10 Most Influential People of the 20th Century

1. Nellie McClung (1920’s)
2. Adolf Hitler (1933)
3. Joseph Stalin (1939)
4. Oskar Schindler (1943)
5. Nikita Khrushchev (1953)
6. John F. Kennedy (1962)
7. Martin Luther King Jr. (1963)
8. Pierre Trudeau (1982)
9. Mikhail Gorbachev (1991)
10. Nelson Mandela (1992)

“We Didn’t Start The Fire” by Billy Joel is an excellent song to portray what happened through out the world during the Cold War era.

1. Nellie McClung (1920’s)

Nellie McClung is one of the most influential people of the 20th century because she changed the way people think about women in plenty of ways. First of all, Nellie McClung was one of the five people involved in the famous five’s “Person’s Case” of the 1920’s. She didn’t believe that women should have to stay at home to cook and clean; she wanted to do what men did, go to work and get an education. Nellie fought the case for many years and in the end, she and the four others established the status of women as persons under the 1929 British North American Act; (BNA Act). In addition, Nellie was the first woman to be elected into any government position; (the Alberta Legislative Assembly to be exact). Lastly, I think Nellie was very gutsy for doing what she did in the given time period; and without her women wouldn’t have the rights like they do know in present day. Nellie McClung is one person that will be remembered for centuries to come.

“Never retract, never explain, never apologize – get the thing done and let them howl.”

– Nellie McClung

2. Adolf Hitler (1933)

Adolf Hitler is one of the most influential people of the 20th century because he was very charismatic, and all in all he was very interesting to listen to; he could grab your attention at any moment.  After WWI Germany was so far in debt because of the Treaty of Versailles; Britain and France basically pinned all of the blame for the war on Germany when they were equally responsible for having to pay reparations. In addition, Hitler was influential because he rose up to power during the Great Depression. He promised Germany “revenge” for having to pay for all of the economic, military and social damage caused by the Treaty of Versailles. Moreover, Hitler started a war (WWII) that is very well known and remembered. Before the war, Hitler wasn’t allowed to have more than 100 000 military personnel. However, he found loop hole and created his private police; called the Gestapo or SS. Hitler was so influential because he persuaded men to perform acts of genocide, as in bringing his final solution into act. During the war, Hitler took over most of Europe. Lastly, Hitler was influential because he took over the Nazi Party in 1921 from Anton Drexler and it still exists 90 years later. I don’t agree with all of Hitler’s actions throughout the 20th century however, I think he was a charismatic, persuasive man that went crazy with power.

“Any alliance whose purpose is not the intention to wage war is senseless and useless.”

– Adolf Hitler

3. Joseph Stalin (1939)

Joseph Stalin is one of the most influential people of the 20th century because he obtained his position as a political leader by being a better politician than Leon Trotsky; eventually forcing him to resign. In addition, Stalin was influential because eliminated all other political groups within the party when he was in power. Moreover, Stalin had everyone under his little communist wing; if you were considered his opponent, you were expelled, arrested, deported or assassinated. During the time of WWII Stalin and Hitler signed a treaty of non-aggression together. However, in the end Germany ended up attacking the Red Army; and the weak, unorganized Red Army defeated the powerful, organized Nazi Army. I think that Stalin was beneficial to the Red Army’s success during WWII and without Stalin telling his troops that they could defeat the Nazi Army the turnout could have been a lot different. We could be studying German in schools and worshiping Hitler instead of having a peaceful country like we do now.

“History shows that there are no invincible armies”

– Joseph Stalin

4. Oskar Schindler (1943)

Oskar Schindler is one of the most influential people of the 20th century because he persuaded many Nazi guards to spare some of the Jewish people’s lives. In addition, he saved around 1000 Jewish people during the Holocaust. At the beginning of the Holocaust, Oskar used the Jewish people as free labour and he really didn’t care about what happened to them. He was seen as a rich snob that was only interested in money and women. However, near the end of the Holocaust, Oskar used his status to influence some of the Nazi guards to spare some of the Jewish people’s lives by buying them fancy wines and cigars. In addition, Oskar was seen as a hero because he changed his ways and risked his own life to save some of the innocent people. Lastly, Oskar Schindler changed the way we think about genocide and he will be remembered long after the 21st century. I think that Oskar Schindler was a very courageous and brave man because of what he did to help the Jewish people during the Holocaust.

“If you saw a dog going to be crushed under a car, wouldn’t you help him?”

– Oskar Schindler

5. Nikita Khrushchev (1953)

Nikita Khrushchev is one of the most influential people of the 20th century because he saved the world from a nuclear war by sacrificing his pride and removing the nuclear weapons the Soviets had in Cuba. Therefore, this established a direct communication line between the Soviet Union and the United States; this resulted in easing the tension that the Cold War created between the two superpowers. In addition, he encouraged people to be unique; he encouraged people to study the arts and he improved the Soviet’s economy and their way of life. Lastly, after Stalin died, he created a policy of “de-Stalinization;” this proved popular at home and all around the world. In my opinion, the Soviet Union needed a leader like Khrushchev. Someone that could be trusted and someone that was willing to help out the people.

“Bombs do not choose. They will hit everything.”

– Nikita Khrushchev

6. John F. Kennedy (1962)

John F. Kennedy (JFK) was one of the most influential people of the 20th century because he brought a new spirit to the United States. In addition, he was the youngest person to run the United States. JFK ordered a naval blockade on Cuba during the Cold War; this is one of the reasons the world didn’t erupt into a nuclear war. The Soviet Union was setting up missile sites in Cuba and the Soviet’s had all the intention to launch them on the United States. During his time in office, JFK promoted the Civil Rights movement and he was a excellent public speaker. In addition, JFK had many amazing ideas that would have improved the United States; these ideas were later put into action by Lyndon Johnson. In my opinion, I think JFK was one of the best leaders to run the United States because he was very charismatic  and  he didn’t do what was the best interest politically, but what was in the best interest of the country.

“A man may die, nations may rise and fall, but an idea lives on.”

– JFK

7. Martin Luthur King Jr. (1963)

Martin Luther King Jr. is one of the most influential people of the 20th century because he led the Civil Rights Movement. His famous speech of, “I Have a Dream” is known by many around the world. He is the main reason the African Americans have the rights they do now in the United States. Martin Luther King Jr. was influential because he tried to put an end to racism and he tried to make peace for the world. He wanted people to be treated the equally and not differently. Martin Luther King Jr. wanted people to be able to go in the same areas and not have to go different places. He wanted freedom for the world and for everyone to be treated fairly. Martin Luther King Jr. influenced many people around the world and will be remembered for centuries to come. I think Martin Luther King Jr. is very important and without him the United States could still be using slavery and the racial tension would be a lot worse. In addition, Martin is influential because he had ideas that politicians brought into effect in later eras.

“A nation that continues year after year to spend more money on military defense than on programs of social uplift is approaching spiritual doom.”

– Martin Luther King Jr.

8. Pierre Trudeau (1982)

Pierre Trudeau was one  of the most influential people of the 20th century because he was one of the longest running Prime Minister in Canada. In addition, he won the majority of respect of all Canadians except for the people of Alberta. Moreover, he established the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms; in addition to Trudeau establishing the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, he declared independence from England. Trudeau also set up a minimum wage standard for low income people. Lastly, Pierre Trudeau instated the war measures act during the FLQ crisis(a dispute between French and English speaking Canadians that is still occurring today); if Trudeau was like Hitler or Stalin, he could have easily kept the war measures act in place and been a total dictator. However, this wasn’t the case, he was civil and gave up the rights to the war measure act after the October Crisis was finished. In my opinion, Pierre Trudeau was very charismatic and well educated. He is one of the best, if not the best Prime Minister’s of Canada. Without Trudeau’s hard work we wouldn’t be where we are today; a peaceful independent country.

“Canada will be a strong country when Canadians of all provinces feel at home in all parts of the country, and when they feel that all Canada belongs to them.”

– Pierre Trudeau

9. Mikhail Gorbachev (1991)

Mikhail Gorbachev is one of the most influential people of the 20th century because he helped  with the dissolving of the Soviet Union in 1991. He also reduced military spending and pulled the troops out of Afghanistan. In addition, he allowed people to own private businesses, something the Soviet Union hasn’t seen in many years. The result from this was that the Russian currency was worth nothing, the economy was near total collapse and crime rates went up. In addition, Gorbachev introduced a policy, this policy was called Glasnost – or ‘Openness.’ The policy of Glasnost enabled the Soviet people to criticize the government. Moreover, Many of the “hardcore” Soviets had enough of Gorbachev’s antics; they attempted to replace Gorbachev and eventually placing him under house arrest. I think the Mikhail Gorbachev was the best thing that happened to the Soviet Union, without him and a couple of others, Russia could still be a Communist country. Lastly, Gorbachev needed to make the decisions that he made, for example, promoting privately owned businesses because everything needed to get worse before it would get better.

“My life’s work has been accomplished. I did all that I could.”

– Mikhail Gorbachev