1920s Timeline

  • Sacco and Vanzetti arrested for armed robbery and murder

    Sacco and Vanzetti arrested for armed robbery and murder
    Around three weeks after the incident, Sacco and Vanzetti were accused of the offense. Their court case sparked a lot of debate due to the strong conviction that the proof presented against them was weak, and that they were being targeted because of their immigrant status and their extreme political views.
  • KDKA goes on the air from Pittsburgh

    KDKA goes on the air from Pittsburgh
    From the start, they were recognized as pioneers in broadcasting. This marked the beginning of the inaugural broadcast by a radio station with a commercial license. KDKA became operational in Pittsburgh, serving as the inaugural commercially licensed station globally on November 2, 1920.
  • 1st Miss American Pageant

    1st Miss American Pageant
    In 1921, the inaugural Miss America pageant was launched, aiming to draw visitors to Atlantic City, New Jersey, to prolong their Labor Day weekend and partake in celebrations.
  • Teapot Dome Scandal

    Teapot Dome Scandal
    Fall was the first cabinet member to be imprisoned for accepting bribes from oil companies. However, no one was found guilty of giving the bribes. Before Watergate, the Teapot Dome scandal was seen as the most significant and shocking political scandal in American history.
  • 1st Winter Olympics Held

    1st Winter Olympics Held
    Arranged meticulously and outfitted with modern amenities, the event succeeded , prompting the International Olympic Committee to revise its constitution in 1925 , creating the Winter Olympics.
  • The Great Gatsby published by F. Scott Fitzgerald

    The Great Gatsby published by F. Scott Fitzgerald
    "The Great Gatsby" is seen as a crucial piece of American literature due to its ability to act as a significant critique of the American Dream, delving into its charm. All while being set in the lavish Jazz Age. This period illustrates the moral decline and shallowness frequently found among the rich and famous, highlighting the enduring nature of the narrative by emphasizing the intricacies of human longing and the quest for joy through material possessions.
  • Scopes Monkey Trial

    Scopes Monkey Trial
    In 1925, John Scopes was fined $100 for teaching evolution in Dayton, Tenn. This trial was the first major one about evolution and showed a big conflict between old and new ideas in America during the 1920s.
  • The Jazz Singer debuts (1st movie with sound)

    The Jazz Singer debuts (1st movie with sound)
    The Jazz Singer, a 1927 American movie, was the first to have real-time talking, ending silent films and starting talkies. It was a big step in movie history.
  • Charles Lindberg completes solo flight across the Atlantic

    Charles Lindberg completes solo flight across the Atlantic
    The solo journey of Charles Lindbergh across the Atlantic was important as it signified the initial time anyone had completed a nonstop flight from New York to Paris by themselves, showcasing the possibilities of long-haul air travel and greatly increasing public fascination with commercial flying, essentially starting a new phase in air transportation history. His accomplishment is seen as a key turning point in the history of aviation.
  • St. Valentine's Day Massacre

    St. Valentine's Day Massacre
    The St. Valentine's Day Massacre was a violent attack on a group of bootleggers in Chicago on February 14, 1929. It highlighted the fierce competition for power in the illegal alcohol business during the time of Prohibition in the U.S.
  • Black Tuesday (Stock Market Crash)

    Black Tuesday (Stock Market Crash)
    Black Tuesday marked the start of the Great Depression, a time of economic downturn that lasted until World War II.