Who Says History Is Just War & Chaos?

Leafing through history books, the archives of humanity can read rather grimly, but it's not all doom and gloom. Scattered within the wars, chaos, and catastrophe are moments of remarkable humanity, bravery, and compassion that we need not forget about. Working quietly behind the scenes of every brutal figure is a positive light, working tirelessly to undo their acts of horror. From civil rights victories to groundbreaking medical discoveries and international acts of goodwill, these 20 historical events will remind you that, even in our darkest hours, humanity is capable of astonishing hope, resilience, and kindness.

Rowland Scherman on Wikimedia

1. The Christmas Truce 

The Christmas Truce of 1914 was an unplanned ceasefire during WWI between British and German troops on the Western Front. Instead of bombs and gunfire, the two sides exchanged Christmas cheer and fraternization in a moment of shared humanity. 

Unknown author on Wikimedia

2. Apollo 11 Moon Landing

The first time man walked on the moon in 1969 was a televised event that brought the whole world together. It was a testament to human ingenuity and collaboration that united everyone in a moment of shared awe. 

Jack Weir on Wikimedia

3. Live Aid Concert

One of the most famous live music events ever to occur was also one of the most heartwarming. The lineup included Queen, U2, Elton John, and David Bowie, who performed simultaneously at Wembley Stadium in London and John F. Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia to raise money for famine relief in Ethiopia. Uniting musicians and music lovers globally in the name of humanitarian relief, it was a resounding success, raising over $125 million.

Elektra Records on Wikimedia

4. The Monuments Men

The Monuments Men were a group of scholars whose mission was to protect art, artifacts, and other cultural treasures from the Nazis. They risked their lives to recover works of art, historical documents, and objects that the Nazis had looted from museums and private collections, working tirelessly to return them to their original countries or owners. 

United States Mint on Wikimedia

5. Denmark's Rescue Of Its Jewish People

Civilians in Nazi-occupied Denmark, along with the Danish resistance, collectively risked their lives to smuggle almost all of their Jewish population to safety in neutral Sweden. Over 7,000 Jews were saved from the holocaust thanks to the actions of ordinary Danish citizens. 

Unknown author on Wikimedia

6. Oskar Schindler Saving The Lives Of 1200 Jews

Immortalized in Steven Spielberg's film Schindler's List, Oskar Schindler was a German businessman and member of the Nazi party who joined the party to profit from Germany's invasion of Poland. However, when he saw the brutality of the Nazi party, he began actively protecting Jews, bribing officials, buying black market food, and transferring his Jewish workers to safety at his own expense and danger.

Unknown author on Wikimedia

7. The Fall Of Apartheid

South Africa's apartheid was the racial segregation enforced from 1948 to the 1990s that denied basic rights to non-white South Africans. It finally crumbled after decades of peaceful resistance movements, culminating in Nelson Mandela's release from prison after 27 years, and signifying a remarkable shift towards unity, peace, and forgiveness. 

Oficina Central de Información de Venezuela on Wikimedia

8. The Fall Of The Berlin Wall

The Berlin Wall, which separated West and communist East Germany during the Cold War, was finally torn down in 1989. After years of peaceful protests, thousands of East Berliners flooded the checkpoints, and instead of intervening, the border guards stepped aside. Crowds from both sides cheered, strangers hugged, and shed tears of joy as they chipped away at the wall with hammers, finally reuniting the city after decades of forced division.

Raphaël Thiémard on Wikimedia

9. The Discovery Of Insulin

Before insulin, a type 1 diabetes diagnosis was basically a death sentence. Its discovery and mass production were a collaborative effort between Canadian surgeon Dr. Frederick Banting, his assistant, biochemist James Collip, and physiologist John Macleod, who were awarded the Nobel Prize for their efforts. They ended up selling the patent for just $1, believing the medicine should be widely available to the world. 

Unknown author on Wikimedia

10. The Civil Rights March On Washington

The Civil Rights March on Washington saw more than 250,000 Americans gather at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., unified under the common goal of ending segregation and racism in the US. This is where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his iconic "I Have A Dream" speech, the most powerful and moving oration in American history. 

Warren K. Leffler on Wikimedia

11. The Marshall Plan

Believing that instability would only lead to another global conflict, the US began a massive aid program called the Marshall Plan to help countries rebuild after WWII. They gave over $13 billion ($150 billion in today's money) in aid and turned former enemies into allies in a remarkable show of generosity.

Reyn Dirksen on Wikimedia

12. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, drafted in the aftermath of WWII, outlined fundamental rights and freedoms of all people everywhere. It was unanimously adopted by all UN member countries and served as the newly formed organization's foundational document.

UN on Wikimedia

13. The Founding Of Habitat For Humanity

Habitat for Humanity was founded in 1976 with the simple but valiant mission of providing everyone with a decent and affordable living space. Volunteers and the future homeowners themselves worked side-by-side to build homes which would be sold at no profit and financed with interest-free loans, the homeowners helping to build not only their own houses but those of others. 

Tulane Public Relations on Wikimedia

14. The Founding Of The Red Cross

The Red Cross was founded by a Swiss businessman who witnessed the horrors of the Battle of Solferino, which saw around 40,000 soldiers lying dead or dying with no medical aid. He rallied whoever he could find to help treat the wounded, no matter what side they were on. From this experience, he formed the idea that there should be neutral organizations to care for the wounded in times of war and an international agreement protecting medical staff. 

National Library of Medicine on Wikimedia

15. The Global COVID-19 Vaccine Effort

Just a few years ago, the COVID-19 pandemic saw the largest and fastest international public health mobilization in history. In 2020, scientists, governments, and pharmaceutical companies pulled together to develop, test, and distribute the vaccine with unprecedented speed to as many people as possible, regardless of income and location, saving millions of lives and restoring economies. 

U.S. Department of State on Wikimedia

16. The Underground Railroad

The Underground Railroad was a secret coalition of abolitionists, free Black citizens, and Quakers who risked their lives to guide slaves northward to freedom. The network helped an estimated 100,000 enslaved people escape bondage.

Charles T. Webber on Wikimedia

17. The Creation of the United Nations

While the UN is flawed and often criticized, it was formed based on commendable ideas of compassion, peace, and humanity. When the world was still reeling from the horrors of WWII, the UN was created to foster international cooperation, promote human rights, and solve global problems. 

azugaldia on Wikimedia

18. The Legalization of Same-Sex Marriage in the U.S.

Astonishingly, same-sex marriage wasn't legalized on the federal level in the US until 2015. When the Supreme Court finally wrote it into law, the decision was met with widespread joy and triumph, with people taking to the streets to celebrate, clad in rainbows. 

White House on Wikimedia

19. The Global Ban on Ivory Trade 

For decades, elephants had been hunted for their ivory tusks, which were carved into ornaments as status symbols. As a result, elephant populations had plummeted to dangerously low levels by the 1980s, prompting a global response to end the poaching. The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora voted to ban the international ivory trade, and countries followed suit with their own bans and public awareness campaigns, working together to protect the world's most majestic creatures.

unknown on Wikimedia

20. Operation Christmas Drop

Starting in 1952 as a spontaneous gesture and continuing to this day as an annual tradition, Operation Christmas Drop is the longest-running humanitarian airlift operation. It sees the US Air Force dropping pallets of donated goods like school supplies, canned food, and fishing gear over isolated Pacific islands whose access to such goods is extremely limited.

U.S. Air Force photo by Yasuo Osakabe on Wikimedia