1920s History

  • Great Steel Strike Ends

    Main causes of the Steel Strike were poor and dangerous working conditions, low pay, and long hours. Worker had enough of these disadvantages and went on strike, joining each other along the way.
  • Palmer Raids

    The Palmer Raids were conducted by the U.S. Department of Justice in 1919 and 1920. They wanted to arrest foreign anarchists and communists. Many of them were deported.
  • 18th Amendment Ratification

    The 18th Amendment was ratified. It prohibited “the manufacture, sale, or transportation of intoxicating liquors” but not consuming, possessing, or producing. Basically, you could not buy, sell, or transport alcohol.
  • Senate Rejects the Treaty of Versailles

    For the second time, senate rejected the Treaty of Versailles. The treaty was a formal peace treaty between Germany and the allies of WWI. Representatives approved the treaty, but Senate did not.
  • Overproduction of Cotton

    Cotton prices in New Orleans were at their peak around this time in 1920, at 42 cents a pound. This forced the farmers to plant the largest crop in history. Then, because cotton was overproduced, this caused a collapse in the prices which made it very cheap (under 10 cents a pound).
  • Warring Harding nominated to run for president

    Republicans nominated Warren Harding, a US senator, to run for president. Harding's campaign promised the rejecting of the idealism of Woodrow Wilson. The voters responded to this positively, and he won by a landslide.
  • 19th Amendment

    The 19th Amendment granted women in the United States a right to vote. This was also known as women’s suffrage, and the amendment was ratified on August 18, 1920. This amendment ended an eternity of protest.
  • First US radio broadcast

    The first radio broadcast was made the night of an election by KDKA from the Westinghouse Electric buildings in Pittsburgh. The broadcast began at 6 in the evening on Tuesday, Nov. 2, 1920. Radios cost about $150.
  • Warren Harding elected US president

    On this day, Warren Harding was elected president by a great majority of the votes. He won 60% of the popular vote and 75% of the electoral vote.