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Coal Strike of 1902
Strike began in a Pennsylvania coal mine due to unanswered requests for increased wages, and resulted in a visit from President Roosevelt after several months with no production. The strike ended on this date.
Source: https://www.loc.gov/item/today-in-history/october-03/ -
Elkins Act
Helped prevent unfair practices in railroads. Updated the Interstate Commerce Act.
Sources: https://definitions.uslegal.com/e/elkins-act/
https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/Learn-About-TR/TR-Encyclopedia/Capitalism-and-Labor/The-Elkins-Act -
Wright Brother's First Flight
Wilbur and Orville Wright conducted the first flight successful flight of an airplane in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina.
Source: https://wright.nasa.gov/airplane/powered.html -
Presidential Election of 1904
Democratic candidate: Theodore Roosevelt (336 electoral votes)
Republican candidate: Alton B. Parker (140 electoral votes)
Prohibition candidate: Silas Swallow
Socialist candidate: Eugene Debs
Socialist Labor candidate: Charles Corregan
Populist candidate: Thomas Watson
Incumbent Theodore Roosevelt won a second term in office. Note the Socialists in this election.
Source: https://www.britannica.com/event/United-States-presidential-election-of-1904 -
Hepburn Act
Introduced by William Hepburn, Jan. 24, President Roosevelt was in support of this bill. Made more additions and changes to the Interstate Commerce Commission concerning railroads.
Source: https://www.archives.gov/legislative/features/hepburn -
Meat Inspection Act
Introduced by President Roosevelt to help improve and regulate conditions in the meat packing industry. Prior Meat Inspection Acts were updated under this law, and a similar act was passed in 1967.
https://www.britannica.com/topic/Meat-Inspection-Act -
Pure Food and Drug Act
The Wiley Act, as this is also called, was signed by Roosevelt to regulate potentially dangerous foods and drugs, and provide a means to place charges against those who distributed them. This was a precursor to the FDA.
Source: https://www.fda.gov/AboutFDA/History/FOrgsHistory/EvolvingPowers/ucm054819.htm -
Presidential Election of 1908
Republican candidate: William Taft (321 electoral votes)
Democratic candidate: William Bryan (162 electoral votes)
Prohibition candidate: Eugene Chafin
Socialist candidate: Eugene Debs (ran in 1904 election)
Socialist Labor candidate: August Gillhaus
Populist candidate: Thomas Watson (ran in 1904 election)
Independence candidate: Thomas Hisgen
Source: https://www.britannica.com/event/United-States-presidential-election-of-1908 -
Payne-Adrich Tariff Act
This bill was enacted under President William Taft, as a fulfillment of campaign promises to lower tariffs. However, this bill did little to change tariff rates on a large scale, and resulted in decreased support for Taft.
https://www.britannica.com/topic/Payne-Aldrich-Tariff-Act
https://archive.org/stream/jstor-2141008/2141008_djvu.txt -
Triangle Shirtwaist Company Fire
Used as an example to bolster labor reforms and workers' safety laws. -
Completion of the Woolworth Building
Standing on Broadway, New York, NY at 792', the Woolworth Building was for 17 years the world's tallest building. Surprisingly, it was constructed in only 29 months--although massively over budget. It was designed by architect Cass Gilbert for Frank W. Woolworth.
Source:https://www.skyscraper.org/EXHIBITIONS/WOOLWORTH/ -
16th Amendment to the Constitution
This amendment created Federal Income Tax, even though the original version of the Constitution states that all taxes should be equal.(Art. I, Sec. 8)
Source:https://www.britannica.com/topic/Sixteenth-Amendment
https://history.house.gov/Historical-Highlights/1901-1950/The-ratification-of-the-16th-Amendment/ -
17th Amendment to the Constitution
This shifted the senatorial election system from the constitutional form to that of a democracy, allowing direct election of senators.
Source: https://www.archives.gov/legislative/features/17th-amendment -
Archduke Franz and Sophie Ferndinand Assassinated
Franz and Sophie Ferdinand were shot by Gavrilo Princip in Bosnia and Herzegovina during a motorcade in an open-top vehicle. The shooting was the second attempted assassination of the couple on that day, which had followed an attempted bombing earlier that morning. Sophie died first, followed by her husband while en-route to a hospital.
Source:https://www.britannica.com/biography/Franz-Ferdinand-Archduke-of-Austria-Este -
Austria Declares War with Serbia
Austria-Hungary declared war with Serbia, blaming them for the murder of Archduke Ferdinand. Austria presented Serbia with a list of demands, which were far greater then they ever expected to receive. This was intentional as to provide another reason for war. Upon denial of these demands, Austria-Hungry officially declared war. -
Germany Declares war with Russia
Germany declared war with Russia, as Russia had formerly signed an alliance with Serbia. Because of this, Russia was forced into defending Serbia from its enemy--Germany. -
Invasion of Belgium and Declarations of War
Germany invaded Belgium on Aug. 2, Germany declared war with France on Aug. 3, and Britain declared war with Germany the next day. -
Clayton Anti-Trust Act
Added to and clarified the Sherman Anti-Trust act of 1890. Its goal was to prevent monopolies and provide more governmental control over potential monopolies or trusts.
Source:https://www.britannica.com/event/Clayton-Antitrust-Act -
Battle of Champagne
This is one of several battles fought at this location between France and Germany. Fighting continued until March 17, 1915, on which the French attack ended.
Source:https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/first-battle-of-champagne-begins -
Sinking of the Lusitania
The sinking of the RMS Lusitania is a widely used excuses for the U.S. entering World War 1. It was inside of a German-defined area of unrestricted submarine warfare, and was apt to be sunk. It carried 1,959 passengers that day and a secret payload of munitions for the war effort in Europe.
Source: https://www.britannica.com/topic/Lusitania-British-ship -
Keating Owens Act
Ruled unconstitutional by Congress shortly after conception. Created regulations against child labor, but also effected trade and shipment of goods.
Source:https://www.britannica.com/event/Hammer-v-Dagenhart#ref116927 -
German and French Battle at Verdun
Began on February 21 and lasted until December 18, 1916. This battle produced a great number of casualties on both sides.
Source: https://www.britannica.com/event/Battle-of-Verdun -
British attack on Somme
Started on July 1, 1916, and lasted until November 19. 19,000 British were lost on the first day alone. This shows what sort of battle this was, considering that German causalities were greater, and the British only advanced seven miles.
Source:https://www.bbc.com/timelines/ztngxsg -
Federal Employees Compensation Act
Enacted by President Woodrow Wilson, this provides a disability pension for federal employees.
Source:http://ifwaa.org/the-federal-employees-compensation-act-feca/ -
Zimmerman Telegram
This was sent from Germany to leaders in Mexico, intending to entice war between Mexico and the US. This would delay US involvement in the European war effort. However, it was intercepted by the British and then given to the US. This prompted the US to join the effort, much to the disappointment of the Germans.
Source:https://www.archives.gov/education/lessons/zimmermann -
United States declared war with Germany
On this date, Congress approved Woodrow Wilson's request for war, bringing the United states into the war against Germany.
Source: https://www.army.mil/article/7916/us_declares_war_on_germany -
Formation of the Committee on Public Information
A government agency for propaganda and public relations created by Woodrow Wilson.
Source: https://www.archives.gov/research/guide-fed-records/groups/063.html -
Selective Service Act
This created the draft, or a forced enlistment to the military, providing troops during World War 1. Enacted by Woodrow Wilson on May 18th, a different version of this was passed during World War 2 by FDR.
https://www.britannica.com/event/Selective-Service-Acts -
Espionage and Sedition Acts
On June 15, 1917, the Espionage act was passed, followed by the Sedition Act on May 16 , 1918. These would help stamp out any resistance to US programs and reduce the ability to publicly protest actions of the US government. -
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The Great Flu
This is suspected to have caused more US casualties then World War 1 battles, and was spread by troops moving from base to base, and from country to country. This affected not only the US, but also the countries that US troops were stationed or fighting with. -
Treaty of Brest-Litovsk
"...Peace treaties signed at Brest-Litovsk (now in Belarus) by the Central Powers with the Ukrainian Republic (Feb. 9, 1918) and with Soviet Russia (March 3, 1918), which concluded hostilities between those countries during World War I." ("Treaties of Brest-Litovsk", 2019)
Source: The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. (2019) Treaties of Brest-Litovsk. In Encyclopaedia Britannica. Retrieved from https://www.britannica.com/event/treaties-of-Brest-Litovsk. -
League of Nations created
This was the date of official recognition for the League of Nations. Also marks the end of the Paris Peace Conference.
https://www.britannica.com/event/Paris-Peace-Conference -
Paris Peace Conference
This marks the opening date of the Paris Peace Conference, which was the meeting of political leaders to discuss post-war actions. Several acts and agreements were created during this conference, including the Treaty of Versailles, the Treaty of Saint-Germain, the Treaty of Neuilly, and the approval of the Covenant of the League of Nations. The League of Nations would be created on January 16 ,1920, ending the conference.
Source: https://www.britannica.com/event/Paris-Peace-Conference -
Signing of the Treaty of Versailles
Created reparations for Germany, and included the infamous "war guilt clause," which would indirectly lead to World War 2. Created mostly by Lloyd George, Georges Clemenceau, and Woodrow Wilson. Germany was also sectioned into numerous countries to reduce its power.
Source: https://www.britannica.com/event/Treaty-of-Versailles-1919 -
19th Amendment to the Constitution
Granted women's suffrage. Officially ratified on this date. -
Bartolomeo Vanzetti and Nicola Sacco executed
Bartolomeo Vanzetti and Nicola Sacco, two anarchist, were executed on this date after a trial. This was during the "Red Scare" taking place throughout the US.