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The 19th Amendment Gives American Women The Right to Vote
The 19th amendment to the United States constitution is ratified giving women the right to vote. A near century of protest paid off, although many of the earliest supporters did not live to see the day. -
The London Schedule of Payments Requires Germany to pay 132 Billion Gold Marks
Reparations to cover civilian damage caused during the first world war were totaled at 132 billion gold marks. Germany was held responsible to pay this back. The total equaled 33 billion USD at the time. -
James Joyce's Novel Ulysses is Published
James Joyce publishes his modern parallel to Homer's Odyssey. -
Adolf Hitler's "Beer Hall Putsch" Fails
Adolf Hitler and his followers organized a failed takeover of a southern German state. This led to Hitler's five year prison sentence where he would write Mein Kampf. -
Nellie Tayloe Ross Elected as Governor of Wyoming
Nellie Tayloe Ross became the first female United States governor to be sworn in. -
Vladimir Lenin Dies
After establishing the USSR in 1922, Vladimir Lenin passes away on January 21, 1924. He is succeeded by Joseph Stalin as the leader of the Soviet Union. -
Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue Premieres
Aeolian Concert Hall is packed as George Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue premieres. The song is a huge success and remains one of the most performed of all American concert works. Rumor has it that George Gershwin wrote this piece in only five weeks. He later claimed that the main theme of Rhapsody in Blue was written on a train ride from New York to Boston. -
Mein Kampf Published
During his five year prison sentence starting in 1924, Adolf Hitler wrote Mein Kampf and published his first volume on this day. -
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United States Deploys Marines to Nicaragua Amid Revolts
United States Marines landed on the Caribbean coast. Nicaragua was in a heated political climate. The United States feared a resurgence in conservative-liberal violence and a new revolution may lead to a leftist political victory. Marines were sent and remained there until 1933 under the presumptions that they were protecting American citizens. -
Charles Lindbergh Completes the First Solo Flight
On this day, Charles A. Lindbergh completed the first solo flight across the Atlantic Ocean. At just 25 years old, the young aviator made history. -
Penicillin Discovered
Sir Alexander Fleming discovers Penicillin, ushering in the age of antibiotics. Although the drug would not be introduced until the 1940s, there was now hope in fighting bacterial infections through therapeutic medicine. Hope wasn't your only option in fighting off that upper respiratory infection or infected cut! -
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The Great Depression
The worst economic downturn in the history of the industrialized world began during the stock market crash of 1929. Reckless Wall Street speculation inflated the stock market and on October 24th "Black Thursday" kicked off the stock market crash as investors sold overpriced shares in huge quantities. -
Saint Valentines Day Massacre
Gang violence erupted in Chicago as seven men linked to mobster George Moran's north side gang were killed. The assailants dressed as police men. The crime to this day still remains unsolved but it is heavily suspected that Al Capone and his gang were behind the attack. -
Pluto is Discovered
Astronomer Clyde W. Tombaugh discovers Pluto at the Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff, Arizona. -
The "Star Spangled Banner" Becomes the United State's National Anthem
Francis Scott Key's piece becomes the official National Anthem of the United States of America. -
Amelia Earhart Flies Across the Atlantic
Amelia Earhart becomes the first woman to complete a solo transatlantic flight. -
Hitler Appointed German Chancellor
After the Fascist party gained support, Hitler was appointed Chancellor of Germany, leading him to obtain dictatorial powers. -
Chancellor Dollfuss Assassinated
Engelburt Dollfuss was an Austrian dictator. He reigned by precepts of the Roman Catholic Church and preached Christian nationalism. In 1933 he outlawed the Nazi party in Austria. In 1934, Nazis disguised themselves and staged a coup in order to regain popularity. Dollfuss was killed during the uprising. -
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Second Italo-Ethiopian War
Italian fascist, Benito Mussolini invades Ethiopia. Mussolini adopted Hitler's plan for expansion of German territory. This war led to the submission of Ethiopia to Italian rule. -
Jesse Owens Wins Four Gold Medals at the 1936 Berlin Olympic Games
Jesse Owens in 1936 would go on to win four gold medals, in the 100 meter dash, 200 meter dash, 4 x 100 meter relay, and long jump. He would also break nine Olympic records that year. Jesse Owens is credited with crushing Hitler's narrative of the Aryan racial superiority that year. The people of Berlin would hail him an African-American hero. -
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Second Sino-Japanese War
The conflict between Japanese and Chinese forces for control of mainland China began. This war was considered pivotal for the eventual control communists would gain over the Chinese nationalists. -
Orson Welles's War of the Worlds Radio Broadcast.
As people tuned into their radio they heard a broadcast telling them of invaders, but it wasn't real, it was Orson Welles broadcasting War of the Worlds. -
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World War II Begins
Germany invades Poland, marking the beginning of The Second World War.
