Historical Figures 20Historical Figures 20thth CenturyCentury

Golda Meir (1898-1978) Born in Kiev (present-day Ukraine) Emigrated with family to Milwaukee,

Wisconsin in 1906 Immigrated to British Mandate Palestine in

1921 to help found a Jewish state A signer of the Declaration of the

Establishment of the State of Israel – May 14, 1948

Israel’s first ambassador to the Soviet Union 1949-1956 Minister of Labor 1956-1966 Foreign Minister of Israel

– Initiated Israel’s policy of cooperation with newly independent nations of Africa

– Secured relations with the United States 1969 elected Prime Minister of Israel (1969-

1974)– Led Israel through the 1973 Yom Kippur War

with Egypt and SyriaPolitical leader, diplomat, Israel’s fourth Prime Minister

Margaret Thatcher 1925-2013 Born in England,1925 Graduated from Oxford University 1970-1974 Education Minister Prime Minister of Great Britain (1979-

1990)– 1979-1983 First Term– 1983-1987 Second Term– 1987-1990 Third Term– Privatized state industries, lowered taxes,

reduced social spending –led to a revitalized the economy

– Nicknamed “The Iron Lady” by the Soviets– Defeated Argentina in a war over the

Falkland IslandsBritish Prime Minister – only woman to lead a major Western democracy

Mother Teresa (1910-1997) Born in Macedonia (Nationality: Albanian) Joined the Sisters of Loreto at age 18 Took vows as a Roman Catholic nun in Calcutta,

India Devoted herself to the poorest people in the slums of

Calcutta 1950 started her own Catholic order – The

Missionaries of Charity– Primary goal to help the poorest of poor– Care for those persons most neglected by society

The Missionaries of Charity spread throughout the world

Mother Teresa has been recognized for her work:– Pope John XXIII Peace Prize (1971)– Nehru Prize (1972)– Balzan Prize (1979)– Nobel Peace Prize (1979)– The United States Presidential Medal of Freedom

(1985)Roman Catholic nun, humanitarian, Nobel Peace Prize recipient

Indira Gandhi (1917-1984) Daughter of Jawaharlal Nehru, first

Prime Minister of India Appointed Minister of Information and

Broadcasting Elected Prime Minister of India (1966-

1977, 1980-1984)– First female Prime Minister of India– India engaged in war with Pakistan (1971)

under her leadership– Increased food production in India with the

Green Revolution –transformed India’s food shortages into surplus production

Assassinated in 1984First female Prime Minister of India

Nelson Mandela (1918- )

Born in South Africa, 1918 Anti-apartheid activist 1962 – arrested, convicted of

sabotage, sentenced to life in prison (served 27 years in prison)

– Became the symbol of resistance against racial segregation in South Africa

– Helped to end South Africa’s apartheid system of racial segregation

President of South Africa 1994-1999– First president to be elected in a

democratic election– Has received over 250 awards including

co-winning a Nobel Peace Prize (1993)

Political prisoner, helped end South Africa’s apartheid system,first black president of South Africa, resisted oppression

Mohandas Gandhi (1869-1948) Born in 1869. Obtainted a law degree in London,

practiced law in South Africa for 21 years Spiritual and moral leader favoring India’s

independence from Great Britain– Promoted passive resistance, self-

sufficiency, civil disobedience, non-cooperation and boycotts

– Undertook hunger strikes to protest oppression of poor classes in India and other injustices

– Led Indians in a Salt March protesting the national salt tax

– Led Indians to independence from Great Britain through non-violent resistance

Assasinated in 1948 by a Hindu nationalistLeader of India’s movement

for independence, non-violentActivist, resisted oppression

Óscar Romero (1917-1980) Became a Roman Catholic priest in

1942 1977 appointed Roman Catholic

Archbishop of El Salvador– Spoke out against poverty, victims of

repression, social injustice, human rights violations, and torture in El Salvador

– Requested international intervention to protect people against government forces

– Resisted any oppression

Assassinated while celebrating Mass in 1980

Outspoken activist against political oppression

Lech Walesa (1943- )Lech Walesa (1943- ) Born September 29, 1943Born September 29, 1943 Polish dockworker who Polish dockworker who led strike in Gdansk in led strike in Gdansk in

order to get Polish government to recognize the order to get Polish government to recognize the Solidarity union, the first independent free-trade Solidarity union, the first independent free-trade union in the Soviet blocunion in the Soviet bloc

After martial law was imposed and Solidarity After martial law was imposed and Solidarity outlawed, he established the Round Table outlawed, he established the Round Table Agreements where the Agreements where the Polish government to Polish government to the first parliamentary elections and a the first parliamentary elections and a Solidarity-led governmentSolidarity-led government

Elected president of Poland in 1990 after the fall Elected president of Poland in 1990 after the fall of communism in that nationof communism in that nation

Presidential Term: December 12, 1990 – Presidential Term: December 12, 1990 – December 22, 1995December 22, 1995

Awards: Nobel Peace PrizeAwards: Nobel Peace PrizePolish politician, trade-union organizer, and human-rights activist. A charismatic leader, he co-founded Solidarity union.

John Paul II (1920-2005)John Paul II (1920-2005)

Born: May 18, 1920, WadowiceBorn: May 18, 1920, Wadowice Died: April 2, 2005, Apostolic PalaceDied: April 2, 2005, Apostolic Palace Reigned as a Pope of the Roman Reigned as a Pope of the Roman

Catholic Church from 1978 until his Catholic Church from 1978 until his death in 2005.death in 2005.

Polish archbishop who, after his Polish archbishop who, after his election as pope, election as pope, was instrumental was instrumental in ending communism in Poland and in ending communism in Poland and other parts of Eastern Europe by other parts of Eastern Europe by giving spiritual inspiration to rise giving spiritual inspiration to rise against communist leadersagainst communist leaders

Awards: Presidential Medal of Awards: Presidential Medal of Freedom, National Jewish Book Freedom, National Jewish Book Award for Jewish-Christian Award for Jewish-Christian RelationsRelations

Roman Catholic Pope- ends communism in Poland and other parts of E. Europe