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3rd May » West Virginia becomes the first state to legislate a broad sales tax, but does not implement it until a number of years later due to enforcement issues.
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The United States Congress passes the Emergency Quota Act establishing national quotas on immigration.
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Nellie Tayloe Ross of Wyoming becomes the first female governor in the United States.
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The Motion Picture Production Code is instituted, imposing strict guidelines on the treatment of sex, crime, religion and violence in film, in the U.S., for the next thirty-eight years
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A 'Chicago Tribune' reporter, Jake Lingle, is killed during rush hour at the Illinois Central train station by Leo Vincent Brothers, allegedly over a $100,000 gambling debt owed to Al Capone
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For her role as Mammy in film known as Gone with the Wind', Hattie McDaniel becomes the first African American to win an Academy Award.
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Booker T. Washington becomes the first African American to be depicted on a United States postage stamp
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The United States was drawn into World War II with the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor in December 1941
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Jan 6 US President Franklin Roosevelt makes his "Four Freedoms" speech (freedom of speech and worship; freedom from want and fear) during his US State of Union address
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Feb 15 Duke Ellington first records "Take the A Train"