-
The first major oil discovery in Texas
The first major oil discovery in Texas occurs near Spindletop in Beaumont. -
Congress Passess The Platt Amendment
The Platt amendment is passed by the United States Congress, which limited the autonomy of Cuba as a condition for American troop withdrawal. Cuba would become a U.S. protectorate on June 12. -
President William H. McKinley is shot
President William H. McKinley is shot at the Pan-American Exposition in Buffalo, New York while shaking hands with fair visitors, following his speech at the event on President's Day the day before. Anarchist Leon Czolgosz is arrested for the crime. On September 14, Vice President Theodore Roosevelt is inaugurated as President upon the death of William McKinley from gunshot wounds sustained the week earlier -
First Rose Bowl Held
The first Rose Bowl is held, pitting the college football squads of the University of Michigan and Stanford. Michigan won the initial contest 49-0. It would be fourteen years until the second game, in 1916, when Washington State defeated Brown. -
The Island Of Cuba Gains Independence From The U.S
The island of Cuba gains independence from the United States. -
Willis Haviland Carrier Invents The Air Conditioner
Willis Haviland Carrier, a native of Angola, New York, invents the air conditioner. He would patent the device on February 2, 1906 and his company would air condition such buildings as Madison Square Garden, The U.S Senate, and House of Representatives. -
The First Two-Way Wireless Communication Accomplished
The first two-way wireless communication between Europe and the United States is accomplished by Guglielmo Marconi when he transmits a message from President Theodore Roosevelt to the King of England from a telegraph station in South Wellfleet, Massachusetts. -
Wilbur and Orville Wright Invent The first Sustained And Manned Plane
Inventors Wilbur and Orville Wright succeed in the first sustained and manned plane flight, taking the heavier-than-air machine through the winds of Kill Devil Hill, North Carolina, and man into an age of flight. The plane, mechanically propelled with a petroleum engine, flew 120 feet in 12 seconds, and later the same day, flew 852 feet in 59 seconds. They would patent the Airplane three years later on May 22, 1906. -
The Daytona Educational and Industrial Training School for Negro Girls is opened
The Daytona Educational and Industrial Training School for Negro Girls is opened by Mary McLeod Bethune in Daytona, Florida. Bethune is regarded as a leading contributor to the education of African-American students in the early 20th century. -
Theodore Roosevelt wins his first election for President
Theodore Roosevelt wins his first election for President after serving three years in the office due to the death of William McKinley. He defeats Democratic candidate Alton B. Parker, 336 to 140 in the Electoral College vote. -
Benjamin Holt Invents The First Successful Field Tractor
The first successful field tractor is invented by American Benjamin Holt, using a caterpillar track to spread the weight in heavy agricultural machinery. -
The city of Las Vegas, Nevada is formed
The city of Las Vegas, Nevada is formed with the sale of one hundred and ten acres in the downtown area. -
The Lewis and Clark Centennial Exposition is opened
The Lewis and Clark Centennial Exposition is opened in Portland, Oregon. The world's fair would host eighteen nations and three colonies, and close on October 15 with attendance of 1.7 million visiting its 402 acre site. -
Period: to
The San Francisco earthquake
The San Francisco earthquake occurs, estimated at 7.8 on the Richter scale. Its proximity to the epicenter of the San Andreas Fault and the subsequent fire that followed the quake and aftershocks left 478 reported deaths, although estimates in the future peg that figure at nearly 3,000. Between $350-$400 million in damages were sustained. Refugee camps were constructed at twenty-one sites throughout the city, including the Presidio, Fort Point, and Golden Gate Park. -
The Pure Food and Drug Act and the Meat Inspection Act is passed
The Pure Food and Drug Act and the Meat Inspection Act is passed. -
The first official trip abroad by a United States president
The first official trip abroad by a United States president occurs when Theodore Roosevelt leaves for a trip to inspect the progress in the construction of the Panama Canal. -
Financial Crisis
Another financial crises occurs in the business community with the beginning of the Financial Panic and Depression of 1907. -
State Of Oklahoma Formed
The Oklahoma Territory and the Indian Territory are combined to form Oklahoma and are admitted into the Union as the 46th state. -
New Year's Ball Dropping Tradition Inauguarated
The tradition of dropping a ball in New York's Times Square to signal the beginning of the New Year is inaugurated. -
The first passenger flight
Technology moves forward as the first passenger flight on a plane occurs when Wilbur Wright escorts Charles W. Furnas in the Wright Flyer III at Huffman Prairie Flying Field in Dayton, Ohio. On September 27, the first production Model T is built at the Ford plant in Detroit, Michigan. -
William Howard Taft Elected 27th U.S President
William Howard Taft is elected President, 321 to 162 Electoral Votes, over Democratic candidate William Jennings Bryan, who had twice before been defeated for the office by William McKinley in 1896 and 1900. -
The National Conference of the Negro
The National Conference of the Negro is conducted, leading to the formation of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, (NAACP). -
The Boy Scouts of America
The Boy Scouts of America is founded. -
1910 U.S. Census
In census of 1910 counted a United States population of 92,228,496. The 21% increase since the last census was the same rate of increase that had occurred during the previous decade. The center of the United States population was now within the city confines of Bloomington, Indiana. -
The United States Bureau of Mines Authorized
The United States Bureau of Mines is authorized by an act of the United States Congress. -
The first transcontinental airline flight begins
Technology moves forward. The first transcontinental airline flight was begun in New York by C.P. Rodgers. It would complete its journey to Pasadena, California after numerous stops and 82 hours and 4 minutes in the air on November 5. On October 10, Henry Ford patents the Automotive Transmission, Patent #1,005,186. -
Mount Katmai Erupts
Mount Katmai in southwest Alaska erupts in one of the largest recorded volcanic expulsions in the history of the world. It was designated Katmai National Monument in 1918 as protection against future eruptions. -
Woodrow Wilson Elected As 28th U.S. President
In the first election of a Democratic candidate since 1892, Woodrow Wilson overcame a three way race for the presidency when former President Teddy Roosevelt donned the nomination of the Progressive Party to tackle the election against Wilson and incumbent President and Republican William Howard Taft. This split caused the election of Wilson, who garnered 435 Electoral College votes to 88 for Roosevelt and only 8 for Taft. -
The 16th Amendment to the United States Constitution is ratified
The 16th Amendment to the United States Constitution is ratified, allowing the Federal government treasury to impose an income tax. The 17th Amendment would be passed on April 8, which set the policy for direct election of U.S. Senators. -
50th Anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg
The 50th Anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg commemorates the Civil War battle. It draws thousands of remaining veterans of the battle and their families to the site of the Gettysburg Address and the northernmost battle of the war. -
The first moving assembly line is introduced
The first moving assembly line is introduced and adopted for mass production by the Ford Motor Company, allowing automobile construction time to decrease by almost 10 hours per vehicle. -
President Woodrow Wilson announces United States neutrality in WW1
President Woodrow Wilson announces that the United States will stay officially neutral in the European conflict that would become World War I. World War I hostilities had begun on June 28 when the Archduke of Austria and his wife, Franz Ferdinand and Sophie were killed by a Serb nationalist in Sarajevo. Hostilities would begin on July 28 when Austro-Hungary declared war on Serbia for failing to meet conditions set after the assassinations. -
Rocky Mountain National Park Established
The establishment of Rocky Mountain National Park, containing majestic mountain spires rising 14,000 feet within the Colorado Rockies is signed into law by President Woodrow Wilson after legislation was passed in the U.S. Congress. Later that same year, on November 30, Wilson would also designate the site of Pueblo Indian cliff dwellings, dating back to the year 1200, as Walnut Canyon National Monument, in Arizona. -
The National Park Service is officially created
The National Park Service is officially created when President Woodrow Wilson signed legislation from Congress with the mission to protect and preserve the natural lands, historic sites, and wildlife of the system for future generations. -
Woodrow Wilson wins second term as President
Woodrow Wilson won a second term as President with his election in the Electoral College, 277 to 254 over Republican candidate Charles E. Hughes. -
U.S government cuts diplomatic ties with Germany
The United States government cuts diplomatic ties with Germany. The Zimmermann Telegram is given to the United States by Britain on February 24, showing the offer by Germany to give Mexico back the southwest United States if they would declare war on the United States. -
U.S Declares War On Germany
Four days after receiving the request from President Woodrow Wilson, the United States Congress declares war on Germany and join the allies in World War I. -
The first U.S. troops arrive in Europe to assist European allies in WWI
The first troops from the United States arrive in Europe to assist European allies in World War I. Troops engaged in World War I would include conscript soldiers authorized by the passage of the Conscription Act, the Selective Services Act, on May 18, 1917. General John Pershing would be placed in command of the American Expeditionary Forces during the campaign. -
The Treaty of Versailles is signed
The Treaty of Versailles is signed, ending World War I. -
1920 Census
For the first time, the 1920 census indicates a population in the United States over 100 million people. The 15% increase since the last census now showed a count of 106,021,537. The geographic center of the United States population still remained in Indiana, eight miles south-southeast of Spencer, in Owen County. -
The League of Nations is established
The League of Nations is established with the ratification of the Treaty of Versailles, ending the hostilities of the first World War. Nine days later the United States Senate votes against joining the League. -
Women are given the right to vote
Women are given the right to vote when the 19th Amendment to the United States constitution grants universal women's suffrage. Also known as the Susan B. Anthony amendment, in recognition of her important campaign to win the right to vote. -
Warren G. Harding Elected 29th U.S. President
A landslide victory for Warren G. Harding in both the Electoral College and popular vote returns the Republican Party to the White House. Harding gained over 16 million popular votes to Democratic candidate James M. Cox's 9 million and won the Electoral contest with a 404 to 127 landslide. This was the first election in which women had the right to vote.