Tables of History : A.D. 1900

Tables of History : A.D. 1900 - 1919

Other periods available:
1-99 | 100-199 | 200-299 | 300-399
400-499 | 500-599 | 600-699 | 700-799
800-899 | 900-999 | 1000-1099 | 1100-1199
1200-1299 | 1300-1399 | 1400-1499 | 1500-1599
1600-1699 | 1700-1799 | 1800-1899 | 1900-1919
1920-1939 | 1940-1959 | 1960-1979 | 1980-1999
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1901

Queen Victoria I of England dies and is succeeded by Edward VII
In Denmark, the conservative Reedtz-Thott government steps down
The new government, a majority government led by J.H. Deuntzer, is also the first Danish government to enjoy the support of a majority in the Folketing. This parliamentaristic procedure hereafter becomes the rule in Denmark.
U.S. President McKinley is assassinated
Attending an industrial exhibition in Buffalo, McKinley is gunned down by Polish anarchist Léon Czolqocz. He dies after a few days, and is succeeded by Vice President Theodore Roosevelt.
U.S. Supreme Court rules that citizens of Puerto Rico are not U.S. citizens

1902

Boer insurrectionists give up
The Boers resign themselves to having lost the war, but their capitulation does not come unconditionally. The two Boer republics, Transvaal and the Oranje Free State become British crown colonies, but are given promises of imminent autonomy. The Afrikaans language is given equal status with English in the region. At the close of the war, British troops in the region number 238,000, Boers 12,000.

1903

Wright brothers make first powered, controlled flight
Iceland granted regional autonomy from Denmark
Serbian royal family assassinated
A growing scandal concerning the Serbian queen Draga causes a group of military officers to make a night raid on the royal palace, during which King Alexander I, the queen, her two brothers and numerous courtiers are murdered. This ends the royal house of Obrenovic. A hastily-summoned Skupstina (national assembly) elects Prince Peter of the former Serbian royal house Karageorgevic (overthrown 1858) as new king, and introduces a democratic constitution.

1904

Russo-Japanese War breaks out
Japan declars war against Russia on Feb. 10, two days after a failed sneak attack on the Russian Pacific fleet at Port Arthur. Japanese armed forces later land in the region, and lay siege to Port Arthur.
In France, Defence Minister André orders the Dreyfus case reexamined
In Korea, Emperor Kojong is forced to sign a decree making Korea a Japanese protectorate

1905

Russo-Japanese War ends
Port Arthur falls to the Japanese siege, and a huge battle at Mukden involving nearly half a million troops ends in Russian retreat. In May, the Russian Baltic fleet arrives in the Pacific, after nearly eight months at sea, only to be defeated at Tsushima. By August, peace negotiations with American mediation are under way, and peace is declared in September. Russia vacates Manchuria, and recognizes Korea as part of Japan's legitimate sphere of interest. Russia also cedes the southern half of Sakhalin Island, and hands over the Liaotung Peninsula, including Port Arthur, to Japan. Through American intercession, the massive war reparations demanded by Japan are avoided in the final settlement.
Albert Einstein formulates theory of special relativity
"Bloody Sunday" massacre in St. Petersburg causes chaos
Russian military and police open fire on a crowd of 200,000 workers, their wives and children, on their way to the Winter Palace to appeal for Czar Nikolai II's pity on their miserable conditions. The massacre ignites a violent response, and more than 400,000 are striking within three weeks. Riots, mutinies and general strikes paralyze Russia. By October, the Czar is forced to give up, and issues a manifesto promising a constitution, democratic reforms, and freedom of speech and religion.
The Union of Norway and Sweden is dissolved
The Norwegians select Prince Carl of Denmark as new king, crowning him as King Haakon VII.

1906

The British Labour Party is founded
Transvaal gains regional autonomy
Given equal rights with the Cape Colony and Natal, Transvaal gets a parliament and government of its own.
In Denmark, King Christian IX dies, and is succeeded by Frederik VIII
Utah becomes 45th state in the U.S.A.
U.S. troops occupy Cuba
San Francisco earthquake and fire destroys most of city

1907

Women's suffrage in Norway
In Sweden, King Oscar II dies, and is succeeded by Gustav V
Henry Ford introduces the Model T automobile
Pope Pius X institutes reactionary measures
In the encyclical Pascendi dominici gregis, Pius X sharply condemns the "modernists", who want to bring the Catholic Church up to date. A number of the modernists are condemned as heretics, and their works placed on the Vatican's Index of forbidden books.
Gandhi leads non-violent resistance in South Africa
Under the leadership of young Indian attorney Mohandas K. Gandhi (later known as Mahatma Gandhi), Indians in South Africa protest restrictive anti-Indian immigration policies, using non-violent methods.
In Korea, Emperor Kojong is forced to abdicate
A secret mission is sent from Emperor Kojong to the peace conference at The Hague. When the news gets out, the Japanese force the Emperor to abdicate in favour of his retarded son Yi Nu, now titular emperor under the name Sujong. The Korean army is dissolved, and the country is placed under complete Japanese administration.
Oklahoma becomes 46th state in the U.S.A.
New Zealand becomes independent dominion of Great Britain
Panama canal construction begins

1908

Chinese Emperor Kuang-Hsü dies
The emperor's successor, recently appointed his heir, is his three-year-old nephew Pu Yi, who becomes the last Manchu emperor of China, taking his seat on the Dragon Throne under the imperial name of Hsü-an-tung.
In Portugal, the King and Crown Prince are assassinated
Portuguese King Carlos I, and Crown Prince Luis are murdered by anarchists, during a drive through Lisbon in an open car. Slightly injured in the same attack is the second-eldest prince, who becomes Portugal's new king, Manuel II.
In Denmark, former Minister of Justice P.A. Alberti is jailed
The former justice minister is condemned to eight years in prison for millions of kroner's worth of embezzlement.
Women's suffrage in local elections in Denmark
Belgian Congo becomes property of the Belgian state
After 30 years of misrule, the Belgian Congo, hitherto private property of the Belgian monarchy, is handed over by King Leopold II to the Belgian state. The new order brings no noticeable changes in conditions in the colony.

1909

Belgian King Leopold II dies, and is succeeded by his nephew, Albert I
Jewish settlers found the city of Tel Aviv, in Palestine

1910

Revolution in Portugal
King Manuel II flees aboard his yacht to Gibraltar (dies in exile in Britain, 1932). A republican government, under the leadership of Dr. Thephilo Braga, takes power, confiscating Church property, expelling members of Catholic orders, and banning religious education in schools.
Russia annexes Finland
Finland, hitherto a nominally independent country under Russian control, is annexed as a regular Russian province. The members of the Duma greet the news with the words "Finis Finlandiae!" ("The end of Finland!").
Japan annexes Korea
In Siam, King Chulalongkorn (Rama V) dies, and is succeeded by his son, Vajiravudh (Rama VI)
South Africa becomes independent dominion
The colonies of the Cape Colony, Natal, Transvaal and the Oranje Free State become, collectively, an independent dominion of Great Britain, called the South African Union.

1911

Russian Prime Minister Stolypin is assassinated
At a premiere night of the Kiev Opera, Russian Prime Minister Pyotr Stolypin is gunned down by a police informant, Bogrov, before the very eyes of the czar and czarina. His successor is the competent, but less popular and less prestigious Vladimir Kokovzov.
Revolution in China
Following a mutiny by the garrison at Hankow, a widespread army revolt breaks out. Chaos prevails as provincial governors declare independence. An indecisive war between loyalists and rebels leads to an armistice, and the republic of the United States of China is proclaimed, under the leadership of Sun Yat-Sen.
Anti-Trust rulings in the U.S.
The U.S. Supreme Court rules that Standard Oil and American Tobacco Company be dissolved.
In Mexico, peasants revolt
Under the leadership of Emiliano Zapata, Mexican peasants rise up against the power of the great landowners.
Roald Amundsen, Norwegian explorer, reaches the South Pole

1912

Danish King Frederik VIII dies, and is succeeded by his son, Christian X
In Spain, Premier José Canalejas is gunned down by an anarchist in a bookstore
Ottoman Sultan Mehmed V dissolves the National Assembly
Following massive election gains by the Young Turks, the Sultan dissolves the National Assembly and calls a new election. The election results in a landslide victory for the Young Turks. Despite this, the Sultan appoints the 79-year-old war hero, General Muktar Pasha as new grand vizier. Muktar immediately forcibly dissolves the National Assembly and declares martial law. He soon steps down, however, appointing 89-year-old Kiamil Pasha as his successor.
British viceroy in India Lord Hardinge is wounded in anarchist bombing
In China, the Manchu dynasty is formally deposed and replaced with a republic, by imperial decree
Japanese Meiji emperor Mutsuhito dies and is succeeded by his son, Taisho emperor Yoshihito
Anti-Trust rulings in the U.S.
The U.S. Supreme Court rules that the railway cartels Union Pacific and Southern Pacific be dissolved.

1913

The British House of Lords twice rejects a bill proposing home rule for Ireland
Suffragette movement in Britain becomes radicalized following jailing of Emmeline Pankhurst
The German Army increases its peacetime strength from 550,000 to 870,000 men
Popular Greek King Georgios I is assassinated in Saloniki by an anarchist, and is succeeded by his son, Konstantin I
Young Turks lead coup in Ottoman Empire
Under the leadership of Enver Bey and Constantinoples military commandant, Ahmed Djemal Pasha, the coup succeeds. The Minister of War, Nazim Pasha, is murdered during a state council, and grand vizier Kiamil Pasha steps down. His successor is Mehmet Shevket Pasha, who is assassinated later in the year, as revenge for the murder of Nazim Pasha.
In South Africa, Mohandas K. Gandhi is arrested
Arrested for organizing protest marches, Gandhi nevertheless manages to achieve government concessions.
In the United States, a constitutional amendment allows the institution of income tax

1914

First World War begins
Panama canal completed

1915

In Denmark, a plebiscite approves the proposed sale of the Danish Virgin Islands to the U.S.A.
64% of the Danish voting public approves the sale.
Danish constitutional reform
King Christian X signs a new constitution giving full suffrage to women and servants, two groups previously excluded from the vote.
Mohandas K. Gandhi returns from South Africa to India
Gandhi, now dubbed "Mahatma" ("Great Soul") proceeds to speak in favour of Indian support to Great Britain's war.
In China, President Yüan Shihkai assumes imperial rank
A carefully-selected assembly calls on the president, General Yüan Shihkai, to restore the empire and ascend to the Dragon Throne. Yüan bows to the "public will" and assumes the imperial name Hung Hsien. A reaction, in the form of a Japanese-supported rebellion in the Southwest, is immediately forthcoming.
Ottoman troops massacre Armenians
The Armenian population in Eastern Turkey, suspected of Russian sympathies in the war, is the target of repeated abuses. A desperate rising in the area around the city of Van leads to a gruesome Turkish massacre of one-third of all the Armenian population. None are spared, not even women, children, or old people.

1918

First World War ends in armistice
The Soviet Union adopts the Gregorian calendar

1919

Treaty of Versailles
Formal conclusion of First World War.

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Last modified: July 20, 2001