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Plessy Vs. Ferguson
At this time, railway cars were segregated and had separate sitting areas for whites and blacks. A man named Homer Plessy sat in the white section of the car and was asked to move. Even though he was seven-eighths white and only one-eighth black, Plessy was still arrested. Plessy lost the case and the court found that the "separate but equal" provision of private services mandated by state government is constitutional. -
1st Football Game Between Black Colleges
On this day, the first football game played between two black colleges occured. The colleges were Atlanta University and Tuskegee College. The final score was 10 to 0, Atlanta. -
United States Vs. Wong Kim Ark
This case was a very important part of determining if birth in America effected citizenship. Wong was born in America to Chinese immigrant parents. His citizenship was questioned based on the 1882 law that didn't allow Chinese immigrants or their children to become U.S. citizens. The court decided that a child born in America was a citizen. -
Philippine American War Begins
The war was a part of several conflicts in the Philippine struggle for independence. -
Spanish-American War Ends
This conflict between the U.S. and Spain began in 1898. The war is the result of America's intervention in the Cuban War of Independence. Fighting ended with the signing of a Protocol of Peace between the two countries. America's attacks on Spain's Pacific possessions inculding the Philippines, led to the Philippine-American War. -
Hawaii Becomes US Territory
Hawaii was an ideal location to aid the fighting in the Philippines. In 1898, the government was investigating a desirable form of local government for Hawaii. Congress was afraid this would lead to Hawaii becoming a state, so it took a while for plans to be heard. However, an act providing government "for the Territory of Hawaii" was signed by the president. -
William McKinley Shot
In the afternoon of September 6, McKinley was to greet the public at the Temple of Music in Buffalo New York. Leon Czolgosz hid a ,32 caliber under his handkerchief while he waited in line. McKinley was shot twice before Czolgosz was subdued by a large crowd. The president eventually died from his wounds eight days later. -
JC Penney Opens 1st Store
James Cash Penney opened The Golden Rule store in Kemmerer, Wyoming. The store was a partnership with Guy Johnson and Thomas Callahan, Johnson and Callahan left the partnership and Penney owned all three stores in 1907. Today, the chain's net income is $389 million. -
United Mine Workers Strike
The Coal Strike of 1902 involved the United Mine Workers in eastern Pennsylvania. Wokers demanded higher wages and less work hours. The strike threatened to cut off the winter fuel supply to the major cities. Theodore Roosevelt became involved and the strike never resumed. The workers' demands were met and they were paid more money for less hours, -
Wright Brothers' 1st Flight
In 1903, Wilbur and Orville Wright built the Wright Flyer I out of spruce. On December 14, Wilbur made a 3-second flight attempt that resulted in the Flyer recieving minor damage, After repairs, the first flight was made. With Orville piloting, the first flight of 120 feet in 12 seconds at 6.8 miles per hour was photographed. (Left) -
Bank of Italy Opens
The Bank of Italy was created by Amedeo Giannini, son of Italian immigrants. The bank was started in a converted saloon in San Francisco. At the end of the first day, 28 deposits totalled 8,780. In 1928, Giannini changed the name of his bank to The Bank of America. -
Las Vegas, Nevada Established
At first Las Vegas was run by Mormons and a fort was built. The fort served as a stopover for Mormon travelers until 1857 when it was abandoned during the Utah War. Las Vegas was established as a railroad town when it was auctioned of by its owner, the San Pedro, Los Angeles and Salt Lake Railroad. -
The Great San Francisco Earthquake Strikes
This major earthquake struck San Francisco and the Northern Coast of California at 5:12 a.m. The shaking could be felt as far inland as central Nevada. More than 3,000 people died in the earthquake and resulting fire, making this the natural disaster with the highest death toll in California's history. -
Theodore Roosevelt Wins Nobel Peace Prize
Roosevelt won the Nobel Peace Prize for his actions leading to the Treaty of Portsmouth. The treaty ended the Russo-Japanese War in 1905. The president happily accepted the diploma and medal, but planned to give the prize money to charity. Roosevelt actually didn't gather the prizes until 1910, after he was in office. He didn't feel that it would be appropriate to accept it while president. -
U.S. Invades Honduras
The banana industry for America was booming in Honduras. Policarpo Banilla was an important friend of the banana industry for the U.S. Nicaragua's president invaded Honduras wanting to over through the dictator, Banilla. Since the banana industry was at risk, the U.S. invaded to stop the take over. -
Ball Dropped on New Years for 1st Time
New Year's Eve was first celebrated in 1904 with fireworks. However, a more spectacular desplay was wanted. Walter F. Palmer made a lit ball of iron and wood that would be lowered from a flagpole. The ball was 700 pounds and measured 5 feet in diameter. -
Robert Peary and Matthew Henson 1st to Reach North Pole
Robert Peary had led many trips to Greenland. When he decided to lead an expedition to the North Pole, he chose Matthew Henson as his assistant. Henson opened up exploration for African Americans. Accompanied by three Eskimos, Peary and Henson reached the North Pole. Since Peary had to stop and rest three miles from the actual Pole, Henson was the first American to step foot on the North Pole. -
Boy Scouts of America Founded
During the progressive movement in America, a lot of focus was placed of young mens' physical, mental, religious and social development. The YMCA was very popular at this time. Two of BSA's predecessors were the Woodcraft Indians and the Sons of Daniel Boone. W. D. Boyce was the founder. -
Fire at New York's Triangle Shirt Waist Company
A fire broke out under a cutter's table at the shirt manufacturing company at 4:40 p.m. Mostly young immigrant women worked at the shirtwaist company. Since the doors to the stairwells and exits were locked, 146 women died from the fire, smoke inhalation, or jumping to their deaths. -
Titanic Sinks
One its way to New York from Southampton, England, the Titanic sank. Only four days into its maiden voyage, the ship struck an iceberg at 11:40 p.m. and sank at 2:20 a.m. on April 15. 1,517 of the 2,223 passengers died mostly because of a lack of lifeboats. The sinking resulted in changes in maritime laws. -
Theodore Roosevelt Shot on Campaign Tour
As the president prepared to give a speech in Milwaukee, John Schrank shot him in the chest. Fortunately, a steel glasses case and a copy of his speech in his pocket slowed the bullet enough for Roosevelt to only sustain a flesh wound. Roosevelt went on to deliver the speech with the bullet still lodeged inside him. He carried the bullet in his chest until his death in 1919. -
Woodrow Wilson Inaugurated
Wilson was the second democratic president in Washington since the Civil War. He ran against the Bull Moose party (Theodore Roosevelt) and Republican William Taft. Wilson was the President of Princeton University and the Governor of New Jersey. -
Panama Canal Opens
The Panama Canal was built from 1904 to 1914. It connects the Atlantic Ocean and Pacific Ocean through Panama. Today, it is one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World. At first the canal was to be built by the French. The United States began a second attempt that was successful. -
Alexander G. Bell calls Thomas Watson in SF from NY
Transcontinental phone service started with this phone call. News no longer took days to reach people. At the time, the telegraph was the choice of communication. However, Alexander Graham Bell changed things with this new rival: the telephone. -
Leo Frank is Lynched in Atlanta
Leo Frank was the superintendent of the National Pencil Company in Atlanta, Georgia. Frank was the last person to see employee, Mary Phagan, alive before her strangling death. On August 26, 1913, Frank was convicted for murdering the 13-year-old Phagan. He was sentenced to life in prison. Frank was kidnapped from prison and hanged by the "Knights of Mary Phagan". -
First Birth Control Clinic Opens
In the Brownsville, Brooklyn, Margaret Sanger opened the first birth control and family planning clinic in the U,S, Nine days after the opening, Sanger was arrested for breaking a law that prohibited the distribution of contraceptives. After serving her time, birth control activism was being supported by many. Sanger went on to found Planned Parenthood. -
U.S. Declares War on Germany
President Wilson demanded war be declared on Germany after the sinking of seven American merchant ships by submarines. America was never acually a part of the Allies. Instead, the U.S. became an "Associated Power". The American army was at first small, but thanks to the Selective Service Act, 2.8 million men were drafted. Puerto Ricans were even given U.S. citizenship so they could be drafted. -
President Wilson States 14 Point Plan for Peace
The speech by Wilson was given to ensure the country that peace in Europe was planned to come postwar. Many welcomed his plan, while his colleagues were skeptical. The speech became the basis of the terms of Germany's surrender. One of the points of the speech is that no secret alliances would be made. -
Wave of Molasses Kills in Boston
An strangely warm day of 40 F in Boston Massachusetts, caused disaster to strike starting at the Purity Distilling Company. A 50 ft storage tank full of 2,300,000 gallons of molasses collapsed due to pressure building inside. As the ground rumbled and shook, a 15 ft wave of molasses traveling at 35 mph thrashed through Boston. A train was lifted off its track and buildings were torn from their foundations. The wave left 150 injured and 21 crushed and drowned, -
First U.S. Woman Wins all Swimming Events at Olympics
Ethelda Bleibtrey is remembered for winning three gold medals in the 1920 Olympics. Bleibtrey had caught polio in 1917 and began swimming to help the recovery process. At the time of her win, she was the best competitive swimmer in the world. Another first for Bleibtrey was her citation for "nude swimming" . In 1919 this meant that she went swimming without her stockings on. Public support not only got Bleibtrey out of jail, but also stopped women being forced to wear stockings when swimming.
