Sometimes, with the Periodization that the College Board uses; history creates these little prequels.  In this case, this is the story of how Japan, German, and the United States (as well as Russia) grew to be the major world power players that…

Sometimes, with the Periodization that the College Board uses; history creates these little prequels.  In this case, this is the story of how Japan, German, and the United States (as well as Russia) grew to be the major world power players that they will become in the final period (1900-present).  Here we see them rise from obscurity (or non-existence), to global super powers.  The big four players in World War II, didn't appear from nothing: They were born here.

Unification of Germany (this is 30 minutes long, but the guy playing Bismarck is awesome... ENJOY!)

BERLIN CONFERENCE of 1884