American Lit - Children in the 20th Century

  • Newsboys' Strike

    The newsboys of New York go on strike to fight child labor, against their bosses, Joseph Pulitzer and William Randolph Hearst.
  • The Wonderful Wizard of Oz - L. Frank Baum

    A fantasy story about Dorthy, her dog Toto, Scarecrow, Tin Man, Cowardly Lion, and the Wizard of Oz.
  • Theodore Roosevelt elected President

    Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt was elected as the 26th President of the United States. At the turn of the century, Roosevelt sparked and lead much change throughout the beginning of the Progressive Era. He died in 1919.
  • The Tale of Peter Rabbit - Beatrix Potter

    The fictional story of Peter Rabbit and his family
  • The Call of the Wild - Jack London

    The fictional story of Buck, a sled dog in Yukon, Canada.
  • Henry Ford Produces First Car

    A racing car, the Ford 999.
  • Rebecca of Sunny Brook Farm - Kate Douglas Wiggin

    The fictional story of Rebecca, her two aunts, and the fictional town of Riverboro, Maine.
  • March of the Mill Children

    Led by Mary Harris “Mother” Jones, a strike against child labor and adult textile workers lasting 3 weeks.
  • National Child Labor Committee Formed

    Formed during the rise of child labor, to help change the laws placed upon children in the workforce.
  • Peter Pan; or, the Boy Who Wouldn't Grow Up - J.M Barrie

    The fictional story of Peter, Wendy, John and Michael, and their adventures in Neverland.
  • Anne of Green Gables - Lucy Maud Montgomery

    The fictional story of redheaded orphan, Anne Shirley. This story tells of her early childhood, journey from the orphanage to Avonlea, and her growing relationship with Matthew and Marilla Cuthbert.
  • The Secret Garden - Frances Hodgson Burnett

    The fictional story of Mary, her cousin Colin, friend Dickon and their developing friendship in the "secret garden" of Colin's estate.
  • Sinking of the HMS Titanic

    The "Unsinkable Ship" sunk after hitting an iceberg on route.
  • World War 1 Begins

    Known as the Great War or the War to End All Wars. An alliance formed between great economic powers, the Russian Empire, the French Third Republic, and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and the United States. Together, they fought against Germany and Austria-Hungary.
  • The Story of Dr. Doolittle - Hugh Lofting

    The fictional story of Dr. John Doolittle, a physician with the ability to talk and communicate with animals.
  • 19th Amendment - Women Get The Vote

    "The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex".
  • The Velveteen Rabbit - Margery Williams Bianco

    The fictional story of a stuffed rabbit, his desire to become real, and the little boy who gives him love.
  • The Boxcar Children - Gertrude Chandler Warner

    The fictional story of orphans Henry, Jessie, Violet, and Benny. They run away after the death of their parents, hiding from their grandfather, and find an abandoned boxcar in the woods, which becomes their home.
  • Immigration Act

    The Immigration Act of 1924, greatly increasing immigration regulations. The surge of immigrants coming to Ellis Island greatly decreased after the passing of this law.
  • Winnie the Pooh - A. A. Milne

    The fictional story of Christopher Robin and Pooh Bear in the Hundred Acre Wood.
  • Walt Disney creates Mickey Mouse

    The animated character, created by Walt Disney, who became the official mark of Disney Studios.
  • Stock Market Crashes

    Known as "Black Tuesday", sending millions of Americans into bankruptcy and sending the US economy in a downward spiral.
  • The Great Depression

    The downward spiral of the US economy. Occurring after the Stock Market crash of 1929, resulting in the loss of millions of job, foreclosures, debt, and nation-wide poverty.
  • FDR becomes President

    Franklin Delano Roosevelt elected as the 32nd President of the United States. Elected for 4 terms, FDR led the country through the Great Depression and WW2. He died in office in 1945, 3 months into his fourth term.
  • Mary Poppins - P.L. Travers

    The fictional story of nanny Mary Poppins and her charges, Jane and Michael.
  • Little House on the Prairie - Laura Ingalls Wilder

    The first biography by Laura Ingalls Wilder about her family and early childhood in Wisconsin.
  • The Hobbit - J. R. R. Tolkien

    The prequel to The Lord of the Rings. The journeys and adventures of Bilbo Baggins, uncle of Frodo Baggins.
  • First Disney Movie Premiere: Snow White

    The first animated picture produced by Walt Disney and his studio.
  • The Sword in the Stone - T.H White

    A fictional story about the childhood of King Arthur.
  • Fair Labor Standards Act

    This law created the minimum wage, overtime pay for work over forty hours a week, and prohibited the employment of illegal minors, reducing the injustices of child labor.
  • World War 2 Begins

    Adolf Hitler's Nazis and the Empire of Japan wages war against the free countries of the world. All great economic powers formed two military forces, the Allies versus the Axis.
  • The Blitz Attack

    The German bombing raids against Britain during World War 2. These attacks sent thousands of British children to be evacuated and sent to homes all across the country and the US for safety.
  • Pearl Harbor Attacked

    Japan attacks the USA. USA declares war on Japan, thus entering into World War 2.
  • The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe - C.S Lewis

    The first story written in the Chronicles of Narnia series. Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy are sent to the countryside after their home is attacked during the Blitz. There they discover a secret entrance to the world of Narnia.
  • Prince Caspian - C.S Lewis

    The second story written in the Chronicles of Narnia series. One year after the events of the Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, The Pevensie siblings are struggling to go back to reality. they end up being called back to Narnia, where they meet Prince Caspian.
  • Charlotte's Web - E.B. White

    The fictional story of Fern Arable, her piglet Wilbur, and the barnyard friends, including the spider, Charlotte.
  • Polio Epidemic

    The largest outbreak of polio in the US.
  • The Fellowship of the Ring - J.R.R Tolkien

    The first of three novels, The Fellowship of the Ring tells the story of Frodo Baggins and his discovery of the Ring of Power, his decision to destroy it, and the company of friends he forms along the way.
  • The Two Towers - J.R.R Tolkien

    The second novel, The Two Towers continues the story of Frodo Baggins and his journey to Mordor, to destroy the Ring of Power. It also tells the individual stories of his friends and their journey to protect Frodo.
  • The Return of the King - J.R.R Tolkien

    The final novel, The Return of the King tells of the final stage of Frodo's journey to Mordor, the destruction of the Ring, and the final battles fought to defeat evil forever.
  • The Hundred and One Dalmatians - Dodie Smith

    The fictional story of the Dearly's, their Dalmatian dogs and the evil Cruella de Vil.
  • To Kill a Mockingbird - Harper Lee

    Set in the Great Depression, this fictional story tells of Jean Louise "Scout" Finch, her brother Jem, and father Atticus, a lawyer. Focused on the rape trial of Tom Robinson and the mystery of Boo Radley.
  • The Children's March in Birmingham

    Led by Rev. James Bevel in Birmingham, Alabama. Part of the Civil Rights movement, hundreds of students marched to speak to the mayor about segregation.