Influential People of the 20th Century

Keeping in view the drastic transformations in the way of living, the list of the most important people of the 20th century is endless. This article takes account of those who changed the world in a major way, thus, influencing the way we associate with each other today…

The 20th century, that lasted from 1901 to 2000, witnessed a phenomenal jump in the lifestyle of people as a result of the social, ideological, political, and most importantly, technological transformations. With the inclusion of expressions like world war, nuclear war, and beliefs in daily usage, a number of people turned out to be an influence on the lives of commoners.

While the 19th century effectively laid the foundation of progression of global communication and motorization, the 20th century expanded horizons of the same in an all new manner with the help of a huge number of important people in history. Here, we will talk in brief about the influential people that the 20th century saw, people who were responsible for not only transforming the world into what it is today, but also bringing in peace and harmony among world masses.

The Time 100 list of the most influential people mentions names of a number of leaders, revolutionaries, builders, scientists, heroes, and icons. Following is a brief description of the top 10 most influential people that the 20th century saw:

Albert Einstein

The most influential scientist of the decade, Einstein is known as the Father of Modern Physics. He received a Nobel Prize for his contribution to the field of Theoretical Physics in the year 1921.

Mahatma Gandhi

Indians call him the Father of the Nation as he is one of the world’s greatest leaders, and the father-figure of Indian Independence Movement. Known for his beliefs like total nonviolence and civil disobedience, it was because of him that India got independence in 1947.

Franklin D. Roosevelt

Whether or not he was a ‘good’ president, he made a special place in the list of presidents of USA who were democratic and most revolutionary. This is because he won wars on two fronts, and helped America get out of the economic depression by the progressive norms and policies. He also created a Social Security system that helped senior citizens, thus, prodding the Golden Age of novelty and production in America.

Franklin D. Roosevelt

Whether or not he was a ‘good’ president, he made a special place in the list of presidents of USA who were democratic and most revolutionary. This is because he won wars on two fronts, and helped America get out of the economic depression by the progressive norms and policies. He also created a Social Security system that helped senior citizens, thus, prodding the Golden Age of novelty and production in America.

Winston Churchill

He was a successful leader, Prime Minister, writer who won a Nobel Prize in literature, and a sound statesmen. He was elected halfway through the Second World War, and was the biggest strength for Britishers and Allies all around the world.

Adolf Hitler

Adolf Hitler was the most debated personality of the century and a great German leader. He started the biggest war the world saw, and changed the entire borders by leading Germany throughout World War II. However, he committed suicide on April 30th, 1945. Often criticized for being one of the most evil people in world history, he also instigated the Holocaust.

The Wright Brothers

The Wright Brothers were responsible for one of the most significant inventions of the 20th century: the airplane. From a mere bicycle repair shop to experiments and research in the field of airplane development, their mania for airplanes led to the creation of the first heavier-than-air airplane.

Mao Tse-tung

By bringing China under unified standards, Mao Tse-tung is considered as one of the most important personalities to have lived in the 20th century, and a legend of a leader in the Chinese Communist Party. He effectively led both the Chinese revolution and the Communist Party.

Henry Ford

He was neither a leader, nor a politician. However, he invented a car that transformed the face of the automobile world. In 1999, from a survey conducted among Americans, Henry Ford made his place among the Gallup’s List of Widely Admired People of the 20th Century. He was also the innovator of welfare capitalism.

John Fitzgerald Kennedy

Another president of USA, John F. Kennedy was a phenomenal and liberal leader of the 20th century. He was often criticized for dealing with the Cuban Missile Crisis, and was killed in dubious situations which are still far-fetched.

Nelson Mandela

A former president of South Africa, Nelson Mandela has received more than 100 awards and honors. However, the most notable achievement of Mandela was the Nobel Peace Prize he received in 1993.

Apart from the people listed above, there are many others who were equally impactful, but not as prominent. The following is a compilation of 100 influential individuals of the 20th century who molded the era with their phenomenal achievements and beliefs.

20th Century’s 100 Most Influential People

It was amongst these wars, conflicts, and revolutions that the aforementioned individuals proved to be the effective contributors to the world. It was because of their efforts and participation that the life we are living now could be thought of. Good or bad, these people have and will always influence our lives from time to time.