1. Assassination of President William McKinley (1901): President McKinley was fatally shot by an anarchist named Leon Czolgosz while attending the Pan-American Exposition in Buffalo, New York. This tragic event led to the vice president, Theodore Roosevelt, assuming office and becoming the 26th President of the United States.
2. The Panama Canal (1904-1914): The construction of the Panama Canal was a major engineering feat that revolutionized global transportation and trade. It reduced travel time between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, enhancing the United States' economic and military prominence.
3. The Great Migration (1910-1970): This period witnessed a large-scale migration of African Americans from the rural South to the industrial cities of the North, Midwest, and West. Prompted by economic opportunities, civil rights aspirations, and a desire to escape racial segregation and discrimination, the Great Migration had a transformative impact on urban demographics, civil rights activism, and American culture.
4. World War I (1917-1918): The United States entered World War I in 1917, marking its first significant involvement in a global conflict. The war had profound consequences, including the loss of American lives, economic and political changes, and a shift in the balance of power among nations.
5. Women's Suffrage (1920): In 1920, the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was ratified, granting women the right to vote. This victory was a culmination of decades of activism by the women's suffrage movement and represented a major milestone in the fight for women's rights and gender equality.
6. The Roaring Twenties: The 1920s, also known as the Roaring Twenties, was a period of economic prosperity, societal change, and cultural expression in the United States. It was characterized by technological advances, increased consumerism, jazz music, speakeasies, flappers, and a general sense of optimism.
7. The Great Depression (1929-1939): The stock market crash of 1929 triggered a severe economic crisis that led to widespread unemployment, poverty, and hardships. The Great Depression was one of the most challenging periods in U.S. history and had profound social and political consequences.
8. New Deal Programs (1933-1939): In response to the Great Depression, President Franklin D. Roosevelt implemented a series of New Deal policies and programs to provide economic relief and promote recovery. These initiatives, such as the Civilian Conservation Corps, Social Security Act, and Public Works Administration, aimed to alleviate unemployment and stimulate economic growth.
9. World War II (1941-1945): The United States entered World War II in 1941 after the attack on Pearl Harbor by Japanese forces. The war had a significant impact on the country, involving military mobilization, industrial production, and participation in major battles on multiple fronts.
10. Civil Rights Movement (1950s-1960s): The Civil Rights Movement was a pivotal era in American history, characterized by nonviolent activism, protests, and civil disobedience to challenge racial segregation, discrimination, and inequality faced by African Americans. This period saw the emergence of prominent leaders such as Martin Luther King Jr. and the ultimately enactment of landmark civil rights legislation.
These events between 1900 and 1960 shaped the United States' economic, political, social, and cultural landscape, leaving a lasting legacy on the country's development.