-
-
In 1901, Guglielmo Marconi transmitted the 1st wireless radio signal across the Atlantic. This greatly improved long-distance communication.
-
In 1903, the Women's Trade Union League was organized. It was comprised of mainly middle to upper-class women. It was founded as a charity to help lower-class working women.
-
In 1906, Upton Sinclaire published "The Jungle" which portrayed the despicable conditions of the slaughter factory in Chicago. This book ultimately led to the passage of the Meat Inspection Act and Pure Food and Drug Act.
-
The Hepburn Act passed Congress in 1906. It allowed the Interstate Commerce Commission to regulate railroads and set reasonable rates for the railroads.
-
-
The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory in Manhattan caught fire. The managers escaped, but 146 women died while 78 injured while being trapped in the factory. This was certainly not the first time a factory had caught fire, but this incident held great significance because these women had unsuccessfully struck the year before for safer working conditions.
-
-
-
German U-boats sank the RMS Lusitania, a passenger ship off of the southern coast of Ireland killing 1,198 people. This caused an uproar in America, as 128 passengers were American Citizens. Some claim that this was an important factor in America's entrance in World War 1 as an Allied nation in 1917.
-
In response to President Wilson's request for war, Congress officially declares War on Germany.
-
-
The Spanish Flu originally began in Haskell County, Kansas where it spread to a nearby army training camp. The soldiers then spread it across nation and world. It was termed the "Spanish Flu" because the first accounts of the disease appeared in uncensored Spanish Newspapers. No cure was found for the disease and roughly 50 million people died from it before the flu ran its course.
-
In 1918, the Dyer Bill was proposed to Congress. If it had passed, it would have held local county's legally responsible for the lynchings that took place within their jurisdiction.
-
2,000,000 American soldiers joined British and French armies in launching counteroffensives that pushed the Germans back.Termed "Black Day of German Army" by the Germans.
-
Although the final peace treaty was not signed until June 1919, peace prevailed on the western European front.
-
The Universal Negro Improvement Society led by Marcus Garvey announced their Black Star Line, a shipping line. This pushed for African-Americans to reject the American political system and "return to Africa." This epitomized the Garveyism movement.
-
The Chicago Riot was only one of many riots that took place all over America during 1919. It was considered the "Red Summer's" worst. Resulting from racial and ethnicity prejudices as well as the lack of jobs, the Chicago Riot lasted a week long and consisted of mob violence, murder, and arson.