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IBM is Founded
The formation of IBM began with four companies that became one. The Tabulating Machine Company, the International Time Recording Company, the Computing Scale Company of America, and the Bundy Manufacturing Company. The name of the company after the merge was called Computing-Tabulating-Recording Company.
The name was changed in 1924 by the president of the company to International Machines Corporation. -
The Palmer Raids
The Palmer Raids were led by Attorney General A. Mitchell Palmer. It was an effort to arrest foreign communists and radical leftists. The raids were conducted on November 7th, 25th, December 21st, and January 2nd of 1920. Approximately 3000 people were deported. However, nearly 10,000 people were victims of the raids that were violent and many were tortured during interrogations. -
The League of Nations is Founded
As a result of the Paris Peace Conference that ended the First World War, the League of Nations was formed to provide a forum to resolve international disputes. -
18TH Amendment Goes Into Effect
The 18th Amendment prohibited the sale, manufacturing and transportation of alcoholic beverages. -
19TH Amendment is Ratified by Congress
Beginning in the mid 1800's women began to march, protest and lobby for the right to vote. In 1878 the amendment was first introduced to Congress. Decades later, it was finally ratified. -
Radio Station KDKA Airs the First Commercially Broadcast Program
Westinghouse radio station KDKA began scheduled programming with the Harding-Cox presidential election returns. -
Warren G. Harding elected President
Warren G. Harding, an Ohio Republican, was the 29th President of the United States (1921-1923). Though his term in office was filled with scandal, including Teapot Dome, Harding embraced technology and was sensitive to the plights of minorities and women. -
The Trial of Sacco and Vanzetti Concludes
The trial of Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti lasted seven weeks and the verdict of guilty was questioned by many. Worldwide demonstrations would take place during that time as it was felt that because of Sacco's and Vanzetti's beliefs (anarchists) and ethnic backgrounds. Sadly they were convicted of the crime of murder and
were executed in April of 1927. -
Reader's Digest is Founded
Reader's Digest is a general interest magazine for every kind of family. It was founded by DeWitt Wallace and his wife Lila. It started with a low budget and it quickly appealed to many. -
Teapot Dome Scandal is Uncovered
After President Warren G. Harding transferred supervision of the Naval oil reserve lands from the Navy to the Department of the Interior in 1921, Albert Bacon Hall, the Secretary of the Interior secretly granted to Harry Sinclair of Monmouth Oil Company exclusive rights to the Teapot Dome Reserves. He granted similar rights to Edward L. Doheny of Pan American Petroleum Company for the Elk Hills and Buena Vista Hills reserves in California. -
First Game of the Newly Built Yankee Stadium
In the historic first game, the Yankees defeated the Boston Red Sox 4-1. -
Warren G. Harding's Death
Warren G. Harding had been travelling from Washington DC to the West Coast and up to Alaska. On his return to the contiguous United States, he was speaking at different places and was struggling with his health. After his passing in San Francisco, many believed that he may have had several small heart attacks leading up to his death. -
Adolf Hitler Leads a Failed Attempt to Overthrow the German Government
On November 8, 1923 Adolph Hitler led his Nazi followers in an attempt to seize power in Munich in what became known as the "Beer Hall Putsch". Although the plan failed, and Hitler imprisoned, the notoriety the Nazi leader gained laid the groundwork for his rise to the dictatorship of Germany. While in prison, Hitler wrote Mein Kampf, the book that described his political philosophy and planned conquest of Europe. -
Ellis Island Closes
From 1892 to 1924, Ellis Island processed nearly 12 million immigrants. At the time it closed its doors to immigration, the Immigration Act of 1924 had been passed. The law enabled U.S. consulates to process immigrants. -
The National Origins Act
This established a system of quotas that discriminated against immigrants from Southern and Eastern Europe and excluded Asians. -
President Calvin Coolidge is Elected President
Calvin Coolidge was born in Plymouth Notch, Vermont, on July 4, 1872. Coolidge rose through the ranks of Massachusetts government as a Progressive Republican. Elected U.S. vice president in 1920, he became president following the death of Warren G. Harding in 1923. He ran for office in the 1924 election and won for a full term in office. -
The First Winter Olympics
On January 25, 1924, the first Winter Olympics began in the Alpine village of Chamonix, France. The Chamonix games were held in association with the 1924 Summer Olympics, held in Paris, and 258 athletes participated (247 men and 11 women) from 16 nations, competing in a total of 18 events. -
George Gershwin releases "Rhapsody in Blue"
Rhapsody in Blue is a 1924 musical composition by George Gershwin for solo piano and jazz band, which combines elements of classical music with jazz-influenced effects. The composition was commissioned by bandleader Paul Whiteman.
George Gershwin dies at the age of 38 from a brain tumor. -
The Great Gatsby
Published by F. Scott Fitzgerald in 1925, The Great Gatsby has become an American classic in 20th century literature. -
Scopes Monkey Trial Begins
John Thomas Scopes, was a young high school science teacher who taught evolution in his class. However, in the State of Tennessee, it was considered a misdemeanor by monetary fine to “teach any theory that denies the story of the Divine Creation of man as taught in the Bible, and to teach instead that man has descended from a lower order of animals.”
The trial drew huge crowds from all over and became one of the most famous in American history.
Scopes was found guilty of the charge. -
Adolf Hitler Publishes Mein Kampf
While serving time in person for his unsuccessful attempt to overthrow the German government, Hitler writes Mein Kampf (My Struggle). -
Langston Hughes Publishes His First Set of Poems - -The Weary Blues
Langston Hughes was just twenty-four years old when his debut poetry collection The Weary Blues was published in 1926. After its publication, the book won several awards, and the prize money allowed Hughes to complete his college education in Lincoln, Pennsylvania. The Weary Blues went on to become an American classic. -
Ford Motor Company Announces 40 Hour Work Week
Ford Motor Company becomes one of the first companies to adopt a five-day, 40-hour week for workers in its automotive factories. The policy would be extended to Ford’s office workers the following August. -
Gertrude Ederle Swims the English Channel
Gertrude Ederle was the first woman to swim the English Channel. She was only 21 years old. -
The Great Mississippi Flood
The Great Mississippi Flood of 1927 was the most destructive river flood in the history of the United States, with 27,000 square miles inundated up to a depth of 30 feet. To try to prevent future floods, the federal government built the world's longest system of levees and floodways. It left almost 700,000 people homeless. Most of them African-American. -
Charles Lindbergh Flies First Nonstop Transatlantic Flight
Charles Lindbergh makes history by flying solo from Long Island, New York to Paris, France in his plane called The Spirit of St. Louis. The flight was flown in less than 37 hours. -
Babe Ruth Hits 60th Home Run
Babe Ruth hits his 60th home run of the 1927 season and sets a record that would stand for 34 years. -
First Film with Sound - The Jazz Singer
The Jazz Singer was the first American musical film that featured synchronized dialogue. It starred Al Jolson -
Holland Tunnel Connected New York and New Jersey
The twin-tube tunnel under the Hudson River connects Canal Street in Manhattan, with 12th and 14th streets in Jersey City. It was named for Clifford M. Holland, the engineer who designed it. -
Herbert Hoover is Elected President
Herbert Hoover was elected to the Office of President in 1928. He took the office in 1929. The same year that the Great Depression began. Sadly, in the minds of the American people he was at fault for it.
A little known fact; on March 3, 1931, Herbert Hoover signed into law that the Star Spangled Banner become this nation's national anthem. -
Alexander Fleming Discovers Penicillin
In 1928 Fleming discovered penicillin with penicillium notatum mold. He discovered it quite by accident, after returning from a two week vacation. A mold had developed on an accidentally contaminated culture plate. -
Mickey Mouse Starring in Steamboat Willie
Mickey Mouse made his debut on “Steamboat Willie”. It's a black-and-white short which was among the first to feature sound. -
Chicago's St. Valentine's Day Massacre
In an unheated brick garage on North Clark Street, seven men were lined up against a white washed wall. It was the worst gang slaying of all time orchestrated by Al Capone, one of the city's leading crime boss. -
Stock Market Crash on "Black Tuesday"
The Stock Market Crash of 1929 began on Thursday, October 24th and the market completely collapsed on the 29th. The Crash contributed to the Great Depression. -
Amelia Earhart Attempts to Fly Around the World
Amelia Earhart decided that she would fly around the world. In March 1937, she flew to Hawaii with fellow pilot Paul Mantz to begin this flight. Earhart lost control of the plane on takeoff, however, and the plane had to be sent to the factory for repairs. Later that same year, she would make another attempt at making this flight.
