1900-1920

  • Great Storm of 1900 Occurs

    Great Storm of 1900 Occurs
    A massive category four hurricane descended on the town of Galveston, Texas, destroying more than 3,600 buildings with winds surpassing 135 miles per hour. The estimated death toll is said to be 6,000 to 12,000 people.
  • President McKinley Is Assassinated

    President McKinley Is Assassinated
    President William McKinley is shot by Leon Czolgosz, an anarchist, in Buffalo, New York on September 6, 1901. He died from his wounds eight days later.
  • Pure Food and Drug Act Is Passed

    Pure Food and Drug Act Is Passed
    The Pure Food and Drug Act of 1906 prohibited the sale of misbranded or adulterated food and drugs in interstate commerce and laid a foundation for the nation’s first consumer protection agency, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
  • First Inauguration of Woodrow Wilson

    First Inauguration of Woodrow Wilson
    This inauguration marked the first four years of President Wilson's presidency. He would serve four more after his first four years in office.
  • Panama Canal Opens

    Panama Canal Opens
    The Panama Canal opened up for traffic on this date, allowing trade to occur.
  • RMS Lusitania Sinks

    RMS Lusitania Sinks
    The British ocean liner was sunk by a German submarine, killing 1,198 passengers and crew members.
  • President Wilson Is Inaugurated for the Second Time

    President Wilson Is Inaugurated for the Second Time
    President Wilson gets inaugurated for a second time, making his total time in office eight years.
  • United States Purchases the Danish West Indies

    United States Purchases the Danish West Indies
    The U.S. bought the islands from Denmark for $25 million, and chose the name "Virgin Islands."
  • United States Enters World War I

    United States Enters World War I
    President Wilson declared war on Germany because of their submarine warfare and the Zimmerman Telegram.
  • 18th Amendment Is Ratified

    18th Amendment Is Ratified
    The 18th Amendment prohibited the manufacture, sale, and transportation of intoxicating liquors.