Modern Era
Eastland Disaster (1915): The Ship That Capsized in Chicago
The Eastland capsized while still tied to the dock; 844 passengers and crew died, the greatest loss of life in a single shipwreck on the Great Lakes.
Region
Americas
Modern Era
Sinking of the Lusitania (1915): U-Boat Attack Off Ireland
The liner sank in about 18 minutes with the loss of 1,198 lives, including 128 Americans, provoking a major crisis between the United States and Germany.
Modern Era
Mexican Constitution of 1917: The Revolution's Landmark Charter
Mexico adopted a constitution combining a federal republic with far-reaching social rights; much amended, it remains in force today.
Modern Era
Battle of Vimy Ridge (1917): Canada's Defining Moment in the War
Canadian Corps victory; the ridge was taken within four days and held for the rest of the war.
Modern Era
Zimmermann Telegram (1917): Germany's Secret Offer to Mexico
Its publication turned American opinion sharply against Germany and helped lead to the US declaration of war on 6 April 1917.
Modern Era
Battle of Belleau Wood (1918): US Marines in World War I
American victory; the wood was cleared by 26 June at the cost of nearly 10,000 US casualties.
Modern Era
Meuse-Argonne Offensive (1918): America's Largest WWI Battle
American and French forces broke through the German defences between the Meuse and the Argonne and cut key railways near Sedan, contributing to Germany's defeat.
Modern Era
Eddington's Eclipse Expedition (1919): Proving Einstein Right
The measured deflection of starlight agreed with Einstein's prediction rather than Newton's, making general relativity and Einstein world famous.
Modern Era
Nineteenth Amendment (1920): American Women Win the Vote
The US Constitution was amended so that no state could deny citizens the vote on account of sex, though many women of colour remained excluded in practice.
Modern Era
Discovery of Insulin (1921): Banting, Best and Diabetes
Insulin was isolated and used successfully on patients, making type 1 diabetes a survivable condition; Banting and Macleod received the 1923 Nobel Prize.
Modern Era
Tulsa Race Massacre (1921): The Destruction of Greenwood
Some 35 blocks of Greenwood were burned, an estimated 75-300 people were killed and thousands of Black residents were left homeless; no one was convicted.
Modern Era
Tri-State Tornado (1925): The Deadliest Tornado in US History
The tornado killed 695 people and injured more than 2,000 along a track of about 219 miles (352 km), the deadliest tornado in US history.