1900-1920 Timeline

By MichaelMcCutcheon

  • Gold Standard Act Ratified

    The Gold Standard Act is ratified, putting the United States dollar on the gold standard.

  • Hurricane In Galveston

    A Hurricane hits the city of Galveston, Texas killing over 8,000 with winds exceeding 100 MPH. It remains the most deadly natural disaster in American history.

  • President William McKinley Dies

    Earlier on September 6 while greeting visitors to the Pan-American Exposition in Buffalo, New York President William McKinley was shot. He died of wounds sustained two weeks later on September 14.

  • First Movie Theater In U.S. Opens

    The "Electric Theater" opens its doors in Los Angeles, California as the first movie theater in the United States.

  • Cuba Gains Independance

    The nation of Cuba gains Independence from the United States. Cuba was initially gained a s a United States territory in 1898 when it was taken from Spain after the Spanish-American War.

  • First Sustained Manned Flight

    Wilbur and Orville Wright are successful in their attempt at the first sustained manned flight with their airplane design. It flew 859 feet over the course of 59 seconds.

  • San Francisco Earthquake Occurs

    The San Francisco Earthquake occurs, killing 478 and causing over $350 million in damages to the city. It measured a 7.8 on the Richter scale.

  • Antiquities Act

    President Theodore Roosevelt authorizes presidents to designate lands as national monuments. This would be used to begin the National Parks system that runs throughout the United States.

  • First Official President Trip Abroad

    The first official trip abroad by an an acting United States President occurs when President Theodore Roosevelt traveled to Panama to view the progress on the Panama Canal

  • First Passenger Flight

    The first passenger flight on a plane occurs when Wilbur Wright escorts Charles W. Furnas in the Wright Flyer III at Huffman Prairie Flying Field in Dayton, Ohio.

  • National Conference of the Negro Occurs

    The National Conference of the Negro occurs. This conference would set the outline for the formation of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.

  • The Boy Scouts of America Founded

    The Boy Scouts of America is founded. In the coming years the Boy Scouts of America would become an immensely popular program for United States youth, teaching practical skills as well as fostering leadership.

  • 16th Amendment Ratified

    The 16th Amendment to the United States Constitution is ratified, allowing the United States government's treasury department to impose an income tax on the population.

  • Babe Ruth Debuts

    Baseball superstar Babe Ruth plays his first game in Major League baseball.

  • President Wilson Announces U.S. Neutrality

    President Woodrow Wilson gives a speech in which he announces that the United States will remain neutral in the war going on in Europe eventually known as World War 1.

  • First Telephone Conversation

    Alexander Graham Bell and Thomas A. Watson engage in the first telephone conversation between San Francisco and New York.

  • U.S. Coast Guard Established

    The United States Coast Guard is established, replacing the U.S. Life-Saving Services and taking over their r=former duties.

  • Lusitania Sinks

    The British passenger ship Lusitania is torpedoed and sunk by a German u-boat. 128 American passengers are killed in the attack, and the American public grows in favor of intervention in World War 1.

  • Zimmermann Telegram Given To U.S.

    The Zimmermann Telegram is given to the United States by the United Kingdom. It had been an intercepted message from the German government asking the Mexican government to preemptively attack the United States.

  • U.S. Joins World War 1

    Congress agrees with President Wilson's request and the United States declares war on Germany and their allies, officially joining World War 1 on the side of the entente.

  • 18th Amendment Ratified

    The 18th Amendment to The United States Constitution is passed, making the manufacture and sale of alcoholic beverages illegal in the United States.

  • World War 1 Ends

    The Treaty of Versailles is signed, officially ending World War 1 with the victory of the United States and allies.