One decision can change History. Some of these decisions have altered humanity and even moved us away from near-destructive situations. Here are 10 significant moments where one decision, one vote or one moment, changed History.
1. Vasili Arkhipov Saves Humanity from Nuclear Devastation (1962)
During the Cuban Missile Crisis, Soviet officer Vasili Arkhipov cast the sole vote to veto the launching of a nuclear torpedo. Under high pressure, Arkhipov’s opposition prevented an annihilating war between the U.S. and the Soviet Union, showing how significant clear thinking was during this crisis.
2. The Impeachment of Andrew Johnson (1868)
President Andrew Johnson narrowly escaped being removed from office by a single vote in the Senate. Senator Edmund G. Ross broke ranks to acquit Johnson, saving executive authority. Though controversial, his decision upheld the independence of the presidency, shaping the balance of power in American government.
3. California’s Anti-Slavery Constitution (1849)
In 1849, California’s decision to become a free state came down to one vote at its constitutional convention. This upset the balance between free and slave states and increased tensions that would lead to the outbreak of the Civil War and set the course of the nation.
4. Woman’s Suffrage in Tennessee (1920)
The 19th Amendment, granting women the right to vote, was approved by a single vote in Tennessee’s legislature. Harry T. Burn changed his vote, influenced by a heartfelt letter from his mother urging him to support women’s suffrage, marking a historic step forward for gender equality in American democracy.
5. John Adams Wins the Presidency (1796)
John Adams won the U.S. presidential election of 1796 by a single electoral vote over Thomas Jefferson. This close victory set the stage for the young nation’s evolving political system and ultimately led to reforms in the way America elects its leaders.
6. The Annexation of Texas (1845)
Annexation of Texas by the U.S. Senate won by one vote launched the nation into war with Mexico. Such expansion brought California and Arizona, among other vast territories, under the United States’ wing, greatly affecting its economy and polity.
7. The Appointment of Adolf Hitler as Chancellor (1933)
The Reichstag In 1933, one vote gave Adolf Hitler the right to centralize power under the Enabling Act. This abolished the democratic regime of Germany and substituted it with the Nazi regime, a path toward World War II and the Holocaust.
8. Alaska Purchase Approval (1867)
The U.S. Senate ratified the Alaska Purchase by one vote, acquiring the territory from Russia for $7.2 million. What was initially called “Seward’s Folly” would prove in later years to be a land rich in resources and of strategic importance to the United States.
9. Texas Railroad Commission Vote on Oil (1931)
During the East Texas Oil Boom, the vote of one member of the Texas Railroad Commission implemented production quotas that stabilized the oil markets and prevented small producers from financial ruin. This decision had repercussions in how oil would be regulated globally and how OPEC was formed.
10. California Proposition 13 (1978)
California voters barely approved Proposition 13, which capped property taxes and reshaped how the public would be funded. While it preserved homeownership for many, it also cut funding to schools and infrastructure, sparking nationwide debates on tax reform and inequality. These moments in history remind us that even the tiniest voices can have monumental effects. Whether on the floors of governments or in the darkest hour of crisis, one vote can ripple through time, change lives, and change the course of whole nations.
Sources
