Norway History Summary

Between the 8th and 11th centuries, a tribe, known as the Vikings, ruled in Norway. Known as a warrior nation, the Vikings set up colonies in Britain, Iceland, Greenland and North America. In around 1000 years, Christian missionaries began to spread Christianity in Norway. King of Norway 1st Haakon accepted Christianity. In 1030 the Danish occupied Norway. Norway has become part of the North Sea Empire established by King Danish Knud.

In 1363 the King of Norway VI. Håkon, married the (I. Margrete) daughter of the Danish king and united the two countries.

Håkon was also acquainted with the Swedish royal family. In 1387, I. Margrete came to the throne. Under Margaret's rule, in 1397, Sweden, Norway, Denmark and the colonies merged and a large Scandinavian Empire was established under the name of the Kalmar Union.

Sweden left the Kalmar Union in 1521. Denmark and Norway continued to act together under the Danish-Norway till 1821.

Norway had to join Sweden after the Napoleonic Wars. In 1905 Sweden recognized the Norway independence. As a result of the 1905 referendum, King of Denmark VII. Frederik's son Karl was declared king of Norway.

Norway remained neutral in World War I. It was occupied by the Nazis in World War II. Norway was occupied until the surrender of Germany. Norway became a member of NATO in 1949. In the referendums held in 1972 and 1994, the Norway people rejected the membership of the European Union.

Watergate Scandal Summary

The building where the Watergate scandal emerged.

The Watergate scandal is a political scandal that developed in the capital of the United States and resulted in the resignation of President Richard Nixon. Watergate is the name of a hotel and business center located in Washington, DC, the capital of the United States. The scandal is referred to as the Watergate Scandal or Watergate for the emergence of this building.

On June 17, 1972, five thieves were arrested by the police as they entered an office in the Watergate business center. It turned out that the United States was the center of the then Democratic Party, the main opposition party. The sustained investigation revealed that the thieves were linked to the Republican Party, which was Nixon's party, and that their aim was to place microphones to listen to the Democratic Party's phones secretly.

President Richard Nixon then appointed Justice Minister Elliot Richardson to uncover all the politicians who were behind this viciousness. Richardson, an attorney named Archibald Cox, has made this point. Cox learned that all the president's talking was recorded in the White House. He wanted these records to be given to him. Richard Nixon certainly rejected this request and ordered the Justice Minister to remove Cox from his post. Richard Nixon ended Richardson's job because he did not take Cox from duty.

The US Supreme Court forced Richard Nixon to hand over tape records to the prosecutor. Richard Nixon delivered his tape recordings at the end, but this time Richard Nixon had lost his people's support and began investigations at the US Congress to get Richard Nixon out of office. Richard Nixon announced on August 8, 1974 that he would resign with a speech he made on television. Instead, Vice President Gerald Ford became president. Thus Richard Nixon became the first and only president to resign from the US presidency.