Describe a significant historical event in your country

Describe a significant historical event in your country you know about.

You should say:

• what it is
• when it happened
• what happened

and say why it is a significant historical event for your country.

[You will have to talk about the topic for one to two minutes. You have one minute to think about what you are going to say. You can make some notes to help you if you wish.]

Sample Answer 1

Throughout history, Vietnam has undergone many ups and downs. But despite being a small country, we defeated many better-armed and more powerful enemies, notably the Americans in the Vietnam War. So today, I would like to talk about one of the greatest milestones in our history, Reunification Day.

To be precise, it took place on 30th April 1975. After gaining control of the neighboring provinces, Vietnamese troops entered Saigon with a rapturous welcome from its citizen. According to the elders I know, it was a moment of great rejoicing when people from all walks of life crowded the streets in ao dai, coupled with flags and banners. At 11.30, the Vietnamese national flag fluttered on the Independence Palace, marking the end of the Vietnam War and the South’s liberation for national reunification.

Moreover, today, 30th April, becomes a national holiday. Every year, Vietnamese people organize a range of festivals to pay tribute to those who sacrifice themselves for the country and celebrate an unforgettable event in our history. Many Americans of multiple ethnicities also observe the day for remembrance and solidarity.

Sample Answer 2

Australia is a great country that has gone through several significant events in its history in order to become the country it is today. However, no other events are probably as significant in this country’s historical passage as the one I am about to describe very shortly, as this event helped create Australia.

This significant event occurred on the 26th of January in the year 1788 when the first fleet of British ships arrived at Port Jackson of New South Wales. Besides, the raising of the flag of Great Britain at Sydney Cove by the then Sydney governor, Arthur Phillip, also took place on this same day, which essentially paved the way for the creation of a country called “Australia”.

Later on, after a century or so, of course, this day was declared as the “national day” of Australia even though the Aboriginal Australians think otherwise about this particular historic event. In fact, the Aboriginal Australians consider this day, when this historic event took place, as a “national day of mourning” or “invasion day”. Of course, other European traders and explorers had started contacting the indigenous Australian people 250 years earlier. Still, they didn’t claim any land until after Captain James Cook formally had claimed New South Wales for the British. This Aboriginal land was taken over by British colonists on the premise that the land belonged to no one (‘terra nullius’), either by using “force” against the indigenous people or purchasing their lands from them.

Anyway, it is a significant historic event for my country because in the aftermath of this event, On New Year’s Day 1901, the British colonies of Australia eventually were able to form a federation, marking the birth of modern Australia. Besides, this is a significant historical event also because it allows us to reflect on our history and mistakes as a nation and then rectifying them by calling for national unity among the people of a very diverse Australian society.

Sample Answer 3

The assassination of Abraham Lincoln is one of the most significant events in the history of the USA. Lincoln was assassinated by John Wilkes, an actor of that time, who was a sympathizer of the Confederate, and it was an act of vengeance for him to kill Lincoln – according to his testimony. Interestingly, a couple of weeks ago, Lincoln dreamt of an assassination event and shared it with some of his security officials. But finally, he could not survive the day. This is an interesting cue card task, and thank you for that.

The assassination of Abraham Lincoln took place on April 14, 1865. It was a gloomy day when John Wilkes killed the then-president of the United States. It was a kind of revenge for him as he believed that Lincoln was the root cause for damaging the South. The assassin thought Lincoln dishonored South America’s people and institutions. So, he planned to kill Lincoln. The president was delivering a speech before audiences when he was shot.

It was one of the saddest moments for the nation when Abraham Lincoln was assassinated. He was a great leader who loved his countrymen and underwent many “complex situations” but handled most of them successfully. His assassination was a big loss for the country. Abraham Lincoln was shot in the back of his head and went into a coma for around nine hours. He did not wake up from the coma and finally succumbed to death.

It was an influential historical event for the USA. Abraham Lincoln tried to unite the country, played an important role in abolishing slavery, and took many other great initiatives. In line with the assassination, some other prominent events also took place to destroy the administration of Abraham Lincoln. Sadly, it was a great loss for us as a nation.

Sample Answer 4

So this question is really giving me a hard time. I actually don’t know the first thing about history, kind of embarrassing to admit this. Of course, I took History when I was in school, but most of that stuff kind of went over my head. So this question is really difficult for me.

Having said that, I guess I could tell you about a historical era or, more correctly, an event that everybody should know about; it is the Day of Independence of VN. This event took place on September 2nd, 1945. And of course, I learned about this event extensively when I was in school, given it was important. However, it has been a while, so my recollection of what my teacher taught me may not be very accurate, so bear with me here.

So basically, before Independence day, VN was under the oppression of the French colonial empire. But after this Independence day, VN managed to break the shackles of colonization and then became a sovereign country. I think this event is a kind of usher in an era of economic prosperity, and everybody’s lives improved dramatically. So I guess I’m not as interested in history or this event as I was saying, but I think I should be. I think it would give me an appreciation for our nation, heritage, heart, and forefathers.

Sample Answer 5

Honestly, every time I am asked about history, I am always eager to talk about the Vietnam war, which ended in 1975, and this is one of the historical highlights of our country.

Vietnam underwent hundreds of years under the colonization of foreign invaders, and this is the last war before a new era of peace and independence is opened for us. It is an unforgettable period of history for some reasons.

Firstly, it is the courageous fighting spirit of the Vietnamese people. Our country was divided into the Northern part and the Southern part. Communication at that time was almost impossible, and people across the country lived in poverty and destitute conditions. However, our soldiers still fought very bravely with the help and support of ordinary people.

Secondly, this is remarkable because hardly anyone could think that we won the war. Compared to such a well-armed country like America, we never thought we could defeat them. However, with the determination of the whole nation, we have our own peace back. April 30th, 1975, was the day that we gained independence from the invaders, and from then on, we held an annual celebration to pay tribute to those who sacrificed for the country. I hope that the Vietnamese people will never forget this important milestone for the nation.

Sample Answer 6

I would like to tell you about one of my country’s most important past events. That is the time when President Ho Chi Minh read the Declaration of Independence, establishing the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.

History lessons at school in Vietnam might be boring, and not so many students pay attention to their teachers’ words in history classes. Still, I’m sure there’s one thing about history that all students in Vietnam remember. That is the date of the day marking our freedom. September 2nd, 1945, was a glorious day. Thousands of people gathered at Ba Dinh Square to hear the Declaration of Independence.

You know, in the past, different nations invaded and colonized our country for a very long time. Still, we never forgot our traditions and customs and always tried to fight our enemies to reclaim our independence. France colonized us for almost 100 years, feasting on our people’s blood and sweat. Most Vietnamese people back then were farmers. They were uneducated and had to bow to their inhumane landlords. Despite the great disadvantages, they were still able to unite and keep fighting bravely. Millions of them died, but their heroic actions live forever. And as you can guess, we finally took back our freedom.

From that day until now, every Vietnamese person has the right to proudly say that he or she is free. I’m truly grateful to all the soldiers who overcame great hardships and fought with their lives so that I can enjoy a better life now.

Sample Answer 7

Since ancient times, India has had a rich history that contains all of the great events that have occurred in this fortunate region of the Asian continent. It includes incidents like the Ramayana and the Mahabharata. Many foreigners governed here for years, including Mogul emperors, Portuguese, French, and British. India was previously known as the Golden Bird, a wealthy country. Still, it lost most of its wealth and, most significantly, its freedom as it was dominated and conquered by numerous outsiders.

Indians fought for freedom for decades, and in 1947, India gained independence thanks to the efforts of numerous national heroes. However, several significant incidents that occurred throughout this conflict are memorable! One of India’s most significant historical events was the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre in 1919.

This was a breathtaking incident in Amritsar, India, on the day of a festival called “Baisakhi,” where Indians revolted against British authority; the difference was that this event was supposed to be peaceful for Indians. However, British commander Dyer prohibited gatherings, resulting in a tragic bloodbath.

On that day, at 4:30 p.m., women and children from all communities, including Sikhs, Hindus, and Muslims, peacefully gathered to protest British rule. As soon as this news reached General Reginald Dyer, he went to Jallianwala Bagh with his soldiers carrying armed weapons. Without warning, with all entrances blocked, he ordered the troops to attack people with loaded guns. This continued until the ammunition ran out. Approximately 1,000 people were murdered, many of them owing to the rush and stampede during the assembly.

Sample Answer 8

Being one of the largest nations in Southeast Asia, India has its connection with an array of historical events. Right from being a slave to wars and separation, the history of this country is rich in memorable occurrences and aftermaths.

One of the significant historical events that took place in India was in 1947. The nation had acquired its independence from the British rulers and got separated from a region to form a new country known as Pakistan today.

The division took place solely on religious beliefs. During the time of independence, Hindus and Muslims got involved in grave disputes, which resulted in riots and mass killings. Soon enough, the matters were out of hand. As a result, there arose a necessity for two sovereign states; thus, India and Pakistan were created. While Hindus retained their livelihood in India, Muslims had to migrate to Pakistan. In the current times, Pakistan observes its Independence Day on August 14, and India celebrates the same on the consecutive day – August 15.

The people who were involved in this entire fiasco were Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan, Maulana Azad, Sarojini Naidu, and more.

Sample Answer 9

Being an Indian, and given the country’s long history, I think the most important historical event would definitely be Independence from the colonizers.

India is well known for its rich culture and diversity. India is a melting pot of cultures, with each region having its own practices, customs, and celebrations. This inherent diversity prevailed centuries ago, well before the colonizers or even the Mughals. Throughout the history of the world, India made its mark on the map, being an important part of trade routes and supplying exotic spices and crops, but that changed when the British arrived in India to colonize our native land. After nearly two centuries of struggle, India finally gained Independence from the British in 1947.

By then, the British had already made an impact on India. The most important people who were involved were the freedom fighters and leaders who took it upon themselves to motivate the nation and lead us to independence. The most prominent leaders of the movement were Jawaharlal Nehru, Mahatma Gandhi, Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Bhagat Singh, Sarojini Naidu, and Subash Chandra Bose. They were the leaders that moved millions to the fruition of freedom, and they were the ones who struggled alongside the citizens for the movement. Some of them even shed their blood, sweat, and tears for the purpose. Today, we owe it all to them and the sacrifices they made. India’s history and culture are only enriched and strengthened due to the resilience they exhibited at the time. Now, we wear it as a badge of honor, to pay our respects to this monumental event in the history of our country.

Sample Answer 10

To any country, any historical period or event greatly impacts residents’ minds and souls. Today, I’m going to talk about Independence Day – one of the remarkable milestones of our country.

Let’s go back to the year 1945. The 2nd of September marked the birth of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam when the Proclamation of Independence, which was written by the Ho Chi Minh President, was announced in public at Ba Dinh Square. After this day, a new era of independence, freedom, and happiness was opened for our inhabitants, ending nearly 100 years of French colonial force. On that memorable moment, every corner of the city, town, and village throughout the country held street parties, fireworks were shot in the sky, marches were organized on streets, and our national anthem was performed.

I’m extremely deep into this period of time for some reason. Initially, it has a unique meaning which creates our own voice in the world when other countries should consider us as a liberated country. Moreover, I would prefer to join the atmosphere to show my patriotism for my country. I look up to the First President who sacrificed his life for our sovereignty and promised to live up to his expectation.

All in all, if I had a time – machine, I would choose to go back in time to live in this special moment.