Modern Era and American History Timeline

By smithlw

  • The Cross of Chevalier de la Legion d’Honneur

    The French government awards Claude Debussy The Cross of Chevlier e la Legion d’Honneur for outstanding musical ability.

  • First in Flight

    The Wright Brothers make the first flight in a motorized aircraft at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina.

  • World War I

    1914 and the assassination of Archduke Ferdinand marks the start of the First World War, drawing in nations from all over the globe.

  • Composer Enlists

    British composer Ralph Vaughan Williams enlists in the Royal Military, specifically in the medical corps. He did survive the war, dying in 1958.

  • The Dixieland Jass Band

    Stein’s Dixie Jass Band, later known as The Dixieland Jass Band, begins performing at Schiller’s Cafe in Chicago, Illinois.

  • First Female Representative

    Jeanette Rankin becomes the first woman to be elected into the U.S. House of Representatives.

  • Influenza Epidemic

    A worldwide Influenza epidemic outbreak occurs, killing millions. By the end, around 500,000 had died in the United States.

  • Holst and The Planets

    Gustav Holst premieres his now-famous orchestral suite The Planets, at the Queen’s Hall in London.

  • The League of Nations

    The League of Nations meets for the first time in history. However, the United States is not present for this meeting.

  • Twelve-Tone Composition

    Josef Matthias Hauer invents the twelve-tone technique of composition, contributing to the rise of serialism.

  • Stock Market Crash

    The great stock market crash of 1929 begins the era of the Great Depression.

  • The National Anthem

    The Star-Spangled Banner is adopted as the official national anthem of the United States.