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Sacco and Vanzetti arrested for armed robbery and murder
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KDKA goes on the air from Pittsburgh
KDKA, going on the air from Pittsburgh in 1920, was the first commercial radio broadcast in the United States. This event was significant to the Roaring 20s as it marked the beginning of the radio era, revolutionizing mass communication, shaping popular culture, and becoming a key medium for entertainment, news, and advertising during the decade and into the future. -
Teapot Dome Scandal
The Teapot Dome Scandal was a political scandal during President Warren G. Harding's administration, where Secretary of the Interior Albert B. Fall leased U.S. Navy oil reserves at Teapot Dome, Wyoming, to private oil companies in exchange for bribes in the form of personal gifts and loans. This event was significant to the Roaring 20s as it revealed government corruption, shook public trust in federal institutions, and exposed the influence of big businesses. -
1st Miss American Pageant
The first Miss America Pageant, held in 1921 in Atlantic City, was a beauty contest designed to attract tourists to the area and was the first national beauty competition in the United States. This event was significant to the Roaring 20s as it reflected the era's growing emphasis on consumerism and mass entertainment and showcased the changing standards of beauty and increased visibility and independence of women in public. -
1st Winter Olympics Held
The first Winter Olympics held in Chamonix, France, marked the beginning of international winter sports competitions. This event was significant to the Roaring 20s, as it highlighted global enthusiasm for sports and leisure activities during a decade of growth and cultural transformation, showcasing the growing trend of international cooperation and competition. -
The Great Gatsby published by F. Scott Fitzgerald
The Great Gatsby, published by F. Scott Fitzgerald in 1925, was a novel that explored the themes of wealth and the American Dream during the Roaring 20s. This event is significant to the period, as the novel highlights the era's focus on wealth, social status, and the pursuit of the American Dream while also criticizing the emptiness experienced beyond these things. -
Scopes Monkey Trial
The Scopes Monkey Trial was a 1925 legal case in Tennessee in which high school teacher John Scopes was accused of violating state law by teaching evolution. This event was significant to the Roaring 20s, as it highlighted the conflict between modern science and traditional religious beliefs in a rapidly changing society. -
Charles Lindberg completes solo flight across the Atlantic
Charles Lindbergh's solo flight across the Atlantic in 1927 was the first non-stop flight from New York to Paris, completed in his plane, the Spirit of St. Louis. This event was significant to the Roaring 20s, as it marked a major milestone in aviation history, made Charles Lindbergh an international icon, and advanced the future of aviation. -
The Jazz Singer debuts (1st movie with sound)
The Jazz Singer debuted in 1927 as the first feature film with synchronized dialogue, marking the end of the silent film era. This event was significant to the Roaring 20s as it revolutionized the entertainment industry, shifted the dynamics of Hollywood, and showcased the decade’s rapid technological progress and cultural shifts in American society. -
St. Valentine's Day Massacre
The St. Valentine's Day Massacre was when seven members of Chicago's North Side gang were murdered by gunmen posing as police officers under the orders of Al Capone. This event is significant to the Roaring 20s, as it highlighted the extreme violence of organized crime during Prohibition, showcasing the lawlessness and corruption that flourished in American cities during the era. -
Black Tuesday (Stock Market Crash)
Black Tuesday was the catastrophic stock market crash that occurred on October 29, 1929, marking the beginning of the Great Depression. This event is significant to the Roaring 20s as it abruptly ended the decade's economic prosperity, leading to widespread financial ruin, dramatically altered the social and economic landscape of the United States, and had devastating effects on the country and the world.