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President McKinley Assassinated
While in Buffalo, New York at the Pan American Exposition, President Mckinley was shot and killed by Leon Czolgosz. Citizens were in a line waiting to meet the president and when it was Czolgosz's turn he "fired two bullets into his chest." (Davidson 607). After eight days fighting for his life President McKinley died passing the torch to Theodore Roosevelt. -
William Howard Taft Elected President
Taft, who was the democrat, beat out William Jennings Bryan who ran for a third and last time. Taft was picked specifically by Theodore Roosevelt to be his successor to the presidency. He was known as a " distinguished jurist and public servant," and was also the secretary of war during Roosevelt's presidency (Davidson 611). He was known to be weak and did not like confrontation which hurt him throughout his presidency. -
Federal Reserve Act of 1913
In this new Federal Reserve System, it "contained 12 regional banks scattered across the country." (Davidson 615). The president also appoints the Federal Reserve Board in Washington to supervise the system. The board is set to keep the system running smoothly and to "regulate credit and money supply." (Davidson 615) -
Beginning of World War I
The beginning of the war was sparked in Sarajevo, Bosnia when "the archduke and his wife were gunned down," by Serbian nationalists as they were driving through Sarajevo's streets (Davidson 627). This led to Austria-Hungary declaring war on Serbia which triggered Germany doing the same to Russia. -
Modern KKK is Formed
The modern Ku Klux Klan was started by 16 men who burned a cross on a mountain outside of Atlanta, Georgia. But the population of the group rose immensly after that. They did not focus just on one group but on the " rising tides of new immigrants," and "uppity women" (Davidson 667). Different parts of the United States hated different gorups of people in the Klan.By 1920 it has a membership of almost 3 million. At this time it had a huge impact on politics and who got elected in certain states. -
Influenza Pandemic of 1918-1919
AT Fort Riley, Kansas is where the pandemic started when a cook called in sick with influenza like symptoms. After a week "the number jumpred to over 500," being affected by the virus (Davidson 638). The virus did not become deadly in the United States until the second year. Then it began to spread all over the world. By the end of the virus "at least 12 million perished," from the deadly disease (Davidson 640). -
Treaty of Versailles rejected by Sentate
Throughout the time President Wilson introduced his Fourteen Main points, Henry Cabot Lodge was his enemy on getting it passed through the Senate. As the chairmen of the Foreign Relations Committee he "secured the signatures of enough senators to block the treaty." (Davidson 643). Both Wilson and Lodge put all their time into passing and ammending the treaty. After Lodge gave his 14 ammendments to Wilson's 14 main points, the president ordered democrats to defeat the treaty without compromising. -
Scopes Trial
William Jennings Bryan who had ran for president three previous times was a co-prosecutor in the case. While Clarence Darrow who was a renowned lawyer from chicago defended John Scopes.The defense of Scopes had collapsed "until Darrow called Bryan to the stand as an expert on the bible." (Davidson 666). He admitted "to the horror of his followers," that the earth might not have been made "in six days of 24-hours." (Davidson 666). Even with this vital admission Scopes was found guilty and fined. -
The Great Crash
On October 24,1929 nervous stock holders caused a downward spiral by selling shares left and right. Prices rose back up by October 29 but then they plummeted. More then $10 billion was lost that day and " the downward slide continued for almost four years." (Davidson 672). In four years from 1929-1933 stocks worth droped from $87 billion to $18 billion.
