Most Important Battle in Your Nation's History

[Kahran Ramsus]

I brought this up in the most important battle in the history of the world thread, and someone suggested that it would interesting to make a whole seperate thread about this. Basically what I want to know is what you consider to be the most important battle in the history of your country. It doesn't necessarily have to be one that has occurred only since the official foundation or independence of your nation, but the battle that had the most direct impact on what your nation would become.

I'll get started with my post from the other thread.

For Canada, I would have to go with the Battle of the Plains of Abraham which although it came over a hundred years before Confederation did more to shape Canada than any other conflict, and is famous these days for being referred to in the opening verse of "Maple Leaf Forever". 250 years later and there is still a large Quebec population that is quite resentful over the outcome.

 

[Pendragon65]

Prob Hastings. Change from Saxon rule to Norman rule leading to the Plantagenet Kings, King John & Magna Carta. Trafalgar. Naval Supremacy for years allowing Victorian Britain to run its Empire & expand, Waterloo seeing off Napoleon for good. WW1 the killing fields of Flanders,Jutland, Socially & Economically UK still paying, WW2 see WW1

 

[say1988]

Damn, I was going to post that one. Undoubtedly the most important in Canadian history. It was the battle that resulted in British control of Canada (there were others, but not as important as that one).
You may also argue something like Detroit (a key morale victory) or Chrysler's Farm from the War of 1812, but I don't see any comparably decisive battles during the war.
From the US Civil War St Albans Raid, was a key event leading to confederation, along with the later Fenian Raids not that either are much in the way of battles.
But your first choice is the best one.

 

[Fugitive Sisyphus]

For the United States the Battle of Yorktown is the standard "most important" battle choice since it resulted in US independence.

However, I would like to nominate the Battle of Midway. Who can guess what would happen to the the US(and the world) if the US had lost.

 

[MilesGregarius]

For the United States the Battle of Yorktown is the standard "most important" battle choice since it resulted in US independence.

Yorktown is rarely listed as the "most important". Depending on the era one prefers, Saratoga - without which no Yorktown - or Gettysburg - highwater mark for the Confederacy- are usually cited. My vote goes to Saratoga.

However, I would like to nominate the Battle of Midway. Who can guess what would happen to the the US(and the world) if the US had lost.

Midway is one of those rare, truly decisive battles, but there was never any question of the US winning in the Pacific. Japan was too resource poor and lacked the industry to stay in it with the US for long - Yamamoto himself said as much. Sans Midway, the war may go on a bit longer and more Americans might die, but eventually US industrial strength would have prevailed anyway.

 

[Fugitive Sisyphus]

Yorktown is rarely listed as the "most important". Depending on the era one prefers, Saratoga - without which no Yorktown - or Gettysburg - highwater mark for the Confederacy- are usually cited. My vote goes to Saratoga.

All those are reasonable choices.

Midway is one of those rare, truly decisive battles, but there was never any question of the US winning in the Pacific. Japan was too resource poor and lacked the industry to stay in it with the US for long - Yamamoto himself said as much. Sans Midway, the war may go on a bit longer and more Americans might die, but eventually US industrial strength would have prevailed anyway.

Probably but a loss at Midway changes the dynamics of the Pacific War which also has surprising affects on the War in Europe. Even if the only thing that happens because of a loss at Midway is a delay in Japan's defeat this would have great affect on the Cold War. Just like a change in any important battle, there is just a whole lot maybes if a Midway loss happens. Maybe the United States (unofficially) gives up in the Pacific and focus even more completely on Europe. Maybe a strong Japan causes sparks a small Soviet-Japanese conflict that allows a German victory over Russia in Europe. Maybe a delay in Japanese defeat allows the Soviet Union time to enter the Pacific War which results in Japan being split like Germany was. Plenty of good material for alternate history writers to go through.

 

[Knight-Dragon]

For Malaysia, probably the Battle of Malaya during WW2. It showed that the British imperialists weren't invincible, nor capable of defending the region and British prestige took a massive hit. It led eventually to an amiable independence from the UK.

 

[Aramazd]

Yorktown is rarely listed as the "most important". Depending on the era one prefers, Saratoga - without which no Yorktown - or Gettysburg - highwater mark for the Confederacy- are usually cited. My vote goes to Saratoga.

That's what I came into this thread thinking. Saratoga is the most important battle in US history, IMO.

 

[Dann]

For China, the Battle of Changping:
http://www.answers.com/topic/battle-of-changping
with it, the last significant obstacle to Qin's total victory over the other Warring States kingdoms was removed, which would lead to Qin's unification of China - politically, linguistically, culturally, psychologically. Had this battle gone the other way (and Zhao plus the other kingdoms take advantage of a weakened Qin + reform themselves) China might have gone on to a very different path. There might not be a giant homogenous "China the nation" today but a collection of culturally related nations in the area instead ala Europe.

 

[Cheezy the Wiz]

For Malaysia, probably the Battle of Malaya during WW2. It showed that the British imperialists weren't invincible, nor capable of defending the region and British prestige took a massive hit. It led eventually to an amiable independence from the UK.

Amiable independence? Wasn't there a bloody insurrection around 1948 or so?

 

[Archbob]

Saratoga for America
Changping for China

 

[Mirc]

105-106 AD, Second Dacian War: Rome conquers Dacia and turns it into a Roman province. Without that, this "nation" would have never existed.

 

[privatehudson]

Gettysburg's status as the Confederate high tide or the turning point of the Civil War is overstated and debateable if you ask me.

 

[Adler17]

Teutoburg Forest, 9 AD. Without that Germany would become Roman province.

Adler

 

[Knight-Dragon]

Amiable independence? Wasn't there a bloody insurrection around 1948 or so?

The uprising by the Communists?

Bloody? Yes, there were casualties but the Communists were quickly driven into the jungles after which the British took control of the situation. The Communists never had a chance militarily, and they never had much support either amongst the Malays, nor the mercantile Chinese.

The real independence movement has nothing to do with this rebellion.

It was an amiable break-off; especially when compared with the Dutch in Indonesia (driven off militarily by the natives) and the French in Vietnam (finally defeated decisively at Dien Bien Phu (sp?)). Even today, Malaysia still maintains a defensive agreement with the UK (plus Australia, NZ and Singapore). There's no hard feelings towards the British.

 

[silver 2039]

The various Battles of Panipat.

 

[vb1]

For Russia i would single out two battles:

1. Battle of Kulikovo field, it was the beginning of collapse of Mongol rule.
2. Battle of Stalingrad, the turning point in WW2 IMO. or at least the point at which the Germans were forced to stop their advance.

 

[Tee Kay]

For Australia, probably Galipoli. Honourable mentions: Battle of the Eureka Stockade, Coral Sea, Kokoda, and the various massacres of indigenous Australians, which secure the continent for the British.

 

[cybrxkhan]

for Vietnam...

Battle of Bach Dang River (938 CE) - we finally kick the Chinese out. for good.

 

[RedRalph]

Ireland - Easter rising, 1916. We lost, but we never would have thrown the Brits out without this battle.