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President McKinley is shot in Buffalo, New York
On September 14, 1901, while McKinley was making a public appearance in new York, a man by the name of Leon Czolgosz pulls out a gun and shot McKinley two times in the stomach region. Czolgosz was a anarchists, and claimed that McKinley was the leader of a corrupt government. He was convicted of murder and executed on October 29, 1901 by death to electric chair. Vice-president Theodore Roosevelt steps up and take the place of presidency. McKinley died 8 days later. -
Theodore Roosevelt is sworn into office
After the sudden attack and injury of president McKinley, vice-president Theodore Roosevelt takes up the mantle of presidency. Roosevelt would go on to not only become the 26th president, but also the youngest, being not even 43. -
America takes over the construction of the Panama Canal
All the way back in 1881, a French company, owned by Ferdinand de Lesseps, begin building a canal passing through Panama. He was met with engineering problems and poor planning, as well as workers dying to disease in that region. By 1904, America took up the project, hiring several people oversee the construction of it. By 1914, it was finished and ready for use. -
Upton Sinclairs, The Jungle is published
Back in 1905, an author by the name of Upton Sinclair's, publishes his book titled The Jungle. What made the book such a shocking read was the fact that he exposes the meat industry for not having proper working conditions and spoiled meat be sent to the public for use. The read was so shocking that it led to a new health and safety law being passed. The book was republished in 1906. -
Woodrow Wilson is elected as president
In 1913, Woodrow Wilson is elected as the 28th president. Wilson would be best known for not only pushing America to join WW1, but also in his second term, he helped encourage congress to pass the 19th amendment, which gives the right for women to vote. -
War breaks out in Europe
During 1914, the Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria is assassinated by a South Slav nationalist Gavrilo Princip on June 28. The whole ordeal was planned by Germany in order to break up the alliance between both Russia and France. Germany went through with this plan well aware of the consequences. WW1 had begun and it would last a total of 4 years. -
The RMS Lusitania is attacked and sunk by German forces
On May 7, 1915, when the Ocean liner Lusitania was passing near Ireland, a German U-boat shot a torpedo at the ship, causing it to sink within 20 mins. The attack killed a total of 1,195 passenger's, with 128 of them being American citizens The sudden attack would be one of the major reason as to why America joined WW1. -
WW1 comes to an end
In 1918, both the combined troops of America and resources in the western area finally tipped the scales of war in the allies favor. The war ended with Germany surrendering and the Treaty of Versailles being signed by America, along with Britain, France, Russia and Italy, bringing the war to an end.