not be able have an endless supply of games at the touch of a button, people would not an endless supply of apps to help them with their daily life and needs, people would not have the countless apps to connect with each other via the internet on the go. I personally spend hours a day on my phone, snapchatting, checking social media, planning my day on my mobile calendar, checking my reminders and getting notifications and alerts about things I need to do, that i would undoubtedly forget to do unless told. A world without iPhone's would also drastically reduced many of other inventions, such as iPad's and more. A world without iPhone's would be a world more connected to each other face to face, and yet would lack an immense amount of mobile resources without knowledge that such wonderful things could exist. We are carrying the world's knowledge in our pocket everywhere we go, and now that we know that this power is capable, I'm not sure if any of us would be able to live without it. Steve Jobs shifted the world in an inexplicable amount of ways, and for that, he will never be forgotten.

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  20. What if Donald Trump had not become president?
    On November 9th 2016 we got the results that would in a way change America. After watching the debates between Trump and Hilary many speculations were made and everyone could not really picture either in the presidency. When Donald Trump was elected president a whole rush of fear spread throughout the United States. Immigrants started preparing for deportations, Muslims were banned from coming to the country and rumors of Russia being involved with the election started. Even though many people were devastated and disappointed in the results of the elections there were n=many supporters who supported all his ideas and love him. I honestly think that if had not won and Hilary had taken office things would be different in a sense in which we can all be human and understand that no one is born with the idea of how to be a effect president. Having the first female president would have been a big step in our century after having our first African American president. I'm not complaining that he won but just putting out there that instead of still feeling safe and protected, I've seen people cry and doubt if the way we vote is the best way to vote. Many Americans as well as other occupants that live in the U.S are afraid and are doubtful of the next 4 years.

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  21. What if YouTube was never created?
    I love YouTube. It is my guilty pleasure. I watch many videos a day, it is my main method of procrastination and the reason I never get to sleep at night. So what if it simply did not exist and there was not another site that functions the same as YouTube does, but exists under a different domain and name. Well, I would surely get more sleep, but I think that is besides the point. I believe that YouTube has changed the world as we know it and is more influential than many understand it to be. YouTube has over a billion users, over a whopping 6th of the world and has about a billion hours of video saved to its domain. That is incredible. To give a little perspective that is 114,155 years of video time uploaded and this number is increasing at an increasing rate. If this site was not created, many people would not be as informed about as many things as they are. YouTube is a massive library of video knowledge and although the majority of videos on YouTube are junk, there are many that are profound and insightful. People learn how to do things from YouTube, get ideas, advice, listen to music, and do so much more. YouTube allows us to have access to video of real people doing real things. It is almost as if we get to experience the experiences of others, while not being present. My rhetoric throughout so far has been positive, however there are also drawbacks to YouTube. Because of YouTube, people are less likely to seek out professional help in person. People may refrain from going out and experiencing the world themselves, but instead living through the lens of an often fictitious camera that often warps reality. So yes, YouTube is an incredible resource, but it must be used sparingly and correctly. Otherwise, it can be detrimental and further descend our society into an anti-social, device obsessed group who fails to appreciate the reality of the world around us.

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  22. Had Spain not partaken in the religious wars against the Jews during the 1400s much of history as we know it would be different. Firstly, the wars divided the country and perpetuated anti semitism as a whole, setting the precedent for scape hosting them. Also, it made it so the Spanish monarchs were desperate for income after a 100 year war had drained their treasuries. This desperation for funds caused them to ignore the cruelties and crimes committed by Columbus against the Taino Indians in favor of the gold and slave labor he delivered to them. This desperation to expand their influence and economic affluence led to the complete destruction of the Taino culture and peoples. Had Spain not have been involved in the reconquista, two major wars against a minority people would have been prevented and many lives and cultural practices would have been saved rather than wasted in the name of religious faith and personal interest.

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  23. What if Barack Obama had not been elected President of the United States in 2008?

    History was made as Barack Obama became the first African American president; this fact alone is already a feat. Yet throughout the two terms and eight years, Obama has changed the United States drastically. Firstly, if Obama had not been elected in 2008, our Supreme Court would have been overwhelmingly conservative. Electing McCain would make the Supreme Court majority Republicans. Secondly, the Affordable Care Act, commonly known as Obamacare, would have never been passed. This law helped millions of American citizens gain access to health care. Furthermore, our nation’s uninsured rate has also dropped. President Obama also put an end to the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, which barred openly gay, lesbian, or bisexual persons from military service. This was a progressive movement towards equality for all sexualities in the United States. If Barack Obama was not elected in 2008, we would not have been able to witness his dad jokes and mic drops, which would have been tragic.

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  24. What if Susan B. Anthony was never born?

    Susan B. Anthony was social reformer who played a major role in the women's suffrage movement. She was pivotal in women's rights and advocating for her own beliefs. While advocating for her own beliefs she also looked out for what was best for others. Without her work in activism many advancements in women's rights would not have occurred. The 19th amendment would not have been passed and women would still not have the right to vote. Women in general would most likely still be oppressed and lack the rights necessary for any sort of social upward movement. We would be unable to take part in many male dominated jobs or professions. Overall without Susan B. Anthony women would not be as politically or socially active as we are today.

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  25. What if the industrial revolution happened exactly 100 years before?

    Where would we be today? I'm basically turning this into a, whats going to happen in the next 100 years question. I believe that by now we would most definitely have an alternate resource that could and would be widely used to fuel automobiles. I believe that by now, we would have much cheaper and more efficient solar panels, ones that might fit on top of a car or most houses. I believe that robots will command many of the jobs that we do have in real life today, with the speed of growth in the computer world, we can only imagine what kinds of experiences we would be having today. I think that truly autonomous cars would be widespread and popular and that roads would be able to charge your car as you drove. I really doubt that we will blow up the world, but if WWIII ever did happen, I believe that today in that world, we might just be rising from the ashes where the radiation isnt so bad. We would be restarting the human race, which is kind of cool. In 100 years, I will make two predictions. We will either be mostly dead and back to living like savages, or we will be living the coolest lives ever, with sweet tech and awesome nature, itll be great.

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  26. What if makeup highlighter did not exist?

    Actors and public figures would definitely have different looks than what is presented in films and photos. Without highlighter, only contour would be able to sculpt the face but this would leave the face looking very flat and not as appealing. Highlight is supposed to compliment contour, without highlight we would see people with less pronounced cheek bones such as Kim Kardashian who is worshiped for the popularization of the under eye triangle highlight. I believe that if highlighting was not invented then the technique of face baking would not exist which revolutionized the staying power of special event makeup, allowing the make up to stay on all day and further pronounce and filter the public figures we idolize today. Without highlighter, there would not be the surge of "natural beauty" where people ditch the idea of contour and just got for the "lit from within glow". "Strobing" would also not exist and the contemporary intense highlighting look of beauty influencers today and the craze over shimmery highlighting palettes popularly released by all high end and drugstore makeup brands alike would leave potential revenue in a new market untounched.

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  27. If the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand had not occurred, World War I may never have happened. Austria-Hungary would never have blamed Serbia for the deaths of he and his wife, and the rest of Europe would not have banded on either side, erupting in devastating conflict. Although it may have not started World War if he had not been shot, it is inevitable that conflict would still arise and devastation would still occur. This is evident by the nature of the cause of many events in history that have lead to the demolition of a portion of our society as humans. World War 2 still happened, although there was no Archduke assassinated. Likewise, human conflict is bound to occur the cyclic nature of history may never be halted— also known as, we are doomed with strife and conflict that will result in death and despair over power struggles between men from one country to another.

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  28. What if Lenin hadn't died as early as he had?
    Lenin was considered one of the most influential leaders in the 20th century, causing much economic growth for the soviets and establishing what he considered to be a steady, prosperous state of communism. He died only at the age of 54 and his death lead to one of the worst dictators the world has ever seen to weasel his way into power and take his spot. Stalin turned the USSR into an industrial and military powerhouse but he did so with fear. Millions of his own people were murdered due to his paranoia and obsession with power. Had Lenin not died so soon and remained in power, it isn't to say Stalin would not have still weaseled his way into power, but had it been two more decades with Lenin than some thousands if not hundreds of thousands of people may have been able to escape the ill fate Stalin forced upon them.

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  29. What if cell phones were never invented?
    So many aspects of society today would be different without the use of cell phones to stay connected. Despite the claims that these devices do harm and badly influence our youth, people fail to realize the impacts on our lives and how it would be without them. Cell phones allow us to make quick calls, texts, get directions, and connect with people all over the world. Lack of cellular devices would result in much slower communication throughout every aspect of the world. We would not be able to search the web for practical or educational needs, and the world would not be at our finger tips. One pro of not having cell phones would be the need to communicate with other humans face to face, no hiding behind screens or usernames. Relationships might develop closer bonds by having to talk with each other about everything, but I must say they do make it much easier at times.

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  30. What if Paul Walker didn't die?

    Well maybe for starters the new fast and furious movies wouldn't be shit although we also wouldn't have that one song about him by Wiz Khalifa and I really like that song but I'd rather have Paul back. If he didn't die then I think the fast and furious series would continue on in glory and the new movies might trigger some kind of gathering of the car community and then the cops will shut it down and then we'd get all pissed off and shoot up the cops and we all go to jail. But you didn't know that one of the people that got put in jail was going to be the future president of America and now he can't cuz he's locked up and the whole country goes corrupt... So I guess it was good that Paul Walker died. But sad :(

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  31. What if Arch Duke Franz Ferdinand was not assassinated?
    If Franz Ferdinand was not assassinated causing the beginning world war one. With all the treaty's each country had with each other would still be intact there would also be less tension between countries. Many weapons invented in world war one would not have been invented. World War two would not have been started , and there would be no invention of nuclear weapons for counties to use at each other. The Us might not have gotten into the Great Depression leaving a thriving United States economy. Witch would mean that we wouldn't have as many laws that we have in place today to prevent things like the Great Depression from happening. The United Nations would not be affect because it was created after World War One to prevent any other world wars. Women would also still be domestic wives. A lot of things would change if Franz Ferdinand was not assassinated.

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  32. What if the Olympics had never been created?

    One thing that I believe the Olympics does, is bring our nations together. During the olympics, everyone seems to come together to support a fellow citizen who is representing our country. Especially as an American this is true, because we think of our athletes so highly that we root for each one to compete against the top tier athletes of other countries. I think this also brings not only individual countries together, but in a sense the world together. Every nation that participates tunes in to watch everyone compete. Without the Olympics, I think that it would be difficult to create bonds with other countries and be able to come together as nations and support one another. Without them, I feel that nations would much more distant now than ever before.

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  33. What if we never domesticated animals?

    I'm looking at my rabbit right now and remembering my dog and thinking about how many times I've ranted to either of them and cuddled with them. I wonder what would've happened with all that pent up anger, frustration, anxiety, fear, and sadness would have gone without my pet. I probably would have lashed out more and been less of a good child and more of a horrific one. If animals were never domesticated, I honestly think a lot more people would be dead. Some pets are service dogs, and some are stress relieving animals, both of which help a large majority of humans on this planet. It's an interesting situation to think about, especially as a pet owner.

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  34. What if rock band was never created?
    I am a rather committed rock band player and feel that had it not been invented many peoples' lives would be drastically different. Rock band has become a bit of an outlet for me when I feel pent up or need to destress. Rock band is also a way for many people of my generation to older music that is no longer played on popular radio stations. It is also a way for us to be involved with music without needing lessons or actually learning to play a real instrument. There also may be some positive results to it not being invented. Rock band keeps people inside and could prevent people from actually playing instruments because they are happy playing the game version. I'm not sure if the world would be drastically changed if rock band hadn't been invented, I'm pretty sure someone else would have just invented another version of it.

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  35. What if the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum had never been robbed?
    The heist is considered the largest private property theft in history. If it had not happened, the stolen works would still hang in the museum. The museum itself would be less popular and less well known. Although the Gardner is a fantastic museum, it gained more publicity through the heist. The appreciation of art in Boston in general might, arguably, be lower for some people, as the heist drew attentions to the works and raised public questions about to whom art belongs and the personal values of individuals with regard to the paintings. The cult following of the subsequent investigation would never have formed, and the recovery of stolen works might be a less popular or well-known job than it is, because the inspiration of this investigation would not have been there to jumpstart anyone’s career-long interest. Crime in the art world might be higher, as the heist increased the quality of security in many museums. The vast public knowledge of Boston crime lord Whitey Bulger would be significantly lower. Though his horrendous crimes are well known, the theory that he is behind the heist is prevalent. The same is true for the knowledge of the Winter Hill gang. The people who profited from the heist’s presentation in pop culture would not have earned the reputations they have. The FBI could have dedicated more time to other pursuits rather than conducting the massive investigation into the heist. The museum officials would never have had to grapple with the question of selling off every work in the museum (because Gardner herself stated that this move was her wish should anything in her museum be changed). Most importantly, the art might still hang in the museum and add to the beauty of the lives of visitors. The impact of the Gardner heist is far-reaching and primarily ideological, yet it still represents a massive shift in public opinion and appreciation.

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  36. What if shoes had never been invented?

    -Just take a moment to realize all the ways that shoes have positively affected your life. Without them, your feet would surely be so cut and bruised that they might be deemed unusable. Shoes are what have allowed us to travel great distances, roam new lands, and most importantly, keep our feet safe. When you break it down, we are just animals. However, what makes us different is that we use our minds to come up with extremely beneficial innovations; such as shoes. Shoes ultimately allow us to run or escape from danger, and more importantly get from point A to point B. Although it seems quite simple, shoes have truly helped humans advance and succeed in numerous ways.

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  37. What if Tupac and Biggie were still alive?
    This would change the whole rap game. Drake, who? Kanye, who? Ja-z, who? Rap would be more meaningful. Today, all rap songs sound the same and you can hardly find a good song. Today, almost all rappers make songs bragging about how many girls they have and how rich they are...Tupac and Biggie would bring back old school rap. In their songs they both make references to the war on drugs, the treatment of black people by the police, the perpetuation of poverty. If they were alive they would open up real issues regarding black people.

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  38. What if Emmett Till had a closed-casket funeral?

    Following her son's death, Emmett Till's mother decided to have an open casket funeral so the public could witness the horrifying effects of the rampant racism in the country. If she had not chosen to do this, many people would not have witnessed the consequences of the lynchings in the South or experienced the visceral sensation of injustice. Without Till's open casket funeral, many people who would have been inspired by his death to become active in the Civil Rights Movement would have remained silent. Thus, the Civil Rights Movement would not have gained the same momentum or publicity that it needed in its early stages. The simple decision whether to open or close Till's casket could have significantly slowed the Civil Rights Movement, and even reduced people's reaction to racial discrimination. With a closed casket, Till would not have become a martyr and there would not be a single crime of lynching that every person in America could identify and use as an example to decry the de juro and de facto racial discrimination. Without the publicity of his open casket funeral, the base of support for the Civil Rights Movement would have been fewer, and would have delayed its progress. Because the masses had access to visual evidence of racial injustices, people of all races and backgrounds started to question or took active measures to prevent ongoing discrimination.

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  39. What if George Washington ran for a third term?
    Seems a simple enough answer, he would have won, perhaps we would have never seen a Louisiana purchase, maybe Hamilton wouldn’t have been shot, blah blah blah boring. What if Washington died in office in 1799? Now there’s an interesting thought, how would our fragile nation survive that kind of panic? Even more terrifying, what if there was no precedent for a peaceful transition of power between administrations? The corrupt nature of our politics would give way to a far more machiavellian one. Presidential dynasties could be far more of a reality then even the Bush family could conceive of. Precedence is crucial to a democratic nation, and is quite hard to establish or change. Sometimes it leads to horrible policies of discrimination that require years of advocacy to change, i.e. Brown v. Board of Education. However in this instance I can say I’m very glad to live in a world where we can look to an example of the peaceful transition of power as a change from far more authoritarian governments of the past.

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  41. What if Harry Potter had never been published?
    I actually didn't grow up in Harry Potter, I only read the books in middle school, after all of them were published and over. However, many people did grow up with it and even if they only read it after, its become a pop culture expectation for people to understand the same way Star Wars and Lord of the Rings are must watch movies. Many people of all opinions come together based on this connection of Harry Potter fandom alone. The movie adaptation created huge child stars that helped Emma Watson have the connections to become a Goodwill ambassador. Rupert Grint has regularly donated clothes and such for charity auctions which help due to the popularity the movie allowed. Another child star from the movie, Daniel Radcliff also has contributed to several charities through his wealth such as the Trevor Project. In addition, the author herself has given a lot of money to many charities over the years. A stranger one, the Harry Potter fandom is credited a lot of the start in the change in fandom culture. JK Rowlings free acceptance of fan works allows young artists to practice writing and drawing in a fun and low stakes environment where they can still have feedback from like-interested people and fandoms have become more vocal as a result, openly speaking with the creators about headcanons and views on how the stories should or do go.

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