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1850-1900

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Civil War (1861-1865): Period Characteristics

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Civil War (1861-1865): Period Characteristics

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Reconstruction Era 1865-1877

1. Feelings of disillusionment.
2. Common subjects: slums of rapidly growing cities, factories replacing farmlands, poor factory workers, corrupt politicians.
3. Represented the manner and environment of everyday life and ordinary people as realistically as possible (Regionalism).
4. Sought to explain behavior (psychologically/socially).

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Mark Twain
-Huckleberry Finn

Jack London
-Call of the Wild
-"To Build a Fire"

Stephen Crane
-"The Open Boat"

Ambrose Bierce
-"An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge"

Kate Chopin
-"Story of an Hour"
-The Awakening

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Realism Rejects imaginative Idealization in favor of close observation of outwards appearances.

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realism, In the visual arts, an aesthetic that promotes accurate, detailed, unembellished depiction of nature or of contemporary life. Realism rejects imaginative idealization in favour of close observation of outward appearances. It was a dominant current in French art between 1850 and 1880. In the early 1830s the painters of the Barbizon school espoused realism in their faithful reproduction of the landscape near their village. Gustave Courbet was the first artist to proclaim and practice the realist aesthetic; his Burial at Ornans and The Stone Breakers (1849) shocked the public and critics with their frank depiction of peasants and labourers. In his satirical caricatures, Honoré Daumier used an energetic linear style and bold detail to criticize the immorality he saw in French society. Realism emerged in the U.S. in the work of Winslow Homer and Thomas Eakins. In the 20th century German artists associated with the Neue Sachlichkeit worked in a realist style to express their disillusionment after World War I. The Depression-era movement known as Social Realism adopted a similarly harsh realism to depict the injustices of U.S. society. See also naturalism.

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realism, In the visual arts, an aesthetic that promotes accurate, detailed, unembellished depiction of nature or of contemporary life.

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Realism artists tried to depict the real world exactly as it appears.

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Kids learn about the Realism Art movement and its major artists such as Eduoard Manet and Winslow Homer.

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#1 Fact: Mark Twain worked as a steamboat pilot and as a miner.

#2 Fact: Mark Twain spent 7 years to write The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.

#3 Fact: Mark Twain owned 19 cats.

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Mark Twain is widely considered the author of the first great American novel-The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn-but his rollicking tales aren't the only legacy he left behind. His poignant quotes and witticisms have been told and retold (sometimes erroneously) over the last century and a half, and his volume of work speaks for itself. Over the course of his legendary career, Twain-real name Samuel Langhorne Clemens-wrote more than a dozen novels plus countless short stories and essays and still found time to invent new products, hang out with famous scientists, and look after a house full of cats.

Like many of history's literary greats, Mark Twain (né Samuel Langhorne Clemens) decided to assume an alias early on in his writing career. He tried out a few different names-Thomas Jefferson Snodgrass, Sergeant Fathom, and, more plainly, Josh-before settling on Mark Twain, which means two fathoms (12 feet) deep in boating jargon. Where Mark Twain picked up the name has long been debated. According to one popular 19th-century story, he'd walk into a bar and call out "mark twain!," prompting the bartender to take a piece of chalk and make two marks on a wall for twain-two-drinks. Twain denied this, however, saying that he swiped it from a captain named Isaiah Sellers who used it at the New Orleans Picayune. But according to the LA Review of Books, there's no evidence Sellers used that name, and stories of it being used while Mark Twain was a steamboat pilot are unlikely. Instead, it's possible that stole it from an 1861 maritime sketch in a magazine or some as yet unknown origin.

Shortly after his stint on The Big Muddy, Twain headed west with his brother to avoid having to fight in the war. He took up work as a miner in Virginia City, Nevada, but the job wasn't for him. (He described it as "hard and long and dismal.") Fortunately for Twain, he didn't have to work there long. In 1862, he was offered his first writing job for Virginia City's Territorial Enterprise newspaper, where he covered crime, politics, mining, and culture.

Historic American Buildings Survey (Library of Congress), Wikimedia Commons // Public Domain

In 1864, Twain headed to Calaveras County, California in hopes of striking gold as a prospector (he didn't). However, it was during his time here that he heard the bartender of the Angels Hotel in Angels Camp share an incredulous story about a frog-jumping contest. Twain recounted the tale in his own words in The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County, originally called Jim Smiley and His Jumping Frog. It was published in 1865 in The New York Saturday Press and went on to receive national acclaim.

Twain started writing the sequel to The Adventures of Tom Sawyer in 1876, but he wasn't too pleased with his progress. After writing about 400 pages, he told a friend he liked it "only tolerably well, as far as I have got, and may possibly pigeonhole or burn" the manuscript. He put the project on the back burner for several years and finally finished it in 1883 following a burst of inspiration.

While Twain was putting off writing The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, he was busy working on a game he dubbed Memory Builder. It was originally supposed to be an outdoor game to help his children learn about England's monarchs, but he ended up turning it into a board game to improve its chances of selling. However, after two years of work, it was still too convoluted to be marketable and required a vast knowledge of historical facts and dates. That didn't stop him from patenting the game, though.

Memory Builder wasn't Twain's only invention; he also patented two other products. One was inspired by his love of scrapbooking, while the other came about from his hatred of suspenders. He designed a self-adhesive scrapbook that works like an envelope, which netted him about $50,000 in profits. His "improvement in adjustable and detachable straps for garments" also ended up being useful, but for an entirely different purpose than Twain originally intended. According to The Atlantic, "This clever invention only caught on for one snug garment: the bra. For those with little brassiere experience, not a button, nor a snap, but a clasp is all that secures that elastic band, which holds up women's breasts. So not-so-dexterous ladies and gents, you can thank Mark Twain for that."

Only one video of Twain exists, and it was shot by none other than his close friend Thomas Edison. The footage was captured in 1909-one year before the author died-at Twain's estate in Redding, Connecticut. He's seen sporting a light-colored suit and his usual walrus mustache, and one scene shows him with his daughters, Clara and Jean. On a separate occasion that same year, Edison recorded Twain as he read stories into a phonograph, but those audio clips were destroyed in a fire. No other recording of Twain's voice exists.

When you think of Mark Twain, you probably picture him in an all-white suit with a cigar or pipe hanging from his lips. It's true that he was photographed in a white suit on several occasions, but he didn't start this habit until later in life. According to The Mark Twain Boyhood Home & Museum, "In December 1906, he wore a white suit while appearing before a congressional committee regarding copyright. He did this for dramatic emphasis. Several times after that he wore white out of season for effect." He also refused to trade his white clothes for "shapeless and degrading black ones" in the winter, no matter how cold it got. So take that, people who subscribe to the "no white after Labor Day" rule.

Twain really, really liked cats-so much so that he had 19 of them at one time. And if he was traveling, he would "rent" cats to keep him company. In fact, he had a much higher opinion of felines than humans, remarking, "If man could be crossed with the cat, it would improve man, but it would deteriorate the cat." He also had a talent for coming up with some great cat names; Beelzebub, Blatherskite, Buffalo Bill, Sour Mash, Zoroaster, Soapy Sal, Pestilence, Bambino, and Satan were just a few of the kitties in his brood.

Twain is one of the most misquoted authors in history. According to one quote wrongfully attributed to him, "It is better to keep your mouth shut and appear stupid than to open it and remove all doubt." What Twain actually said was, "[He] was endowed with a stupidity which by the least little stretch would go around the globe four times and tie." There are many, many examples of these.

When he was born on November 30, 1835-mere weeks after Halley's Comet was at perihelion, or closest to the sun. It appears roughly every 75 years, and Twain predicted he would die the next time it graced the sky. As he put it in 1909, "I came in with Halley's Comet in 1835. It is coming again next year, and I expect to go out with it. It will be the greatest disappointment of my life if I don't go out with Halley's Comet. The Almighty has said, no doubt: 'Now here are these two unaccountable freaks; they came in together, they must go out together.' Oh, I am looking forward to that." He ended up passing away at his Connecticut home on April 21, 1910, one day after Halley's Comet's perihelion.
For more fascinating facts and stories about your favorite authors and their works, check out Mental Floss's new book, The Curious Reader: A Literary Miscellany of Novels and Novelists

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Mark Twain is widely considered the author of the first great American novel-The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn -but his rollicking tales aren't the only legacy he left behind. His poignant quotes and witticisms have been told and retold (sometimes erroneously) over the last century and a half, and his volume of work speaks for itself.

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#1 Fact: After her marriage, Glaspell moved to Province Town, Massachusetts.

#2 Fact: She won the Pulitzer Prize for her play in Alison's House.

#3 Fact: Glaspell, during her teenager years, worked as a journalist while still in Iowa

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World War I
1914-1918

The Great Depression
1929-1939

World War II
1939-1945

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World War I, an international conflict that in 1914-18 embroiled most of the nations of Europe along with Russia, the United States, the Middle East, and other regions. The war pitted the Central Powers-mainly Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Turkey-against the Allies-mainly France, Great Britain, Russia, Italy, Japan, and, from 1917, the United States. It ended with the defeat of the Central Powers. The war was virtually unprecedented in the slaughter, carnage, and destruction it caused.

World War I was one of the great watersheds of 20th-century geopolitical history. It led to the fall of four great imperial dynasties (in Germany, Russia, Austria-Hungary, and Turkey), resulted in the Bolshevik Revolution in Russia, and, in its destabilization of European society, laid the groundwork for World War II.

The last surviving veterans of World War I were American serviceman Frank Buckles (died in February 2011), British-born Australian serviceman Claude Choules (died in May 2011), and British servicewoman Florence Green (died in February 2012), the last surviving veteran of the war.

The outbreak of war

With Serbia already much aggrandized by the two Balkan Wars (1912-13, 1913), Serbian nationalists turned their attention back to the idea of "liberating" the South Slavs of Austria-Hungary. Colonel Dragutin Dimitrijević, head of Serbia's military intelligence, was also, under the alias "Apis," head of the secret society Union or Death, pledged to the pursuit of this pan-Serbian ambition. Believing that the Serbs' cause would be served by the death of the Austrian archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir presumptive to the Austrian emperor Franz Joseph, and learning that the Archduke was about to visit Bosnia on a tour of military inspection, Apis plotted his assassination. Nikola Pašić, the Serbian prime minister and an enemy of Apis, heard of the plot and warned the Austrian government of it, but his message was too cautiously worded to be understood.

At 11:15 am on June 28, 1914, in the Bosnian capital, Sarajevo, Franz Ferdinand and his morganatic wife, Sophie, duchess of Hohenberg, were shot dead by a Bosnian Serb, Gavrilo Princip. The chief of the Austro-Hungarian general staff, Franz, Graf (count) Conrad von Hötzendorf, and the foreign minister, Leopold, Graf von Berchtold, saw the crime as the occasion for measures to humiliate Serbia and so to enhance Austria-Hungary's prestige in the Balkans. Conrad had already (October 1913) been assured by William II of Germany's support if Austria-Hungary should start a preventive war against Serbia. This assurance was confirmed in the week following the assassination, before William, on July 6, set off upon his annual cruise to the North Cape, off Norway.

The Austrians decided to present an unacceptable ultimatum to Serbia and then to declare war, relying on Germany to deter Russia from intervention. Though the terms of the ultimatum were finally approved on July 19, its delivery was postponed to the evening of July 23, since by that time the French president, Raymond Poincaré, and his premier, René Viviani, who had set off on a state visit to Russia on July 15, would be on their way home and therefore unable to concert an immediate reaction with their Russian allies. When the delivery was announced, on July 24, Russia declared that Austria-Hungary must not be allowed to crush Serbia.

Serbia replied to the ultimatum on July 25, accepting most of its demands but protesting against two of them-namely, that Serbian officials (unnamed) should be dismissed at Austria-Hungary's behest and that Austro-Hungarian officials should take part, on Serbian soil, in proceedings against organizations hostile to Austria-Hungary. Though Serbia offered to submit the issue to international arbitration, Austria-Hungary promptly severed diplomatic relations and ordered partial mobilization.

Home from his cruise on July 27, William learned on July 28 how Serbia had replied to the ultimatum. At once he instructed the German Foreign Office to tell Austria-Hungary that there was no longer any justification for war and that it should content itself with a temporary occupation of Belgrade. But, meanwhile, the German Foreign Office had been giving such encouragement to Berchtold that already on July 27 he had persuaded Franz Joseph to authorize war against Serbia. War was in fact declared on July 28, and Austro-Hungarian artillery began to bombard Belgrade the next day. Russia then ordered partial mobilization against Austria-Hungary, and on July 30, when Austria-Hungary was riposting conventionally with an order of mobilization on its Russian frontier, Russia ordered general mobilization. Germany, which since July 28 had still been hoping, in disregard of earlier warning hints from Great Britain, that Austria-Hungary's war against Serbia could be "localized" to the Balkans, was now disillusioned insofar as eastern Europe was concerned. On July 31 Germany sent a 24-hour ultimatum requiring Russia to halt its mobilization and an 18-hour ultimatum requiring France to promise neutrality in the event of war between Russia and Germany.

Both Russia and France predictably ignored these demands. On August 1 Germany ordered general mobilization and declared war against Russia, and France likewise ordered general mobilization. The next day Germany sent troops into Luxembourg and demanded from Belgium free passage for German troops across its neutral territory. On August 3 Germany declared war against France.

In the night of August 3-4 German forces invaded Belgium. Thereupon, Great Britain, which had no concern with Serbia and no express obligation to fight either for Russia or for France but was expressly committed to defend Belgium, on August 4 declared war against Germany.

Austria-Hungary declared war against Russia on August 5; Serbia against Germany on August 6; Montenegro against Austria-Hungary on August 7 and against Germany on August 12; France and Great Britain against Austria-Hungary on August 10 and on August 12, respectively; Japan against Germany on August 23; Austria-Hungary against Japan on August 25 and against Belgium on August 28.

Romania had renewed its secret anti-Russian alliance of 1883 with the Central Powers on February 26, 1914, but now chose to remain neutral. Italy had confirmed the Triple Alliance on December 7, 1912, but could now propound formal arguments for disregarding it: first, Italy was not obliged to support its allies in a war of aggression; second, the original treaty of 1882 had stated expressly that the alliance was not against England.

On September 5, 1914, Russia, France, and Great Britain concluded the Treaty of London, each promising not to make a separate peace with the Central Powers. Thenceforth, they could be called the Allied, or Entente, powers, or simply the Allies.

The outbreak of war in August 1914 was generally greeted with confidence and jubilation by the peoples of Europe, among whom it inspired a wave of patriotic feeling and celebration. Few people imagined how long or how disastrous a war between the great nations of Europe could be, and most believed that their country's side would be victorious within a matter of months. The war was welcomed either patriotically, as a defensive one imposed by national necessity, or idealistically, as one for upholding right against might, the sanctity of treaties, and international morality.

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World War I | History, Summary, Causes, Combatants, Casualties, Map, & Facts

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World War I, international conflict that in 1914-18 embroiled most of the nations of Europe along with Russia, the U.S., the Middle East, and other regions. It led to the fall of four great imperial dynasties and, in its destabilization of European society, laid the groundwork for World War II.

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Modernism  (1914 - 1945): Period Characteristics

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Modernism  (1914 - 1945): Period Characteristics

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1. Sense of disillusionment and loss of faith in the "American Dream": the independent, self-reliant, individual will triumph.
2. Emphasis on bold experimentation in style and form over the traditional.
3. Interest in the inner workings of the human mind (ex. Stream of consciousness).

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Lorraine Hansberry
-A Raisin in the Sun

F. Scott Fitzgerald
-The Great Gatsby

William Faulkner
-"A Rose for Emily"

Eudora Welty
-"A Worn Path"

Robert Frost
-poetry

T. S. Eliot
-The Waste Land
-"The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock"

John Steinbeck
-Of Mice and Men
-The Grapes of Wrath

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Fact #2: Tanks had gender.

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Most of us are fairly well versed on many of the facts of Word War I with great battles such as the Somme and Battle of Passchendaele but there are some that are so quirky that they have failed entirely to make the schoolbooks. In honour of the Great War's centenary, here are the top ten little known facts about World War I that might just come as a surprise to you.

At the beginning of the war, tanks were grouped according to their 'gender'. The male tanks had cannons attached while the females carried machine guns. The prototype tank was named Little Willie.

2. Women's skin turned yellow

3. Explosions in France were heard in London

A team of miners worked in secret to dig tunnels under the trenches during the war in order to plant and detonate mines there. The detonations destroyed much of the German front line and were so great, the prime minister then heard the sound in London, 140 miles away.

4. 'Liberty sausage', 'liberty cabbage' and 'liberty dogs' were born

In America, suspicion of the Germans was so high that even German shepherd dogs were killed. The names of frankfurters, hamburgers, sauerkraut and dachshunds were all changed to American names, German stopped being taught in schools and German-language books were banned. Before the war, it had been the second most widely spoken language in the US.

5. WWI saw pioneering advances in modern medicine

Inspired by the sight of soldiers' faces ravaged by shrapnel, many of which remained covered by masks, Harold Gillies established the field of plastic surgery, pioneering the first attempts of facial reconstruction. As well as this, blood transfusions became routine to save soldiers, with the first blood bank established on the front line in 1917.

6. Dr. Doolittle was created

The Dr. Doolittle stories were born of Hugh Lofting's aversion to writing his children about the true horrors of the war and trench life. Instead, more creative letters were sent.

7. Franz Ferdinand's licence plate was the cause of a strange coincidence

Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife were assassinated on June 28th 1914, an event which led to the beginning of the war. Strangely, the Archduke's number plate read: A 111 118, a series that can be read as, Armistice 11 November '18.

8. Both Native Americans and African Americans served during the war

Despite the fact that they weren't granted citizenship in America until 1924, nearly 13,000 Native Americans fought during the war.

Over 200,000 African Americans also served, but only 11% in combat and this in segregated divisions.

9. The youngest authenticated combatant to serve was only 12

Many young men faked their age in order to sign up early. The youngest to do so was Sidney Lewis, who was only 12 years old at the time.

10. Woodrow Wilson ran his campaign for a second presidential term with an anti-war slogan

"He kept us out of war" was the slogan Woodrow Wilson adopted when he ran for his second term in office. However, he immediately reneged on this concept when he was sworn in, declaring war on Germany only around a month later.

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Most of us are fairly well versed on many of the facts of Word War I with great battles such as the Somme and Battle of Passchendaele but there are some that are so quirky that they have failed entirely to make the schoolbooks.

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Fact #2: Women's skin turned yellow.

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The Mark I was the first tank to see battle, during the Battle of the Somme in September 1916. 150 were made, 75 of both male and female.

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Fact #1: The Decade of Women's Rights

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Family history is more than just names and dates - it's the stories of your ancestors' lives, as well as the times they lived in, the news they talked about, and the events that affected them. In this first article in a series, we're looking at the Top 10 Facts about the 1920s.

For many people, the 1920s were an exciting time. After all, it wasn't called the "Roaring Twenties" for nothing!

The economy was on a roll and looked like it wouldn't be stopping anytime soon, and that meant people had money to burn. For the first time in history, the average American had the spending power to buy things like cars and appliances.

Indeed, the 1920s were marked by immense prosperity and a vast cultural shift.

Here are some interesting facts about the 1920s for you to enjoy.
1) The Decade of Women's Rights
A 1920s fact we can all be proud of is that the decade saw significant improvements in women's rights. This was the decade when the 19 th Amendment was ratified, officially giving American women the right to vote. This coincided with an increasing sense of independence among women in the country, many of whom held jobs and were much more daring in their fashion sense.

Many women joined the "flapper" movement. These outgoing and fun-loving women became some of the most recognizable participants in the decadent '20s.
2) The Great Crash of 1929
The end of the 1920s saw one of the most significant economic downturns in history. The Wall Street Crash, also known as Black Tuesday, saw the collapse of share prices on the New York Stock Exchange. The $26 billion loss was the beginning of a total meltdown of financial markets, leading to the Great Depression in the following decade.

This inspired one of the most well-known weird facts about the 1920s: the now-legendary rumor of Wall Street bankers and brokers leaping out of building windows en masse to their deaths. Actually, this didn't happen.
3) Jazz Was Born
One of the best musical fun facts about the 20s is that this decade was also known as the "Age of Jazz." The pioneer of the new style of music was Louis Armstrong. Jazz became the music of choice in the popular (but illegal - the 1920s was also the Age of Prohibition) speakeasies of the day. Hence, the older generation saw the Jazz genre as a representation of the sinful decadence of the Twenties. Thankfully, that misrepresentation has since been forgotten and Jazz is now considered to be one of America's most monumental cultural achievements.
4) A Classic American Novel Was Published
In the 1920s, the American author F. Scott Fitzgerald rose to prominence with a string of successful novels. But none has proven to be more enduring, or endearing, than The Great Gatsby. His tragic novel gives us a glimpse into the highs and lows of the Roaring Twenties.
5) Advances in Aviation
What happened in the 1920s in the world of aviation paved the way for airplanes to become a mainstream way to travel. Two great feats took place in the decade. The first one was the historic accomplishment of Charles Lindbergh, who successfully flew solo across the Atlantic from New York to Paris in May 1927. The next year, Amelia Earhart became the first woman to fly the same route when she kept the flight log as a passenger while two men flew across the Atlantic
6) The Changing of the American Landscape
The U.S. population in 1920 saw a significant migration of people from rural areas to crowded urban centers. By the end of 1920, more than half of the population reported to be living in urban areas. Modern-day America was beginning to take shape. The number of states in 1920 within the contiguous United States was already complete (only Hawaii and Alaska were missing).
7) A Lot of Household Brand Names Originated in This Era
One 1920s fun fact is that many of your beloved food brands began during the 1920s. This includes favorites like Kool-Aid, Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, Velveeta Cheese, and Baby Ruth Candy Bars, among plenty of others.
8) TV Was Invented
A little-known 1920s fact is that the decade saw the invention of what eventually became a staple in American culture: television. However, TV sets back then were bulky, blurry, and very expensive. It took until the late 1950s for TVs to become a staple of living rooms across the U.S. (thanks to significant price drops).
9) The Scopes Trial
One of the more controversial cases of that era was the Scopes Trial, best known as the Scopes Monkey Trial. The defendant in question was John Scopes, a public school science teacher in Tennessee. His crime was teaching Charles Darwin's theory of evolution, something that was prohibited at the time by a law called the Butler Act. Yes, even during this time, the theory wasn't widely accepted yet.
10) Tulsa Race Massacre
The 1920s saw one of the worst incidents of racial violence ever in the United States. The event in question is known as the Tulsa Race Massacre, in which an angry white mob committed acts of violence within the predominantly black neighborhood of Greenwood in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Despite the deaths of hundreds of innocent citizens, it wasn't widely acknowledged at the time because of a news blackout. It remains a scar on American history and a reminder of the troubled past the country has seen.
Explore Your Ancestors' History with GenealogyBank
The 1920s were undoubtedly a lively decade to experience. Do you know what your ancestors were doing during this time? Well, you can see for yourself with GenealogyBank. We host one of the world's largest collections of news archives, obituaries, and other data such as 1920s census records.

Sign up today for a free 7-day unlimited access and discover your family story.

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1920s Facts: Interesting & Important Historical Events

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Family history is more than just names and dates - it's the stories of your ancestors' lives, as well as the times they lived in, the news they talked about, and the events that affected them. In this first article in a series, we're looking at the Top 10 Facts about the 1920s.

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Fact #2: Jazz was born

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Family history is more than just names and dates - it's the stories of your ancestors' lives, as well as the times they lived in, the news they talked about, and the events that affected them. In this first article in a series, we're looking at the Top 10 Facts about the 1920s.

For many people, the 1920s were an exciting time. After all, it wasn't called the "Roaring Twenties" for nothing!

The economy was on a roll and looked like it wouldn't be stopping anytime soon, and that meant people had money to burn. For the first time in history, the average American had the spending power to buy things like cars and appliances.

Indeed, the 1920s were marked by immense prosperity and a vast cultural shift.

Here are some interesting facts about the 1920s for you to enjoy.
1) The Decade of Women's Rights
A 1920s fact we can all be proud of is that the decade saw significant improvements in women's rights. This was the decade when the 19 th Amendment was ratified, officially giving American women the right to vote. This coincided with an increasing sense of independence among women in the country, many of whom held jobs and were much more daring in their fashion sense.

Many women joined the "flapper" movement. These outgoing and fun-loving women became some of the most recognizable participants in the decadent '20s.
2) The Great Crash of 1929
The end of the 1920s saw one of the most significant economic downturns in history. The Wall Street Crash, also known as Black Tuesday, saw the collapse of share prices on the New York Stock Exchange. The $26 billion loss was the beginning of a total meltdown of financial markets, leading to the Great Depression in the following decade.

This inspired one of the most well-known weird facts about the 1920s: the now-legendary rumor of Wall Street bankers and brokers leaping out of building windows en masse to their deaths. Actually, this didn't happen.
3) Jazz Was Born
One of the best musical fun facts about the 20s is that this decade was also known as the "Age of Jazz." The pioneer of the new style of music was Louis Armstrong. Jazz became the music of choice in the popular (but illegal - the 1920s was also the Age of Prohibition) speakeasies of the day. Hence, the older generation saw the Jazz genre as a representation of the sinful decadence of the Twenties. Thankfully, that misrepresentation has since been forgotten and Jazz is now considered to be one of America's most monumental cultural achievements.
4) A Classic American Novel Was Published
In the 1920s, the American author F. Scott Fitzgerald rose to prominence with a string of successful novels. But none has proven to be more enduring, or endearing, than The Great Gatsby. His tragic novel gives us a glimpse into the highs and lows of the Roaring Twenties.
5) Advances in Aviation
What happened in the 1920s in the world of aviation paved the way for airplanes to become a mainstream way to travel. Two great feats took place in the decade. The first one was the historic accomplishment of Charles Lindbergh, who successfully flew solo across the Atlantic from New York to Paris in May 1927. The next year, Amelia Earhart became the first woman to fly the same route when she kept the flight log as a passenger while two men flew across the Atlantic
6) The Changing of the American Landscape
The U.S. population in 1920 saw a significant migration of people from rural areas to crowded urban centers. By the end of 1920, more than half of the population reported to be living in urban areas. Modern-day America was beginning to take shape. The number of states in 1920 within the contiguous United States was already complete (only Hawaii and Alaska were missing).
7) A Lot of Household Brand Names Originated in This Era
One 1920s fun fact is that many of your beloved food brands began during the 1920s. This includes favorites like Kool-Aid, Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, Velveeta Cheese, and Baby Ruth Candy Bars, among plenty of others.
8) TV Was Invented
A little-known 1920s fact is that the decade saw the invention of what eventually became a staple in American culture: television. However, TV sets back then were bulky, blurry, and very expensive. It took until the late 1950s for TVs to become a staple of living rooms across the U.S. (thanks to significant price drops).
9) The Scopes Trial
One of the more controversial cases of that era was the Scopes Trial, best known as the Scopes Monkey Trial. The defendant in question was John Scopes, a public school science teacher in Tennessee. His crime was teaching Charles Darwin's theory of evolution, something that was prohibited at the time by a law called the Butler Act. Yes, even during this time, the theory wasn't widely accepted yet.
10) Tulsa Race Massacre
The 1920s saw one of the worst incidents of racial violence ever in the United States. The event in question is known as the Tulsa Race Massacre, in which an angry white mob committed acts of violence within the predominantly black neighborhood of Greenwood in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Despite the deaths of hundreds of innocent citizens, it wasn't widely acknowledged at the time because of a news blackout. It remains a scar on American history and a reminder of the troubled past the country has seen.
Explore Your Ancestors' History with GenealogyBank
The 1920s were undoubtedly a lively decade to experience. Do you know what your ancestors were doing during this time? Well, you can see for yourself with GenealogyBank. We host one of the world's largest collections of news archives, obituaries, and other data such as 1920s census records.

Sign up today for a free 7-day unlimited access and discover your family story.

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1920s Facts: Interesting & Important Historical Events

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Family history is more than just names and dates - it's the stories of your ancestors' lives, as well as the times they lived in, the news they talked about, and the events that affected them. In this first article in a series, we're looking at the Top 10 Facts about the 1920s.

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Fact #1: First football World Cup took place.

Fact #2: Mickey Mouse made his first appearance.

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As the Roaring Twenties drew to a close and the world entered a new decade, the Wall Street Crash of 1929 had prompted a rather depressing start to the thirties.

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Fact #1: 92 percent of children born in 1940 earned more money than their parents.

Fact #2: One in six Black Americans do not believe in the American Dream at all.

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American Dream, ideal that the United States is a land of opportunity that allows the possibility of upward mobility, freedom, and equality for people of all classes who work hard and have the will to succeed.

The roots of the American Dream lie in the goals and aspirations of the first European settlers and colonizers. Most of these people came to the North American continent to escape tyranny, religious and political persecution, or poverty. In 1776 their reasons for coming were captured by the Founders in the Declaration of Independence: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." These lines have often been cited by groups seeking equal standing in American society.

While the idea of the American Dream may have originated well before 1776, the phrase itself was coined by American businessman and historian James Truslow Adams in his 1931 book The Epic of America. That work defines the past and future of the American Dream, which, according to Adams, is:

"not a dream of motor cars and high wages merely, but a dream of a social order in which each man and each woman shall be able to attain to the fullest stature of which they are innately capable, and be recognized by others for what they are, regardless of the fortuitous circumstances of birth or position."

To Adams, the American Dream is about aspiring to be one's best self and to rise above the station one was born into. It is not about simply acquiring wealth and material possessions.

Despite Adams's optimism about the United States as a land of opportunity, his book warns of flaws in the American way of life. It calls out the dangers of unbridled capitalism and mass consumption. The worker, he wrote, gets "into a treadmill in which he earns, not that he may enjoy, but that he may spend, in order that the owners of the factories may grow richer." Adams's book also cites dangers to "the intellectual worker" who must adjust his or her work "to the needs of business or mass consumption." The result of this accommodation, according to Adams, "is to lower the quality of...thought," as represented in newspapers and journals, "to that of the least common denominator of the minds of the millions of consumers." In addition, Adams's book calls out the devotion to accumulation of wealth without regard for the good of society:

"A system that steadily increases the gulf between the ordinary man and the super-rich, that permits the resources of society to be gathered into personal fortunes that afford their owners millions of income a year, with only the chance that here and there a few may be moved to confer some of their surplus upon the public in ways chosen wholly by themselves, is assuredly a wasteful and unjust system. It is, perhaps, as inimical as anything could be to the American dream."

What Adams foresaw appears to have become a reality in 21st-century America: consumerism and materialism abound, threatening the environment and the political structure. Intellectualism has become tribalized. The gulf between rich and poor continues to increase. In addition, it is becoming more and more difficult to attain the American Dream for many people, including religious and ethnic minorities, women, and the poor. Hard work alone is often not enough for families or their children to get ahead, especially if they are low-wage earners. Black and Hispanic women are least likely to move upward. In fact, roughly one in six Black Americans do not believe in the American Dream at all. Certain areas of the country, in particular the Southeast and the Midwestern Rust Belt, have trended much lower in economic mobility than other areas. According to one study, 92 percent of children born in 1940 earned more money than their parents. However, only 50 percent of children born in the 1980s have done so. Sentiment among Millennials, Generation Z, and Generation X, as captured in a 2020 opinion poll, reflected these trends, indicating that 46 percent, 52 percent, and 53 percent of each group, respectively, felt that the American Dream is attainable. On the basis of these trends, policy groups are working to improve the probability of upward mobility in the United States.

While the American Dream may be increasingly difficult to attain in the United States, the idea has arguably been exported successfully. Around the world, people are fulfilling their own version of the American Dream. Many countries are working toward more-just economic, educational, and legal systems to support equality and upward mobility.

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American Dream | Definition, Examples, & In Literature

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American Dream, ideal that the United States is a land of opportunity that allows the possibility of upward mobility, freedom, and equality for people of all classes who work hard and have the will to succeed.

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Fact #1: Atomic age of science and technology

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The 1950s were the atomic age of science and technology. "Modern" was synonymous with space-aged and comfortable. The end of World War II gave rise to a wave of servicemen with new jobs starting new families in new homes. Industries expanded and Americans bought goods not available during the war. The baby boom had begun in the midst of the Cold War. Here at the Los Angeles federal courthouse, fourteen Communist party leaders were charged with conspiracy to teach and advocate the overthrow of the United States government by force and violence in violation of the Smith Act of 1940. On August 5, 1952, in a jury trial before U.S. District Judge William C. Mathes in Los Angeles, the defendants were convicted and sentenced to five years of imprisonment and fined $10,000. The U.S. Supreme Court later reversed their convictions in Yates v. United States (1957).

The House Un-American Activities Committee returned to Los Angeles in March 1953 to discover names of supposed Communist members. Hearings opened on March 23rd in Room 518 of the Los Angeles federal building before a roomful of spectators and television cameras. Throughout seven days of hearings, the Committee questioned individuals, including members of the entertainment industry and teachers' unions, about their affiliation with the Communist Party and participation in its activities. Although many declined to answer questions, some admitted to using movies to promote Communist values and others revealed the names of fellow Communists.

The United States also wanted to pay reparations to the many Japanese Americans displaced during World War II, so in 1948 Congress passed the Japanese American Evacuation Claims Act, authorizing the settlement of property loss claims for those forced to leave their homes for internment camps during World War II. Mildred Younger gave a statement in support of the Claims Act at the Los Angeles federal building on September 1, 1954. Younger was notable for winning the California State Senate Republican primary in 1954, but losing to Democrat Richard Richards. She was also well-recognized for giving a speech seconding Earl Warren's nomination for president at the 1952 Republican National Convention.

Mildred Younger was not the only celebrity to appear at the courthouse during the 1950s. Greta Garbo, a Swedish actress, signed her citizen certificate on February 9, 1951, after taking her citizenship oath before U.S. District Judge William M. Byrne, Sr. Garbo said after, "I am glad to become a citizen of the United States." Anne Douglas, a Belgium native, came to the Los Angeles courthouse on November 25, 1959, with her husband, actor Kirk Douglas, to become a naturalized citizen before U.S. District Judge Leon Yankwich. Hollywood notables also permeated into government positions. A Hollywood businessman and civic worker named Otto K. Oesen was sworn in as the Los Angeles postmaster at the Los Angeles federal building on August 18, 1955. Former Chief U.S. Judge Paul McCormick administered the oath before an audience that included Senator William Knowland.

Celebrities also had cases heard at the Los Angeles federal courthouse, and Bette Davis and Mickey Cohen both made appearances there. In November 1951, actress Bette Davis gave a deposition as part of the government's civil income tax suit against her. In 1943, Davis filed a joint return with her husband, Arthur A. Farnsworth, who died that year. Upon his death, the government claimed that all of the couple's income earned during the year was deemed solely that of Bette Davis, which would result in additional taxes of $80,823. The actress stated, "I have always paid my taxes and I still believe in American justice." Part-time celebrity and full-time gangster Mickey Cohen found himself on trial before U.S. District Judge Thurmond Clarke in 1958. Cohen, twice convicted of tax evasion, was charged with assaulting Howard Chappell, a Federal Narcotics Bureau agent. The trial resulted in a hung jury. Charges were brought a second time but later were dismissed. Cohen, an associate of Al Capone, Benjamin "Bugsy" Siegel, and Meyer Lansky, was immortalized in several books and films including Bugsy, The Black Dahlia, and L.A. Confidential.

The hectic decade was rounded out by the filming of War of the Worlds, a 1953 film loosely based on H.G. Wells' 1898 novel and following the famous radio broadcast in 1938. The movie depicted an invasion by Martians who used heat and disintegrator rays to annihilate humans and their world. A scene in which downtown Los Angeles is destroyed was filmed near the courthouse.

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The 1950s were the atomic age of science and technology. "Modern" was synonymous with space-aged and comfortable. The end of World War II gave rise to a wave of servicemen with new jobs starting new families in new homes. Industries expanded and Americans bought goods not available during the war.

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Fact #1: Disneyland opened.

Fact #2: Rock and Roll Was Born.

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1950s Fun Facts: Pop Culture & Historical USA Trivia

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No matter where you were or what you were doing, the 1950s certainly was an exciting time to be alive. Explore 1950s fun facts with GenealogyBank!

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"The Jazz Age"
"The Roaring 20s"

1920–1940

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What does "Renaissance" mean?

When did the Renaissance happen?

What is Renaissance art?

What does "Renaissance man" mean?

Renaissance, (French: "Rebirth") period in European civilization immediately following the Middle Ages and conventionally held to have been characterized by a surge of interest in Classical scholarship and values. The Renaissance also witnessed the discovery and exploration of new continents, the substitution of the Copernican for the Ptolemaic system of astronomy, the decline of the feudal system and the growth of commerce, and the invention or application of such potentially powerful innovations as paper, printing, the mariner's compass, and gunpowder. To the scholars and thinkers of the day, however, it was primarily a time of the revival of Classical learning and wisdom after a long period of cultural decline and stagnation.

A brief treatment of the Renaissance follows. For full treatment, see history of Europe: The Renaissance.

Origins and rise of humanism

The term Middle Ages was coined by scholars in the 15th century to designate the interval between the downfall of the Classical world of Greece and Rome and its rediscovery at the beginning of their own century, a revival in which they felt they were participating. Indeed, the notion of a long period of cultural darkness had been expressed by Petrarch even earlier. Events at the end of the Middle Ages, particularly beginning in the 12th century, set in motion a series of social, political, and intellectual transformations that culminated in the Renaissance. These included the increasing failure of the Roman Catholic Church and the Holy Roman Empire to provide a stable and unifying framework for the organization of spiritual and material life, the rise in importance of city-states and national monarchies, the development of national languages, and the breakup of the old feudal structures.

While the spirit of the Renaissance ultimately took many forms, it was expressed earliest by the intellectual movement called humanism. Humanism was initiated by secular men of letters rather than by the scholar-clerics who had dominated medieval intellectual life and had developed the Scholastic philosophy. Humanism began and achieved fruition first in Italy. Its predecessors were men like Dante and Petrarch, and its chief protagonists included Giannozzo Manetti, Leonardo Bruni, Marsilio Ficino, Giovanni Pico della Mirandola, Lorenzo Valla, and Coluccio Salutati. The fall of Constantinople in 1453 provided humanism with a major boost, for many eastern scholars fled to Italy, bringing with them important books and manuscripts and a tradition of Greek scholarship.

Humanism had several significant features. First, it took human nature in all of its various manifestations and achievements as its subject. Second, it stressed the unity and compatibility of the truth found in all philosophical and theological schools and systems, a doctrine known as syncretism. Third, it emphasized the dignity of man. In place of the medieval ideal of a life of penance as the highest and noblest form of human activity, the humanists looked to the struggle of creation and the attempt to exert mastery over nature. Finally, humanism looked forward to a rebirth of a lost human spirit and wisdom. In the course of striving to recover it, however, the humanists assisted in the consolidation of a new spiritual and intellectual outlook and in the development of a new body of knowledge. The effect of humanism was to help men break free from the mental strictures imposed by religious orthodoxy, to inspire free inquiry and criticism, and to inspire a new confidence in the possibilities of human thought and creations.

From Italy the new humanist spirit and the Renaissance it engendered spread north to all parts of Europe, aided by the invention of printing, which allowed literacy and the availability of Classical texts to grow explosively. Foremost among northern humanists was Desiderius Erasmus, whose Praise of Folly (1509) epitomized the moral essence of humanism in its insistence on heartfelt goodness as opposed to formalistic piety. The intellectual stimulation provided by humanists helped spark the Reformation, from which, however, many humanists, including Erasmus, recoiled. By the end of the 16th century the battle of Reformation and Counter-Reformation had commanded much of Europe's energy and attention, while the intellectual life was poised on the brink of the Enlightenment.

Artistic developments and the emergence of Florence

It was in art that the spirit of the Renaissance achieved its sharpest formulation. Art came to be seen as a branch of knowledge, valuable in its own right and capable of providing man with images of God and his creations as well as with insights into man's position in the universe. In the hands of men such as Leonardo da Vinci it was even a science, a means for exploring nature and a record of discoveries. Art was to be based on the observation of the visible world and practiced according to mathematical principles of balance, harmony, and perspective, which were developed at this time. In the works of painters such as Masaccio, the brothers Pietro and Ambrogio Lorenzetti, Fra Angelico, Sandro Botticelli, Perugino, Piero della Francesca, Raphael, and Titian; sculptors such as Giovanni Pisano, Donatello, Andrea del Verrocchio, Lorenzo Ghiberti, and Michelangelo; and architects such as Leon Battista Alberti, Filippo Brunelleschi, Andrea Palladio, Michelozzo, and Filarete, the dignity of man found expression in the arts.

In Italy the Renaissance proper was preceded by an important "proto-renaissance" in the late 13th and early 14th centuries, which drew inspiration from Franciscan radicalism. St. Francis of Assisi had rejected the formal Scholasticism of the prevailing Christian theology and gone out among the poor praising the beauties and spiritual value of nature. His example inspired Italian artists and poets to take pleasure in the world around them. The work of the most famous artist of the proto-renaissance period, Giotto (1266/67 or 1276-1337), reveals a new pictorial style that depends on clear, simple structure and great psychological penetration rather than on the flat, linear decorativeness and hierarchical compositions of his predecessors and contemporaries, such as the Florentine painter Cimabue and the Siennese painters Duccio and Simone Martini. The great poet Dante lived at about the same time as Giotto, and his poetry shows a similar concern with inward experience and the subtle shades and variations of human nature. Although his Divine Comedy belongs to the Middle Ages in its plan and ideas, its subjective spirit and power of expression look forward to the Renaissance. Petrarch and Giovanni Boccaccio also belong to this proto-renaissance period, both through their extensive studies of Latin literature and through their writings in the vernacular. Unfortunately, the terrible plague of 1348 and subsequent civil wars submerged both the revival of humanistic studies and the growing interest in individualism and naturalism revealed in the works of Giotto and Dante. The spirit of the Renaissance did not surface again until the 15th century.

In 1401 a competition was held at Florence to award the commission for bronze doors to be placed on the baptistery of San Giovanni. Defeated by the goldsmith and painter Lorenzo Ghiberti, Filippo Brunelleschi and Donatello left for Rome, where they immersed themselves in the study of ancient architecture and sculpture. When they returned to Florence and began to put their knowledge into practice, the rationalized art of the ancient world was reborn. The founder of Renaissance painting was Masaccio (1401-28). The intellectuality of his conceptions, the monumentality of his compositions, and the high degree of naturalism in his works mark Masaccio as a pivotal figure in Renaissance painting. The succeeding generation of artists- Piero della Francesca, the Pollaiuolo brothers, and Andrea del Verrocchio-pressed forward with researches into linear and aerial perspective and anatomy, developing a style of scientific naturalism.

The situation in Florence was uniquely favourable to the arts. The civic pride of Florentines found expression in statues of the patron saints commissioned from Ghiberti and Donatello for niches in the grain-market guildhall known as Or San Michele, and in the largest dome built since antiquity, placed by Brunelleschi on the Florence cathedral. The cost of construction and decoration of palaces, churches, and monasteries was underwritten by wealthy merchant families, chief among whom were the Medici family.

The Medici traded in all of the major cities in Europe, and one of the most famous masterpieces of Northern Renaissance art, The Portinari Altarpiece, by Hugo van der Goes ( c. 1476; Uffizi, Florence), was commissioned by their agent, Tommaso Portinari. Instead of being painted with the customary tempera of the period, the work is painted with translucent oil glazes that produce brilliant jewel-like colour and a glossy surface. Early Northern Renaissance painters were more concerned with the detailed reproduction of objects and their symbolic meaning than with the study of scientific perspective and anatomy even after these achievements became widely known. On the other hand, central Italian painters began to adopt the oil medium soon after The Portinari Altarpiece was brought to Florence in 1476.

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Renaissance | Definition, Meaning, History, Artists, Art, & Facts

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The Renaissance was a period in European civilization that immediately followed the Middle Ages and reached its height in the 15th century. It is conventionally held to have been characterized by a surge of interest in Classical scholarship and values. The Renaissance also witnessed the discovery and exploration of new continents and numerous important inventions.

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"The New Negro Movement"
1919-1925

Prohibition
1920-1933
1.Black cultural movement in Harlem, New York
2.Some poetry rhythms based on spirituals and jazz, lyrics on the blues, and diction from the street talk of the ghettos
3. Other poetry used conventional lyrical forms

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James Weldon Johnson

Claude McKay

Countee Cullen

Langston Hughes (poetry)

Zora Neale Hurston

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Thanks to the Harlem Renaissance the music industry in New York became centered in Tin Pan Alley

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The Harlem Renaissance was a movement in African American history that involved art, literature, and culture. It took place in the 1920s and 1930s in Harlem, New York. A the time it was referred to as the ‘New Negro Movement’ and had begun as Harlem grew as a destination for migrants from other regions in the U.S. as they sought equality and a better life following the end of slavery. Harlem culture began to be recognized in the early 1900s as theatre changed from ‘blackface’ stereotypes to involve real stories and issues. As this period in Harlem’s history continued, pride in African American culture grew into a new identity that celebrated literature, music, art, theatre, and experimentation in all of these avenues.

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African American sports became popular during the Harlem Renaissance. Leagues were founded because of the fact that whites did not allow African Americans to play in their leagues.

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In 1914 only about 50,000 African Americans called Harlem their home. By 1930 Harlem had grown to a population of 200,000 African Americans. This migration is referred to as the 'Great Migration' and began during World War I.

The political leaders of the Harlem Renaissance included Civil Rights activists such as Alain Leroy Locke (considered to be the Father of Harlem Renaissance), Marcus Garvey, Madam C.J. Walker, and many more.

Jazz music became popular during the Harlem Renaissance. It is often referred to as the Jazz Age. Popular jazz musicians included Louis Armstrong, Josephine Baker, Dizzy Gillespie, Count Basie, and Fats Waller.

Writers during the Harlem Renaissance that contributed to the four publications central to the movement were referred to as the 'Harlem Renaissance Writers'. The four publications included Opportunity, The Negro World, The Messenger, and The Crisis.

African American sports became popular during the Harlem Renaissance. Leagues were founded because of the fact that whites did not allow African Americans to play in their leagues. The famous New York Harlem Globe Trotters (basketball team) was founded in 1927.

Thanks to the Harlem Renaissance the music industry in New York became centered in Tin Pan Alley. The Cotton Club was Harlem's most famous night club.

Langston Hughes was a famous poet of the Harlem Renaissance responsible for writing the pieces 'The negro speaks of rivers', 'I too', and 'The Weary Blues'. Hughes became known as the Poet Laureate of Harlem for his work.

Art styles that became popular during the Harlem Renaissance include Art Deco, Surrealism, and Impressionism.

Artists that emerged during the Harlem Renaissance include Lois Mailou Jones, Aaron Douglas, Palmer C. Hayden, Meta Fuller, Jacob Lawrence, Norman Lewis, and Prentiss Taylor.

Some of the notable books that were written during the Harlem Renaissance by authors of this time include Home to Harlem (Claude McKay), Not Without Laughter (Langston Hughes), Black No More (George Schuyler), and Their Eyes Were Watching God (Zora Neale Hurston).

The men's Zoot Suit became fashionable during the Harlem Renaissance. This included wearing baggy pants and trousers. They also wore fedora hats, bow ties, and handkerchiefs.

Women's fashion during the Harlem Renaissance included flapper style dresses, long gloves, long beaded necklaces, and feather headbands and boas. During the day they wore more conservative day dresses and hats.

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The Harlem Renaissance was a movement in African American history that involved art, literature, and culture. It took place in the 1920s and 1930s in Harlem, New York. A the time it was referred to as the 'New Negro Movement' and had begun as Harlem grew as a destination for migrants from other regions in the U.S.

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Fact #1: The first woman went into space in 1963. She was called Valentina Tereshkova.

Fact #2: In 1966 England won the football World Cup. The tournament was held in England with the final taking place at Wembley Stadium.

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What did children do in the 1960s? - BBC Bitesize

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Explore the lives of children in 1960s Britain. Find out more with Bitesize KS1 History.

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Fact #1: The Birth of the Video Game Industry.

Fact #2: The Launch of “Star Wars”

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10 Fascinating Facts From The 1970s | A senior woman with gray hair, sunglasses and large headphones smiles and bobs her head along with her music. She is outside and wearing a blue shirt. She is African ethnicity and has a hipster vibe.

Are you ready for some 70s trivia? The 1970s were a time of great change, not just in the United States but throughout the entire world. Significant changes in entertainment, politics, and yes, even fashion came thick and fast. It was a decade of cultural transformation, technological advancement, and social change.

Today, we'll dive into some intriguing trivia that captures the essence of this vibrant era. I have gathered some fascinating information on the 1970s, so go through and leave a comment with your interesting insights and vintage photos from the 1970s!
The Birth of the Video Game Industry

Little girl and her father laughing while playing video games together on a sofa in their living room at home

While video games existed before the 70s, it was during this decade that they truly took off. In 1972, Atari released "Pong," often considered the first commercially successful video game. This simple tennis-like game paved the way for the multi-billion dollar industry we know today.
The Rise of Disco
Disco music emerged in the early 70s and dominated the latter half of the decade. The genre's popularity peaked with the release of "Saturday Night Fever" in 1977, starring John Travolta. The film's soundtrack, featuring the Bee Gees, became one of the best-selling albums of all time.
The First Email
The first email was sent in 1971 by computer engineer Ray Tomlinson. He chose the "@" symbol to separate the username from the computer name in the email address, a convention that continues to this day.
The Watergate Scandal
One of the biggest political scandals in American history unfolded in the early 70s. The Watergate affair led to the resignation of President Richard Nixon in 1974, making him the first and only U.S. president to resign from office.
The Birth of Microsoft
In 1975, Bill Gates and Paul Allen founded Microsoft, originally named "Micro-Soft." Little did they know their company would go on to revolutionize personal computing and make them two of the wealthiest individuals in the world.
The Launch of "Star Wars"
George Lucas's space opera "Star Wars" premiered in 1977, becoming a cultural phenomenon and one of the highest-grossing film franchises of all time. Its impact on popular culture, merchandising, and the film industry cannot be overstated.
The First Test Tube Baby
In 1978, Louise Brown became the world's first "test tube baby," born through in vitro fertilization (IVF). This groundbreaking medical achievement opened new possibilities for couples struggling with infertility.
The Rise of Environmental Awareness
The first Earth Day was celebrated on April 22, 1970, marking the birth of the modern environmental movement. This decade saw increased awareness of environmental issues and the passage of significant legislation like the Clean Air Act and the Endangered Species Act.
The Advent of the Walkman
Sony introduced the Walkman in 1979, revolutionizing how people listened to music. This portable cassette player allowed individuals to enjoy their favorite tunes on the go, foreshadowing the personal audio revolution that would follow in subsequent decades.
The Fall of Saigon
The Vietnam War, which had dominated much of the 60s and early 70s, came to an end with the Fall of Saigon in 1975. This event marked the end of the Vietnam War and led to the unification of Vietnam under communist rule.

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Are you ready for some 70s trivia? The 1970s were a time of great change, not just in the United States but throughout the entire world. Significant changes in entertainment, politics, and yes, even fashion came thick and fast. It was a decade of cultural transformation, technological advancement, and social change.

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Fact #1: The Rubik's Cube was released and became hugely popular.

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What did children do in the 1980s? - BBC Bitesize

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Explore the lives of children in 1980s Britain. Find out more with Bitesize KS1 History.

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Fact #2: Roller discos became popular.

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What did children do in the 1980s? - BBC Bitesize

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Explore the lives of children in 1980s Britain. Find out more with Bitesize KS1 History.

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Fact #1: The first Harry Potter book was published.

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50 Facts About The 1990s That Will Leave You In Wonder

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The 1990s was more than just a decade of cultural and technological innovation. It was an era of transformation that shaped the world we live in today, leaving an irreplaceable legacy in history. Today, it’s hard to imagine a time without the internet or when you had to wait for your favorite song to play…

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Fact #2: Nokia phone were ruling.

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50 Facts About The 1990s That Will Leave You In Wonder

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The 1990s was more than just a decade of cultural and technological innovation. It was an era of transformation that shaped the world we live in today, leaving an irreplaceable legacy in history. Today, it’s hard to imagine a time without the internet or when you had to wait for your favorite song to play…

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1950–present

Korean War
1950-1953

Vietnam War
1954-1975

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1. Influenced by studies of media, language, and information technology.
2. Sense that little is unique; culture endlessly duplicates itself.
3. New literary forms and techniques: works composed of only dialogue, or combining fiction and nonfiction, experimenting with physical appearance of their work.

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Contemporary "Postmodernism" : Authors and Works

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Contemporary "Postmodernism" : Authors and Works

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Alice Walker

Wallace Stevens

e.e. cummings

Maya Angelou

Anne Sexton

James Baldwin

Richard Wright

Sandra Cisneros

Amy Tan

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Fact #1: Postmodernism Is A Reaction Against Modernism

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Fact #2: Postmodernism Doesn’t Have An Official Time Stamp

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Summary:

Set in 1960s Mississippi, The Help follows Skeeter, a white aspiring writer; Aibileen, a Black maid grieving her son’s death; and Minny, a bold maid plagued by societal judgment, as they risk their safety to secretly compile stories exposing the racism and oppression faced by Black domestic workers. The novel emphasizes the courage to challenge systemic injustice and societal “lines,” highlighting solidarity across racial divides and the transformative power of truth-telling. Their clandestine project sparks a movement that reshapes their town’s understanding of dignity, equality, and the bonds between women.

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Read 89.4k reviews from the world's largest community for readers. Three ordinary women are about to take one extraordinary step. Twenty-two-year-old Skee...

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Reflection:

Throughout this year, having to do a timeline of all the important events of the U.S. helped me to become a little bit smarter than the rest, because some of my classmates do not know any of these events. So every time a question comes out, I can talk about these events.