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Period: to
20th Century
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The sinking of the Titanic
The Titanic, the largest man-made structure sank to the bottom of the ocean killing thousands of people. The Titanic was said to be unsinkable but history proved that statement to be wrong. -
Model T cars
On May 1913 Henry Ford organized the first major U.S. assembly line to produce Model T cars. The universal car was the industrial success story of its age. Ford to this day is a successful car company that continues to grow. -
United States enters World War I
When war erupted in 1914, the United States attempted to remain neutral, but the U.S. ended up joining its allies--Britain, France, and Russia--to fight in World War I under the command of Major General John J. -
Flu Epidemic
The 1918 worldwide flu epidemic killed 20-40 million people. It has been cited as the most devastating epidemic in recorded world history. -
World War I ends with Germany's defeat
On November 11, 1918 The Germans accepted the armistice terms demanded by the allies. Germany agreed to evacuate the territories it had taken during the war. -
Mohandas Gandhi leads nonviolent reform
Mohandas Gandhi was an Indian political and spiritual leader who was called the Mahatma, or Great Soul. Mahatma Gandhi was a leader of India's struggle for independence from Britain. The nonviolent reform was an attempt to end the British East India company rule. -
Women win the vote
In the past women always seemed to be inferior to men. They were stuck doing household chores, taking care of the kids, and cooking dinner. Most women also had no say in politics ,so August 26, 1920 was a huge day for women around the United States. This was the day that women could start voting. -
Babe Ruth hits 60 home runs
On September 30, 1927 Babe Ruth hit 60 home runs. This was a record that has lasted for 64 years. -
First antibiotic penicillin
Alexander Fleming was the man who discovered the first antibiotic, penicillin in1928. Penicillin was the first antibiotic drug. It was the first to cure soldiers in World War II and it was a huge break through for this time. -
The Great Depression
On October 29, 1929, also known as Black Tuesday, the Stock Market Crash set in and devastated the economy. It was a major factor in beginning the Great Depression. -
Adolf Hitler named Chancellor of Germany
After Adolf Hitler was appointed chancellor of Germany on January 30, 1933, he seized every opportunity to turn Germany into a one-party dictatorship. -
First jet airplane takes flight
The very first jet airplane took flight on August 27, 1939. It took flight with a turbojet engine developed by Hans von Ohain of Germany. -
Germany invades Poland
On the day of September 1, 1939 the German forces invaded Poland, as Adolf Hitler seeks to regain lost territory and ultimately rule Poland. Because of this event World War II had begun. -
The breaking of baseball's color barrier
Jackie Robinson was the first colored man to play for the MLB. There were segregation issues in the United States at this time, but Jackie had to withstand the racial backlash that would undoubtedly follow. Jackie Robinson played for the Dodgers. -
Structure of DNA discovered
On April 1953 the structure of DNA was discovered by Francis Cricket and James Watson, two graduates from Cambridge University. -
Sputnik
The soviets launched, Sputnik, the first space satellite in 1957. This was the beginning of the space race. -
American scientists patent the computer chip. 1959
May 22, 1959 was the day that American scientists patent the computer chip. This set the standards for technology and invention. -
FDA approves birth-control pill
The Food and Drug Administration approved the world's first commercially produced birth-control pill on May 9, 1960. The approval of the birth control played a major role in the sexual liberation of women that took place during the 1960's. -
First American in space
On April 12, 1961 Alan Shepard became the second person in space, but the first American. Shepard was the fifth man to walk on the Moon, and one of only 12 astronauts in history to have stepped on the lunar surface. Alan Shepard is a man who will be known for thousands of years to come. -
First man to orbit Earth
On February 20, 1962 John Glenn became the first American to orbit the earth. This was one of the most important flights in American history. John Glenn, became a national hero and a symbol of American ambition. -
Cuban Missile Crisis threatens World War III
The Cuban Missile crisis was the crisis-point of the Cold War. It was the time when the world came nearest to annihilating itself. -
President John F. Kennedy assassination
On Friday, November 22, 1963, in Dealey Plaza, Dallas, Texas the 35th president of the United States was fatally shot. -
Smoking realted health hazards
The U.S. Surgeon General, Luther L. Terry, M.D., warns about smoking-related health hazards on Januray 11, 1964. The release of the report was the first in a series of steps, still being taken more than 40 years later, to diminish the impact of tobacco use on the health of the American people. -
The outlawing of segregation
When congress outlawed segregation, passing the Civil Rights Act, it outlawed major forms of discrimination against African Americans and women, including racial segregation. It ended unequal application of voter registration requirements and racial segregation in schools, at the workplace and by facilities that served the general public. This was a major turning point in the history of the United States. -
Martin Luther King Jr. assassination
The civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated in Memphis, Tennessee on April 4, 1968. Martin Luther King Jr. was a very influencial and powerful civil rights leader who only wanted peace among blacks and whites. The day of his assassination was a very sad day for many people through out the United States. -
First man to walk on the moon
On July 20, 1969 Neil Armstrong became the first man to walk on the moon. Neil's accomplishment placed the United States ahead of the Soviets in the Space Race and gave people around the world the hope of future space exploration. -
Personal computers launched
On February 1, 1977 the first mass market of personal computers was launched by apple. Computers have evolved and became more technologically advanced. -
First test-tube baby born
Louise Brown was the first test-tube baby born on July 25, 1978. Louise Joy Brown, the worlds first test tube baby, was born in Great Britain. The technology that made her conception possible was heralded as a triumph in medicine and science. -
AIDS identified
Deadly AIDS disease, or acquired immune deficiency syndrome, were identified among gay men on January 1, 1981 in the United States. As research and studies went on, scientist found out that the deadly disease has been out there for many years, and many people have it. -
Scientists clone sheep
Dolly the sheep was cloned on February 22, 1997. Dolly was the world's first mammal to be cloned. and the birth of Dolly was hailed as a huge scientific breakthrough.
