Much of Europe just seemed to care naught
But Earth’s western half made it hard-fought
It was thirteen showed up
To the FIFA World Cup
And host Uruguay bested the lot

Event: Uruguay defeats Argentina 4-2 to become the champion of the 1st FIFA World Cup (the United States was later declared to be the 3rd-place finisher based on having a better goal differential than the other semi-final loser, Yugoslavia)
Year: 1930
Learn more: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1930_FIFA_World_Cup

In response to the death of Duke Franz*
They produced a long list of demands
Though the Serbs wanted peace
They could not take police
Which fit right in with Austria’s plans

*Pronounce it with a nice, Anglicized “franz” (rhymes with “cans”) rather than the more Germanic “frahnz” (rhymes with “prawns”)

Event: After the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand in Sarajevo, the Austro-Hungarian Empire issues an ultimatum. The Serbian government’s refusal to comply with all elements of the ultimatum eventually led to the start of World War I
Year: 1914
Learn more: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/July_Crisis

Night to day, unbelievably fast
Ever on, repercussions would last
A destroyer was spawned
And a new age had dawned
In the wake of the Trinity blast

Event: The Trinity test; first detonation of a nuclear weapon
Year: 1945
Learn more: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trinity_%28nuclear_test%29

Yes, they’ve come a long way now since Gore
To the Men’s Singles they’ve added four
And the watchers don’t scream
They eat berries and cream
As for tennis, it stands at the fore

Event: Opening of the first Championship at Wimbledon
Year: 1877
Learn more: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Championships,_Wimbledon

Not content to mere prisoners be
They took charge of their route ‘cross the sea
Some tried to their cause thwart
But the land’s highest court
Ruled that all these brave souls should be free

Event: The Mende captives revolt and take over La Amistad
Year: 1839
Learn more: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Amistad

In the attic, penned in by their fright
There was little to do but to write
Otto grieved that his girl’d
Never see the bright world
But her words, he could help them take flight

Event: The diary of Anne Frank is first published (original title: The Annex: Diary Notes 14 June 1942 – 1 August 1944)
Year: 1947
Learn more: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Diary_of_a_Young_Girl

Many afterward took on her name
As a way to seek fortune and fame
Excavations and tests
Of the place where she rests
Brought to end any lingering claim

Event: Birth of the Grand Duchess Anastasia Nikolaevna, daughter of Tsar Nicholas II
Year: 1901
Learn more: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Duchess_Anastasia_Nikolaevna_of_Russia

Having run out of worlds to defeat
Alexander went back to his seat
None know what he there met
But to his great regret
He would never return to his feet

Event: Alexander, Basileus of Macedon, Hegemon of the Hellenic League, Shahanshah of Persia, Pharaoh of Egypt and Lord of Asia, dies at age 32
Year: 323 BC
Learn more: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_the_Great

At first ready to soil their pants
By the end they could not help but dance
Free to fight one more day
“On the beaches,” he’d say
Once they’d gotten the hell out of France

Event: The evacuation of Allied forces from Dunkirk is completed
Year: 1940
Learn more: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunkirk_evacuation
http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/We_shall_fight_on_the_beaches

It saw radio rise to the fore
It saw Asia best Europe in war
When that fleet met its fate
In the Tsushima Strait
‘Midst artillery’s deafening roar

Event: End of the Battle of Tsushima, the decisive conflict in the Russo-Japanese War
Year: 1905
Learn more: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Tsushima