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Galveston Island Hurricane
In 1900, a Category 4 Hurricane struck Galveston, Texas. Between 6,000 and 12,000 lives, about 20% of the island's population, were lost. The hurricane brought a storm with a surge over 15 feet that washed over the entire island. -
President William McKinley Shot
In 1901, William McKinley was assassinated by Leon Czolgosz when he is shot at point blank range. After his death, Vice President Theodore Roosevelt became the 26th President of the United States on September 14th, 1901. -
Iroquois Theater Fire
The Iroquois Theater Fire took 602 lives. This fire was the worst single-building fire in the U. S. history for the number of lives lost. -
General Slocum Disaster
On Jun 15, 1904, 1,300 people from the St. Mark's German Lutheran Church were on an excursion steamer to celebrate their 17th annual Sunday school picnic. Tragically, the steamer, the General Slocum, burst into flames on the New York East River and took over 1000 lives. -
Ford Model T
In 1908, Henry Ford's company, the Ford Motor Company, put the Ford Model T on the market for nearly 1/3 of the price of any other car on the market. This invention was the beginning of a transformation of the transportation sector in the U. S. -
National Association for the Advancement of Colored People
The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People was established in 1909. This civil rights organization was formed in response to the continuing practice of lynching and the 1908 race riot in Springfield, Illinois. -
Jack Johnson Wins World Title
On December 26, 1910, Jack Johnson beat Tommy Burns, the reigning Heavyweight Boxing Champion. Jack Johnson was the first black boxer to claim the title, and his win caused a lot of controversy as well as the desire for a white man to reclaim the title. -
Sinking of the Titanic
After setting sail on her maiden voyage, the Titanic, described as the worlds most luxurious floating and unsinkable hotel, hit an iceberg and sank in the Atlantic. 1,500 lives were lost. -
Webb Alien Land-Holding Bill
In 1913, California Governor Hiram Johnson signed the Webb Alien Land-Holding Bill into law, banning Japanese Nationals from owning land in California. -
First Transcontinental Telephone Call
In 1915, A.G. Bell inaugurated the first transcontinental telephone with his former assistant Thomas Watson. Bell was in New York City and Watson was in San Francisco, California. This call was the first U.S. coast-to-coast long-distance telephone call, facilitated by a newly-invented vacuum tube amplifier.