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The Cross of Chevalier de la Legion d’Honneur
The French government awards Claude Debussy The Cross of Chevlier e la Legion d’Honneur for outstanding musical ability. -
First in Flight
The Wright Brothers make the first flight in a motorized aircraft at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. -
World War I
1914 and the assassination of Archduke Ferdinand marks the start of the First World War, drawing in nations from all over the globe. -
Composer Enlists
British composer Ralph Vaughan Williams enlists in the Royal Military, specifically in the medical corps. He did survive the war, dying in 1958. -
The Dixieland Jass Band
Stein’s Dixie Jass Band, later known as The Dixieland Jass Band, begins performing at Schiller’s Cafe in Chicago, Illinois. -
First Female Representative
Jeanette Rankin becomes the first woman to be elected into the U.S. House of Representatives. -
Influenza Epidemic
A worldwide Influenza epidemic outbreak occurs, killing millions. By the end, around 500,000 had died in the United States. -
Holst and The Planets
Gustav Holst premieres his now-famous orchestral suite The Planets, at the Queen’s Hall in London. -
The League of Nations
The League of Nations meets for the first time in history. However, the United States is not present for this meeting. -
Twelve-Tone Composition
Josef Matthias Hauer invents the twelve-tone technique of composition, contributing to the rise of serialism. -
Stock Market Crash
The great stock market crash of 1929 begins the era of the Great Depression. -
The National Anthem
The Star-Spangled Banner is adopted as the official national anthem of the United States.