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Fitzgerald Timeline
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First Use of the Electric Chair
At Auburn Prison in New York, William Kemmler became the first person to be sent to the chair. After he was strapped in, a charge of approximately 700 volts was delivered for only 17 seconds before the current failed. https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/first-execution-by-electric-chair -
Birth
Francis Scott Key Fitzgerald is born in St. Paul, Minnesota, to Edward and Mary Fitzgerald. He is named after Francis Scott Key, who wrote the lyrics to the “Star-Spangled Banner” and is a distant relative. https://www.britannica.com/summary/F-Scott-Fitzgerald-Timeline -
Princeton University
Fitzgerald attends the Newman School, a Catholic preparatory school in Hackensack, New Jersey. He meets Father Sigourney Fay, who recognizes Fitzgerald’s literary talent and encourages him to pursue writing. https://www.britannica.com/summary/F-Scott-Fitzgerald-Timeline https://www.britannica.com/summary/F-Scott-Fitzgerald-Timeline -
Triangle Club
In 1913, Fitzgerald entered Princeton University as an Undergraduate. He then joined a club called Princeton Triangle Club, for which he wrote scripts and lyrics for various shows. https://library.princeton.edu/libraries/firestone/rbsc/aids/fitzadd/#:~:text=Paul%2C%20Minnesota.,and%20lyrics%20for%20various%20shows. -
World War 1
World War I began after the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria. His murder catapulted into a war across Europe. During the conflict, the Central Powers fought against the Allied Powers. https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-i/world-war-i-history -
Russian Revolution
Revolution that overthrew the imperial government and placed the Bolsheviks in power. Increasing governmental corruption, the reactionary policies of Tsar Nicholas II, and catastrophic Russian losses in World War I contributed to widespread dissatisfaction and economic hardship. https://www.britannica.com/summary/Russian-Revolution#:~:text=Russian%20Revolution%20of%201917%2C%20Revolution,widespread%20dissatisfaction%20and%20economic%20hardship. -
Army
He eventually flunks out, however. Although he returns to Princeton, he then leaves again in to join the army. https://www.britannica.com/summary/F-Scott-Fitzgerald-Timeline -
Love of his life
During the summer he is stationed near Montgomery, Alabama, and meets Zelda Sayre, daughter of an Alabama Supreme Court judge. They become engaged, but his lack of financial stability is an issue. https://www.britannica.com/summary/F-Scott-Fitzgerald-Timeline -
World War 1 Ends
Germany ended up surrendering on November 11. This then caused all nations to stop fighting while the terms of peace were negotiated. https://www.americaslibrary.gov/jb/jazz/jb_jazz_ww1_1.html#:~:text=Germany%20had%20formally%20surrendered%20on,Versailles%2C%20formally%20ending%20the%20war. -
Broken Engagement
After Zelda breaks off their engagement, he returns to St. Paul and works on a novel that he had been writing during his time in the army. https://www.britannica.com/summary/F-Scott-Fitzgerald-Timeline -
Treaty of Versailles
The Treaty of Versailles, signed in 1919 at the Palace of Versailles in Paris at the end of World War I, codified peace terms between Germany and the victorious Allies. The Treaty of Versailles held Germany responsible for starting the war and imposed harsh penalties on the Germans, including loss of territory, massive reparations payments and demilitarization. https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-i/treaty-of-versailles-1 -
Movies and Radio
Movies became a form of mass entertainment that replaced traditional arts and amusement for rural people. Radio became commercially viable and by the 1930s most households in Britain and Germany had inexpensive individual sets. The influence of mass culture was highly evident in both radio and movie, and were used as powerful outlets for political propaganda. https://www.preceden.com/timelines/168121-1890-1950 -
Alcohol becomes banned
The Prohibition Era began in 1920 when the 18th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which banned the manufacture, transportation and sale of intoxicating liquors, went into effect with the passage of the Volstead Act. Despite the new legislation, Prohibition was difficult to enforce. https://www.history.com/topics/roaring-twenties/prohibition#:~:text=The%20Prohibition%20Era%20began%20in,Prohibition%20was%20difficult%20to%20enforce. -
Prince and Princess
Fitzgerald publishes his first book, This Side of Paradise. The novel brings him fame and money. He marries Zelda in April. They become a celebrated couple. https://www.britannica.com/summary/F-Scott-Fitzgerald-Timeline -
Great Gatsby
Fitzgerald wrote the Great Gatsby. He did this to capture the American Dream in a way that would transcend the ideas of everyday life https://study.com/academy/lesson/why-was-the-great-gatsby-written.html#:~:text=When%20was%20The%20Great%20Gatsby,Long%20Island%20became%20his%20inspiration.
https://www.loc.gov/item/today-in-history/september-24/#:~:text=In%201924%2C%20Fitzgerald%20wrote%20The,fiction%20in%20the%20nation's%20literature. -
The Great Depression Started
The collapse of world trade due to the Smoot-Hawley Tariff; government policies; bank failures and panics; and the collapse of the money supply. -
Alcoholism
Many people believe Fitzgerald had been an alcoholic ever since college. He went through unsuccessful rehab a countless amount of time, and over time he had at least one alcohol induced breakdown. https://www.diffordsguide.com/encyclopedia/2867/people/f-scott-fitzgerald -
Holocaust Started
Hitler’s invasion of Poland in September 1939 drove Great Britain and France to declare war on Germany, marking the beginning of World War II. Over the next six years, the conflict would take more lives and destroy more land and property around the globe than any previous war. https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/world-war-ii-history -
Amelia Earhart Flies
Amelia Earhart was an American aviator who set many flying records and championed the advancement of women in aviation. She became the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean, and the first person ever to fly solo from Hawaii to the U.S. mainland. During a flight to circumnavigate the globe, Earhart disappeared somewhere over the Pacific in July 1937. https://www.history.com/topics/exploration/amelia-earhart -
The Great Depression Ended
Mobilizing the economy for world war finally cured the depression. Millions of men and women joined the armed forces, and even larger numbers went to work in well-paying defense jobs. https://www.loc.gov/classroom-materials/united-states-history-primary-source-timeline/great-depression-and-world-war-ii-1929-1945/overview/#:~:text=Mobilizing%20the%20economy%20for%20world,to%20influence%20us%20even%20today. -
World War 2 Began
Hitler's invasion of Poland in September 1939 drove Great Britain and France to declare war on Germany, marking the beginning of World War II. Over the next six years, the conflict would take more lives and destroy more land and property around the globe than any previous war. https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/world-war-ii-history -
R.I.P Fitzgerald
At the age of 45, Fitzgerald dies. He left his final novel he was writing, The Last Tycoon, unfinished. https://www.loc.gov/item/today-in-history/september-24/#:~:text=For%20the%20last%20years%20of,%2C%20The%20Last%20Tycoon%2C%20unfinished. -
Holocaust Ended
The military defeat of Nazi Germany and its European collaborators in World War II. Although the liberation of Nazi camps was not a primary objective of the Allied military campaign, Soviet, US, British, and Canadian troops freed prisoners from their SS guards. They provided them with food and badly needed medical support and collected evidence for war crimes trials. https://www.ushmm.org/teach/fundamentals/holocaust-questions -
World War 2 Ends
World War II had claimed the lives of an estimated 60-80 million people, approximately 3 percent of the world’s population. The vast majority of those who died in history’s deadliest war were civilians, including 6 million Jews killed in Nazi concentration camps during the Holocaust. https://www.history.com/news/world-war-ii-end-events -
President Franklin Roosevelt Dies
Franklin Delano Roosevelt, often referred to by his initials FDR, was the thirty-second President of the United States. He was a central figure of the 20th century during a time of worldwide economic crisis and world war. Elected to four terms in office, he served from 1933 to 1945 and is the only U.S. president to have served more than two terms https://www.timetoast.com/timelines/7878