Austria was an odd nation following World War Two that defied categorization and it was right in the middle of the Cold War. Declaring itself a neutral country let it walk the fine line between the Allies and Soviets.
The United States formed from a not so friendly interaction with the United Kingdom. But as a new world order emerged during the industrial revolution, Britian found it prudent to focus on emergent Germany and Russia and leave America to manage other parts of the world.
The Five Civilized Tribes were the Native American's most involved in the Civil war and sided with the Confederacy. Many of their members feared retribution by the Union should the Confederacy lose and in that they were correct.
Japanese leadership was caught unaware of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and remained in the dark since all leadership and communications facilities were destroyed. The relief effort was largely ineffective until the American occupation provided supplies, relief workers and coordination.
Many factors could induce a Kamakazi pilot to return to base such as; malfunctions, bad weather, unable to find a target or cowardice. As Japan was low on resources and the pilots were valuable the general approach was try again next time.
In the second century AD the Roman Empire and Han Dynasty had an extensive trade relationship with some item have substantial import. But their distance and differing impression of one another made diplomatic relations problematic.
The assassination of John Kennedy was as much a shock to the Soviet Union as America. In particular the Soviet Leadership, initially unsure if they were inadvertently involved, cooperated in anyway they could with the investigation.
Following World War Two the United Kingdom felt the need for nuclear weapons to remain relevant on the world stage. But the United States was reluctant to share information. However, British scientists had worked on the Manhatten project and succeeded in creating an nuclear weapon five years later.
Traditionally Mongolia was more closely associated with China than Russia. But after World War Two the Soviet Union controlled it as a puppet state refusing multiple requests to annex it.
In 1966 France withdrew from NATO's Unified Command Structure which was dominated by the United States and Great Britian insisting a greater independence.
SInce Europeans and Americans has never encountered each other prior to Comlumbus' voyages they had to go back to the basic when learning one another's languages. Wouldn't it be helpful to grab a few prisoners and let let them serve as interpreters once they learned your language.
For nearly a hundred years the union of Norway and Sweden was a marriage of inconvenience. Norway was happier ruled by Denmark but in 1905 decided on independence instead.
The Panama canal was an important strategic asset to the United States. But it became a politically hot potato as benefits to leaving it to Panama emerged toward the end of the twentieth century
The other major economies fared better the the United States during the Great Depression mainly because they we already in a suppressed economic state. Some countries even managed to take advantage of the Depression.
Hawaii, Alaska and Puerto Rico were all candidates to become states in the 1950's. But unlike Alaska and Hawaai Puerto Rico was leaning toward independence. Add some political concerns and it was easier to just postpone the decision.
Following the Spanish American War the United States took possession of Spanish colonies as far away as the Philipines but allowed Cuba to remain independent. Sort of. By treaty the United States still exercised considerable control of the island.
The United States fell into a trap when it became involved in the Vietnam war. It couldn't invade the North without risking another Korean War with China and it couldn't defeat the North by fighting in the South.
During the reign of Alexander the Great Greece, and therefore Alexander, had their hands full solidifying control of Persia. Rome was tiny and virtually unknown - for a while at least.
