Top 10 Votes That Altered History FOREVER

when people go to the polls history is

when people go to the polls history is made

made

made welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’re

welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’re

welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’re counting down our picks for the top 10

counting down our picks for the top 10

counting down our picks for the top 10 world-changing votes in history before

world-changing votes in history before

world-changing votes in history before we begin we publish new videos every day

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so be sure to subscribe for more great content for this list we’re looking at

content for this list we’re looking at

content for this list we’re looking at the decisions that changed world

the decisions that changed world

the decisions that changed world attitudes sparked massive conflict or

attitudes sparked massive conflict or

attitudes sparked massive conflict or shaped entire nations number 10 the

shaped entire nations number 10 the

shaped entire nations number 10 the United States declaration of war on

United States declaration of war on

United States declaration of war on Japan

Japan

Japan one day after Japan’s surprise attack on

one day after Japan’s surprise attack on

one day after Japan’s surprise attack on Hawaii’s Pearl Harbor President Franklin

Hawaii’s Pearl Harbor President Franklin

Hawaii’s Pearl Harbor President Franklin Delano Roosevelt delivered what’s now

Delano Roosevelt delivered what’s now

Delano Roosevelt delivered what’s now known as the infamy speech before

known as the infamy speech before

known as the infamy speech before Congress and the nation in the

Congress and the nation in the

Congress and the nation in the seven-minute address he called December

seven-minute address he called December

seven-minute address he called December 7th a date which will live in infamy and

7th a date which will live in infamy and

7th a date which will live in infamy and officially requested that Congress

officially requested that Congress

officially requested that Congress declare war on Japan in retaliation I

declare war on Japan in retaliation I

declare war on Japan in retaliation I asked the Congress declare a state of

asked the Congress declare a state of

asked the Congress declare a state of war as a result it was brought to a vote

war as a result it was brought to a vote

war as a result it was brought to a vote and less than an hour after Roosevelt’s

and less than an hour after Roosevelt’s

and less than an hour after Roosevelt’s speech ended that vote had passed 82 to

speech ended that vote had passed 82 to

speech ended that vote had passed 82 to nothing in the Senate and 388 to 1 in

nothing in the Senate and 388 to 1 in

nothing in the Senate and 388 to 1 in the house that vote officially brought

the house that vote officially brought

the house that vote officially brought the United States into World War 2

the United States into World War 2

the United States into World War 2 shaping the events to come and perhaps

shaping the events to come and perhaps

shaping the events to come and perhaps shifting the tides of war number 9 the

shifting the tides of war number 9 the

shifting the tides of war number 9 the Indian provincial elections of 1946

Indian provincial elections of 1946

Indian provincial elections of 1946 although this was simply a vote by

although this was simply a vote by

although this was simply a vote by British India to elect representatives

British India to elect representatives

British India to elect representatives to the Legislative Council it ended up

to the Legislative Council it ended up

to the Legislative Council it ended up sparking enormous changes in the Indian

sparking enormous changes in the Indian

sparking enormous changes in the Indian subcontinent the effects of which were

subcontinent the effects of which were

subcontinent the effects of which were felt for generations the indian famous

felt for generations the indian famous

felt for generations the indian famous rights leaders like mahatma gandhi and

rights leaders like mahatma gandhi and

rights leaders like mahatma gandhi and prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru has long

prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru has long

prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru has long been proponent of an independent and

been proponent of an independent and

been proponent of an independent and united India but the 1946 elections

united India but the 1946 elections

united India but the 1946 elections effectively killed that dream while they

effectively killed that dream while they

effectively killed that dream while they only finished second with 1/3 of the

only finished second with 1/3 of the

only finished second with 1/3 of the overall vote the Muslim League succeeded

overall vote the Muslim League succeeded

overall vote the Muslim League succeeded in unifying the country’s Muslims this

in unifying the country’s Muslims this

in unifying the country’s Muslims this destabilized India ultimately leading to

destabilized India ultimately leading to

destabilized India ultimately leading to the partitioning of the country and the

the partitioning of the country and the

the partitioning of the country and the creation of the Muslim state of Pakistan

creation of the Muslim state of Pakistan

creation of the Muslim state of Pakistan in 1947

in 1947

in 1947 number eight the South Sudanese

number eight the South Sudanese

number eight the South Sudanese independence referendum bloody civil

independence referendum bloody civil

independence referendum bloody civil wars raged through Sudan from 1955 to

wars raged through Sudan from 1955 to

wars raged through Sudan from 1955 to 1972 and again from 1983 to 2005 between

1972 and again from 1983 to 2005 between

1972 and again from 1983 to 2005 between the government of Central Sudan and

the government of Central Sudan and

the government of Central Sudan and guerilla forces representing South Sudan

guerilla forces representing South Sudan

guerilla forces representing South Sudan with the non-islamic self-seeking

with the non-islamic self-seeking

with the non-islamic self-seeking increased representation and sovereignty

increased representation and sovereignty

increased representation and sovereignty from the Islamic state of Sudan although

from the Islamic state of Sudan although

from the Islamic state of Sudan although they were granted relative autonomy a

they were granted relative autonomy a

they were granted relative autonomy a referendum was eventually held in

referendum was eventually held in

referendum was eventually held in January 2011 to decide whether South

January 2011 to decide whether South

January 2011 to decide whether South Sudan would separate from Sudan ninety

Sudan would separate from Sudan ninety

Sudan would separate from Sudan ninety eight point eight three percent voted

eight point eight three percent voted

eight point eight three percent voted for independence and at midnight on July

for independence and at midnight on July

for independence and at midnight on July 9th 2011 the Republic of South Sudan was

9th 2011 the Republic of South Sudan was

9th 2011 the Republic of South Sudan was formed

formed

formed unfortunately 2013 saw the beginning of

unfortunately 2013 saw the beginning of

unfortunately 2013 saw the beginning of another civil war in South Sudan this

another civil war in South Sudan this

another civil war in South Sudan this time between the government and its

time between the government and its

time between the government and its opposition with hundreds of thousands of

opposition with hundreds of thousands of

opposition with hundreds of thousands of people killed and millions displaced as

people killed and millions displaced as

people killed and millions displaced as a result number seven the United Kingdom

a result number seven the United Kingdom

a result number seven the United Kingdom European Union membership referendum

European Union membership referendum

European Union membership referendum also known as breakfast a 1975

also known as breakfast a 1975

also known as breakfast a 1975 referendum saw over 67 percent of UK

referendum saw over 67 percent of UK

referendum saw over 67 percent of UK voters choosing to join what would

voters choosing to join what would

voters choosing to join what would eventually become the European Union but

eventually become the European Union but

eventually become the European Union but as decades progressed political figures

as decades progressed political figures

as decades progressed political figures of all stripes began publicly promoting

of all stripes began publicly promoting

of all stripes began publicly promoting withdrawal from the EU and in June 2016

withdrawal from the EU and in June 2016

withdrawal from the EU and in June 2016 citizens went to the polls ultimately

citizens went to the polls ultimately

citizens went to the polls ultimately almost 52 percent of the thirty three

almost 52 percent of the thirty three

almost 52 percent of the thirty three and a half million voters chose to leave

and a half million voters chose to leave

and a half million voters chose to leave with most people in England and Wales

with most people in England and Wales

with most people in England and Wales voting to go and Scotland and Northern

voting to go and Scotland and Northern

voting to go and Scotland and Northern Ireland primarily opting to stay the

Ireland primarily opting to stay the

Ireland primarily opting to stay the British people have voted to leave the

British people have voted to leave the

British people have voted to leave the European Union and the will must be

European Union and the will must be

European Union and the will must be respected although the long-term effects

respected although the long-term effects

respected although the long-term effects of this decision remain to be seen

of this decision remain to be seen

of this decision remain to be seen financial markets took an immediate and

financial markets took an immediate and

financial markets took an immediate and significant hit in addition the brexit

significant hit in addition the brexit

significant hit in addition the brexit vote inspired countries like France the

vote inspired countries like France the

vote inspired countries like France the Netherlands Austria Finland and Hungary

Netherlands Austria Finland and Hungary

Netherlands Austria Finland and Hungary to consider withdrawing from the EU as

to consider withdrawing from the EU as

to consider withdrawing from the EU as well number six the United States

well number six the United States

well number six the United States presidential election of 1860 although

presidential election of 1860 although

presidential election of 1860 although Barack Obama’s 2008 election as the

Barack Obama’s 2008 election as the

Barack Obama’s 2008 election as the United States first African American

United States first African American

United States first African American president was significant we

president was significant we

president was significant we and always will be the United States of

and always will be the United States of

and always will be the United States of America the presidential election of

America the presidential election of

America the presidential election of 1860 could be considered even more

1860 could be considered even more

1860 could be considered even more earth-shaking the years leading to that

earth-shaking the years leading to that

earth-shaking the years leading to that both sava nations split on the issue of

both sava nations split on the issue of

both sava nations split on the issue of slavery and the election of the

slavery and the election of the

slavery and the election of the anti-slavery Republican candidate

anti-slavery Republican candidate

anti-slavery Republican candidate Abraham Lincoln deepen the rift in fact

Abraham Lincoln deepen the rift in fact

Abraham Lincoln deepen the rift in fact before Lincoln was even inaugurated

before Lincoln was even inaugurated

before Lincoln was even inaugurated seven slave states seceded from the

seven slave states seceded from the

seven slave states seceded from the Union declaring independence and

Union declaring independence and

Union declaring independence and eventually forming the Confederate

eventually forming the Confederate

eventually forming the Confederate States of America with four additional

States of America with four additional

States of America with four additional states this in turn led to the American

states this in turn led to the American

states this in turn led to the American Civil War the bloodiest war in the

Civil War the bloodiest war in the

Civil War the bloodiest war in the history of the US and a conflict to

history of the US and a conflict to

history of the US and a conflict to change the country’s course forever

change the country’s course forever

change the country’s course forever shall we stop this bleeding number 5 the

shall we stop this bleeding number 5 the

shall we stop this bleeding number 5 the ratification of the 19th amendment to

ratification of the 19th amendment to

ratification of the 19th amendment to the US Constitution the United States

the US Constitution the United States

the US Constitution the United States was founded in 1776 but it wasn’t until

was founded in 1776 but it wasn’t until

was founded in 1776 but it wasn’t until 1920 that the country allowed women to

1920 that the country allowed women to

1920 that the country allowed women to vote the suffrage movement surfaced in

vote the suffrage movement surfaced in

vote the suffrage movement surfaced in the 1840s but really gathered steam

the 1840s but really gathered steam

the 1840s but really gathered steam during the Reconstruction era fighting

during the Reconstruction era fighting

during the Reconstruction era fighting for women’s rights at both the state and

for women’s rights at both the state and

for women’s rights at both the state and national levels

national levels

national levels although the 19th amendment was

although the 19th amendment was

although the 19th amendment was introduced in 1878 and some individual

introduced in 1878 and some individual

introduced in 1878 and some individual states had already granted suffrage to

states had already granted suffrage to

states had already granted suffrage to women the battle was finally won

women the battle was finally won

women the battle was finally won nationwide in 1920 when the amendment

nationwide in 1920 when the amendment

nationwide in 1920 when the amendment was ratified by the number of states

was ratified by the number of states

was ratified by the number of states necessary and added to the Constitution

necessary and added to the Constitution

necessary and added to the Constitution this not only prevented citizens from

this not only prevented citizens from

this not only prevented citizens from being blocked from voting based on their

being blocked from voting based on their

being blocked from voting based on their sex it also contributed to a shift in

sex it also contributed to a shift in

sex it also contributed to a shift in attitude towards women’s rights

attitude towards women’s rights

attitude towards women’s rights worldwide number 4 the United Nations

worldwide number 4 the United Nations

worldwide number 4 the United Nations vote on the Partition Plan for Palestine

vote on the Partition Plan for Palestine

vote on the Partition Plan for Palestine Palestinian Arabs and Jews have been

Palestinian Arabs and Jews have been

Palestinian Arabs and Jews have been fighting for centuries with each group

fighting for centuries with each group

fighting for centuries with each group laying claim to the area by the 1940s

laying claim to the area by the 1940s

laying claim to the area by the 1940s the conflict had become increasingly

the conflict had become increasingly

the conflict had become increasingly violent in the British controlled region

violent in the British controlled region

violent in the British controlled region so the United Nations were brought in to

so the United Nations were brought in to

so the United Nations were brought in to broker a solution on November 29th 1947

broker a solution on November 29th 1947

broker a solution on November 29th 1947 the UN voted to partition Palestine

the UN voted to partition Palestine

the UN voted to partition Palestine meaning separate Arab and Jewish states

meaning separate Arab and Jewish states

meaning separate Arab and Jewish states would be formed and Jerusalem would be

would be formed and Jerusalem would be

would be formed and Jerusalem would be treated separately

treated separately

treated separately due to its shared religious significance

due to its shared religious significance

due to its shared religious significance the plan was accepted by the Jews but

the plan was accepted by the Jews but

the plan was accepted by the Jews but rejected by the Arabs who asserted it

rejected by the Arabs who asserted it

rejected by the Arabs who asserted it was in violation of the UN charters

was in violation of the UN charters

was in violation of the UN charters principle of self-determination violence

principle of self-determination violence

principle of self-determination violence and eventually civil war ensued and the

and eventually civil war ensued and the

and eventually civil war ensued and the partition was never put into practice

partition was never put into practice

partition was never put into practice number three the German federal election

number three the German federal election

number three the German federal election of March 1933 President Paul von

of March 1933 President Paul von

of March 1933 President Paul von Hindenburg had already appointed Adolf

Hindenburg had already appointed Adolf

Hindenburg had already appointed Adolf Hitler Chancellor of Germany in January

Hitler Chancellor of Germany in January

Hitler Chancellor of Germany in January 1933 effectively allowing the Nazi Party

1933 effectively allowing the Nazi Party

1933 effectively allowing the Nazi Party to seize control of the country but the

to seize control of the country but the

to seize control of the country but the March 1933 election more firmly

March 1933 election more firmly

March 1933 election more firmly established

established

established Hitler’s leadership allowing the Nazis

Hitler’s leadership allowing the Nazis

Hitler’s leadership allowing the Nazis to pick up 92 feet more than they had in

to pick up 92 feet more than they had in

to pick up 92 feet more than they had in the previous election even so they did

the previous election even so they did

the previous election even so they did not have a majority government but they

not have a majority government but they

not have a majority government but they did have enough power to see that the

did have enough power to see that the

did have enough power to see that the enabling act was passed

enabling act was passed

enabling act was passed this was the piece of legislation that

this was the piece of legislation that

this was the piece of legislation that essentially awarded dictatorial powers

essentially awarded dictatorial powers

essentially awarded dictatorial powers to Adolf Hitler allowing him to pass

to Adolf Hitler allowing him to pass

to Adolf Hitler allowing him to pass laws without the approval of Parliament

laws without the approval of Parliament

laws without the approval of Parliament before long Hitler outlawed other

before long Hitler outlawed other

before long Hitler outlawed other political parties dissolved parliament

political parties dissolved parliament

political parties dissolved parliament and started world war ii number two the

and started world war ii number two the

and started world war ii number two the South African apartheid referendum when

South African apartheid referendum when

South African apartheid referendum when state president of South Africa FW de

state president of South Africa FW de

state president of South Africa FW de Klerk first addressed Parliament he

Klerk first addressed Parliament he

Klerk first addressed Parliament he proposed some startling changes the

proposed some startling changes the

proposed some startling changes the prohibition of certain political parties

prohibition of certain political parties

prohibition of certain political parties would be repealed Nelson Mandela would

would be repealed Nelson Mandela would

would be repealed Nelson Mandela would be discharged from prison capital

be discharged from prison capital

be discharged from prison capital punishment would be stopped and the

punishment would be stopped and the

punishment would be stopped and the country’s state of emergency would end

country’s state of emergency would end

country’s state of emergency would end what’s more he also planned to end the

what’s more he also planned to end the

what’s more he also planned to end the system of established racial segregation

system of established racial segregation

system of established racial segregation and discrimination that had existed in

and discrimination that had existed in

and discrimination that had existed in South Africa since 1948 however many of

South Africa since 1948 however many of

South Africa since 1948 however many of these changes hinged on a 1992

these changes hinged on a 1992

these changes hinged on a 1992 referendum in which only white voters

referendum in which only white voters

referendum in which only white voters could decide whether the apartheid

could decide whether the apartheid

could decide whether the apartheid system should be abolished the yes side

system should be abolished the yes side

system should be abolished the yes side won decisively with almost 69 percent of

won decisively with almost 69 percent of

won decisively with almost 69 percent of the vote leading to multiracial

the vote leading to multiracial

the vote leading to multiracial elections that ultimately saw Mandela

elections that ultimately saw Mandela

elections that ultimately saw Mandela elected at South Africa’s first black

elected at South Africa’s first black

elected at South Africa’s first black president before we unveil our number

president before we unveil our number

president before we unveil our number one pick here are some honorable

one pick here are some honorable

one pick here are some honorable mentions each nation will set

mentions each nation will set

mentions each nation will set non-binding targets for cutting

non-binding targets for cutting

non-binding targets for cutting emissions of car

emissions of car

emissions of car and dioxide and other gases by 2025 CB

and dioxide and other gases by 2025 CB

and dioxide and other gases by 2025 CB Stevens’s and s calling for a no victory

Stevens’s and s calling for a no victory

Stevens’s and s calling for a no victory numerically tonight

numerically tonight

numerically tonight number one the Soviet Union referendum

number one the Soviet Union referendum

number one the Soviet Union referendum of 1991 mr. Gorbachev tear down this

of 1991 mr. Gorbachev tear down this

of 1991 mr. Gorbachev tear down this wall

wall

wall do you consider necessary the

do you consider necessary the

do you consider necessary the preservation of the Union of Soviet

preservation of the Union of Soviet

preservation of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics as a renewed

Socialist Republics as a renewed

Socialist Republics as a renewed Federation of equal sovereign Republic’s

Federation of equal sovereign Republic’s

Federation of equal sovereign Republic’s in which the rights and freedoms of an

in which the rights and freedoms of an

in which the rights and freedoms of an individual of any nationality will be

individual of any nationality will be

individual of any nationality will be fully guaranteed this was the question

fully guaranteed this was the question

fully guaranteed this was the question posed to hundreds of millions of Soviet

posed to hundreds of millions of Soviet

posed to hundreds of millions of Soviet citizens in an attempt to avert the

citizens in an attempt to avert the

citizens in an attempt to avert the collapse of the Soviet Union

collapse of the Soviet Union

collapse of the Soviet Union almost 150 million voted in favor of the

almost 150 million voted in favor of the

almost 150 million voted in favor of the USSR’s reorganization into a

USSR’s reorganization into a

USSR’s reorganization into a confederation known as the union of

confederation known as the union of

confederation known as the union of sovereign states however before the

sovereign states however before the

sovereign states however before the country could be restructured an

country could be restructured an

country could be restructured an attempted communist coup destabilized

attempted communist coup destabilized

attempted communist coup destabilized the country’s government while that coup

the country’s government while that coup

the country’s government while that coup failed it contributes to the dissolution

failed it contributes to the dissolution

failed it contributes to the dissolution of the Soviet Union on December 26 1991

of the Soviet Union on December 26 1991

of the Soviet Union on December 26 1991 do you agree with our kicks check out

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