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Panama Canal
The United States and the United Kingdom sign a treaty for Panama Canal -
Tripartite Treaty
Tripartite Treaty between Great Britain, Germany, and USA is ratified. Britain gives up its right to the Samoan island chain in exchange for German concessions elsewhere. Germany gains sole control of the western portion, and the USA gains control of the eastern. -
Gold
US Congress passes the Gold Standard Act, fixing gold value of dollar at 25.8 grains, 0.900 fine as standard unit of money of the US. -
International Fairs
French President Emile Loubet opens International Fairs in Paris, France. -
Instrument of Cession
Seven high chiefs of American Samoa sign Instrument of Cession. -
Gold Rush
Jim Butler discovers an outcrop of gold ore in the Nevada desert, setting off a gold rush -
Boxer Rebellion
US troops arrive in Peking, China, to help put down Boxer Rebellion. -
German Navy
German Navy Law calls for massive increase in sea power -
Hamburger
The hamburger is created by Louis Lassing in Connecticut -
Boxer Rebellion
International forces including US Marines enter Beijing, China to put down Boxer Rebellion, which was aimed at ridding China of foreigners -
Hurricane
6,000 killed when a hurricane and tidal wave destroy Galveston, Texas, most deadly in US history. -
US President William McKinley
US President William McKinley (Republican) re-elected, beating William Jennings Bryan -
Australia
Australia declares independence from federation of United Kingdom colonies. -
FIRE
Fire destroys 1,700 buildings in Jacksonville, Florida, USA -
President William McKinley is shot
President William McKinley is shot by Leon Czologosz in Buffalo, New York (dies 8 days later). -
Theodore Roosevelt inaugerated as President of the USA
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first public demonstration of radio
Nathan Stubblefield makes the first public demonstration of radio in Pennsylvania, USA. -
Mount Pelée erupts
May 8
Mount Pelée erupts, wipes out Saint Pierre, Martinique, kills 30,000. -
Lyman Gilmore
May 15
Lyman Gilmore is first person to fly a powered craft. -
Occupation of Cuba ends
May 20
US military occupation of Cuba (since January 1, 1899) ends. -
Guantanamo Bay
US signs agreement acquiring a naval station at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. -
airplane patent
March 23
Wright brothers obtain airplane patent -
Ford Motors incorporates.
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Flight
At 10:35 AM, the first sustained, controlled, powered aircraft flight is made by Orville Wright of Dayton, Ohio, in 12hp Flyer I at Kill Devil Hills, Kittyhawk, North Carolina. The flight lasts 12 seconds, travelling 120 feet. Brother Wilbur Wright then flies 852 feet for 59 seconds -
USA catches fire
February 7
Baltimore, Maryland, USA catches fire (1500 buildings destroyed in 80 blocks) -
Japan and Russia declares war
February 10
Japan and Russia declares war after Japan's surprise attack on Russian fleet at Port Arthur disabled 7 Russian warships. -
US Control of Panamá Canal
February 23
Control of Panamá Canal Zone acquired by US for $10 million -
New York City Subway
New York City Mayor George McClellan operates the inaugural run of the city's new subway rapid transit system. The line, operated by the Interborough Rapid Transit Company, travels 9.1 miles through 28 stations, running from lower Manhattan to Harlem. In the evening, the subway opens to the general public, at a cost of 5 cents each. -
French government of Émile Combes falls.
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Maurice Rouvier forms government in France.
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Oklahoma admitted to statehood of USA.
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Theodore Roosevelt begins second term in office as US President.
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Earthquake in Kangra, India, kills 370,000.
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Treaty of Portsmouth
Treaty of Portsmouth ends Russian-Japanese War; about 85,000 dead Japanese, 45,000 Russian. -
Albert Einstein introduces his Theory of Relativity
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First American awarded Nobel Peace Prize - President Theodore Roosevelt
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US invades Honduras.
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Oklahoma becomes 46th US state
November 16
Oklahoma becomes 46th US state -
President Taft inaugrated as 27th US President
President Taft inaugrated as 27th US President during 10-inch snowstorm. -
US Mint
August 2
The US Mint releases the Lincoln cent to circulation. -
US helps overthrow President Miguel Dávila of Honduras.
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China ends slavery.
March 10
China ends slavery. -
Immigration
March 26
US forbid immigration of criminals, anarchists, paupers, and the sick. -
King Transfer
May 6
King Edward VII of England (1901-10), dies suddenly after short illness at age 68. [1] [859.33]
King George V ascends to British throne. [1] -
Federal Reserve System
A group of men meet in secret at Jekyll Island, Georgia, USA, to write legislation to revise US banking system to produce a central bank under their control. -
Division
December 19
First US city ordinance requiring white and black residential areas (Baltimore, Maryland). -
US sends 20,000 troops to Mexican border.
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Revolution in México overthrows President José Porfirio Diaz.
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King George V of England is crowned at Westminster Abbey
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First air raid,
First air raid, Italian pilot drops a 4.5-pound bomb on Turkish position at Ain Zara. -
Sun Yat-sen elected first President of Republic of China.
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Titanic
(11:40 PM) The RMS Titanic passenger liner, on route from Southampton to New York, strikes an iceberg 453 miles southeast of Newfoundland, 37 seconds after warning from the night watchman in the crow's nest. Six of 15 watertight compartments are breached by a 300-foot gash. [1] [117.41] [260.92] [720.83] -
US marines invade Nicaragua
August 14
2,500 US marines invade Nicaragua; US remains until 1925 -
Assassination Attempt
October 14
Saloon keeper John N. Schrank shoots US President Theodore Roosevelt in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The bullet is deflected by a glasses case and breaks a rib. -
USA Presidential election:
November 5
USA Presidential election: Woodrow Wilson (Democrat) beats Theodore Roosevelt (Progressive) and President Taft (Republican). -
Raymond Poincaré
January 17
Raymond Poincaré elected President of France. -
Ten Day Tragedy
February 9
Ten Day Tragedy of Mexico City; 3,000 die. -
28th President of the USA
March 4
Woodrow Wilson inaugurated as 28th President of the USA -
China's first parliament
April 8
Opening of China's first parliament takes place in Peking (now Beijing) -
Webb Alien Land-Holding Bill
May 19
US Congress passes Webb Alien Land-Holding Bill, forbidding Japanese from owning land in USA. -
Lincoln Highway
September 10
Lincoln Highway opens as first US paved coast-to-coast highway. -
Gamboa Dam
October 10
US President Woodrow Wilson pushes button to remotely blow up Gamboa Dam in Panama Canal, allowing Atlantic and Pacific waters to meet. -
Ford and Gas
December 1
First drive-up gasoline station opens (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA). [1]
Continuous moving assembly line introduced by Henry Ford -
Federal Reserve Act
December 23
The Federal Reserve Act is signed by US President Woodrow Wilson into law. It authorizes the Federal Reserve System and a set of Federal Reserve notes -
War begins
August 1
Germany declares war on Russia. [1]
France, allied with Russia, begins to mobilize for war. [129]
Winston Churchill mobilizes the British Royal Navy for war. -
Germany invades Belgium
August 3
Germany invades Belgium and declares war on France; France declares war on Germany -
Germany declares war on Belgium; Britain declares war on Germany.
August 4
Germany declares war on Belgium; Britain declares war on Germany. -
Serbia declares war against Germany.
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Sweden and Norway make a common declaration of neutrality
August 8
Sweden and Norway make a common declaration of neutrality -
Jews are expelled from Mitchenick, Poland
August 11
Jews are expelled from Mitchenick, Poland. -
The Panama Canal officially opens
August 15
The Panama Canal officially opens, linking the Pacific and Atlantic oceans between North and South America. The SS Arcon is first ship to officially transit the canal, taking 9 hours 40 minutes. -
President Woodrow Wilson issues Proclamation of Neutrality.
August 18
President Woodrow Wilson issues Proclamation of Neutrality. -
German forces occupy Brussels, Belgium
August 20
German forces occupy Brussels, Belgium -
Japan declares war on Germany
August 23
Japan declares war on Germany -
German plane drops bombs on Dover, England.
December 24
German plane drops bombs on Dover, England. -
Informal Christmas Truce
December 25
Germans and Allies across the trenches cease firing and participate in an informal Christmas Truce -
Earthquake in Avezzano, Italy, kills 30,000
January 13
Earthquake in Avezzano, Italy, kills 30,000 -
First US ship lost in Great War,
January 28
First US ship lost in Great War, William P Frye -
Germany begins a blockade of England.
February 18
Germany begins a blockade of England. -
Germany sinks US ships
February 23
Germany sinks US ships Carib and Evelyn and torpedoes Norwegian ship Regin. -
First military use of poison gas (chlorine, by Germany).
April 22
First military use of poison gas (chlorine, by Germany). -
Italy declares war on Austria-Hungary and Germany.
May 23
Italy declares war on Austria-Hungary and Germany. -
25,000 women march in New York City, demanding right to vote.
October 23
25,000 women march in New York City, demanding right to vote. -
End of Gallipoli campaign
January 10
End of Gallipoli campaign, British retreat, 313 officers dead, 1313 Marines dead, over 5000 wounded. -
First bombing of Paris by German Zeppelins takes place
January 29
First bombing of Paris by German Zeppelins takes place. -
US Senate agrees (82-6) to participate in European war.
April 4
US Senate agrees (82-6) to participate in European war. -
Italy declares war against Germany.
August 28
Italy declares war against Germany. -
Almost war With Mexico
The German minister, Arthur Zimmermann, sends a telegram through the German ambassador in Washington to the German ambassador in Mexico offering Mexico an alliance against the United States. He proposes that Mexico will be assisted in retaking Texas, New Mexico and Arizona. The telegram is intercepted and decoded by British intelligence and given to President Woodrow Wilson. Then given to the Public. -
US President Woodrow Wilson asks Congress to declare war against Germany.
April 2
US President Woodrow Wilson asks Congress to declare war against Germany. -
US declares war on Germany, enters Great War.
April 6
US declares war on Germany, enters Great War. -
Ten million American men begin registering for draft for war duty.
June 5
Ten million American men begin registering for draft for war duty. -
China declares war on Germany and Austria.
August 14
China declares war on Germany and Austria. -
US becomes 13th country to declare war on Austria.
December 7
US becomes 13th country to declare war on Austria. -
League of Nations
January 8
US President Woodrow Wilson outlines to the American Congress his 14 points for peace after war in Europe, calls for creation of a League of Nations. -
Moscow becomes capital of revolutionary Russia.
March 11
Moscow becomes capital of revolutionary Russia. -
Time Zones
March 19
US Congress authorizes time zones and approves daylight saving time. -
Women Can Vote!
May 21
US House of Representatives passes amendment allowing women to vote. -
Battle of Belleau Wood
June 6
Battle of Belleau Wood, first US victory of the Great War. -
Battle of Amiens ends
August 11
Battle of Amiens ends, Allies beat Germans. -
American Code Talkers
October 17
First use of American Code Talkers in World War I, by members of the Choctaq tribe in radio communications. -
Austrians surrender to Allies; Austro-Hungarian Empire dissolves
November 3
Austrians surrender to Allies; Austro-Hungarian Empire dissolves -
The Great War ends
The Great War ends, after Germany, the last of the Central Powers, surrenders to the Allies. -
The 18th Amendment
January 16
The 18th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, prohibiting the "manufacture, sale, or transportation" of alcohol, is ratified by required three-quarters of the states -
League of Nations
January 25
Founding of League of Nations at Paris Peace Conference. -
American Legion forms
March 15
American Legion forms -
Gas heating furnace
Alice H Parker patents gas heating furnace. -
First assembly of League of Nations
January 16
First assembly of League of Nations -
US Senate votes against membership in League of Nations
US Senate votes against membership in League of Nations -
US Senate rejects
March 19
US Senate rejects Treaty of Versailles for second time refusing to ratify League of Nations' covenant (maintaining isolation policy) -
UK Vr. Iraq
April 25
The League of Nations grants a mandate to the United Kingdom to administer Iraq. -
Panama Canal Act of 1912.
July 12
US Presidential Proclamation declares Panama Canal officially open, as required in Panama Canal Act of 1912. -
Nobel Peace Prize
President Woodrow Wilson receives Nobel Peace Prize -
8.6 earthquake
Over 180,000 die when 8.6 earthquake destroys 15,000 square miles (Kansu, China)
