Major Events of August 1919: Key Historical Moments from the Month

Each month is marked by defining moments that shape the course of history. Whether through political shifts, cultural movements, or world-changing events, these periods leave a lasting impression. Dive into the most important events from August 1919 and discover how they influenced the world both then and now.

Major Events of August 1919: Key Historical Moments from the Month

01 Aug 1919 Montana and Nebraska Ratify Women's Suffrage Amendment: Montana and Nebraska became crucial states in ratifying the Nineteenth Amendment, a landmark moment in the United States that extended voting rights to women and advanced gender equality.
02 Aug 1919 Women's Suffrage Milestone in US: Montana and Nebraska ratified the Nineteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, a crucial step in securing women's right to vote and advancing gender equality in American democracy.
03 Aug 1919 Chicago Race Riot of 1919 Concludes: The devastating Red Summer race riot in Chicago formally ended after a week of intense racial violence. The tragic incident resulted in 38 fatalities (23 African Americans and 15 whites), with 537 people injured. African-American Patrolman John W. Simpson was the only policeman killed. The violence left approximately 1,000 residents, predominantly African Americans, homeless, highlighting the severe racial tensions of the era.
04 Aug 1919 Weimar Republic Constitution Established: The Weimar Constitution is officially proclaimed and comes into effect in Germany, marking a pivotal moment in the country's transition to democratic governance following World War I.
05 Aug 1919 Paris Peace Conference: Meeting of Great Powers Delegation Heads: A pivotal diplomatic gathering took place in Paris at the Quai d'Orsay, where the heads of delegations from the five major world powers convened to discuss post-World War I geopolitical arrangements. The meeting, chaired by French diplomat Stephen Pichon, brought together representatives from the United States, British Empire, France, Italy, and Japan to negotiate the terms of peace and reshape the global political landscape following the devastating conflict.
06 Aug 1919 Hungarian Right-Wing Counterrevolution: István Friedrich led a right-wing counterrevolution against the Gyula Peidl government in Hungary, supported by the Royal Romanian Army, dramatically shifting the political landscape of post-World War I Hungary.
07 Aug 1919 Actors' Equity Association Strike of 1919: On August 7, 1919, the Actors' Equity Association officially initiated a significant labor strike against the Producing Managers' Association (PMA). This strike was a pivotal moment in American theater history, representing actors' demands for better working conditions, fair compensation, and professional rights.
08 Aug 1919 Treaty of Rawalpindi: Afghanistan's Independence: The Treaty of Rawalpindi was signed, marking a significant diplomatic milestone where the British officially recognized Afghanistan's independence. This treaty concluded the Third Anglo-Afghan War and established new geopolitical boundaries in the region.
09 Aug 1919 Birth of Joop den Uyl, Dutch Political Leader: Joop den Uyl was born on this date, who would later become a prominent Dutch politician and serve as Prime Minister of the Netherlands from 1973 to 1977. He was a significant figure in the Dutch Labour Party (Partij van de Arbeid) and known for his progressive social democratic policies during a transformative period in Dutch political history.
10 Aug 1919 Ukrainian National Army Violence Against Jewish Population: On August 10, 1919, members of the Ukrainian National Army conducted a violent massacre, killing 25 Jewish civilians in the Podolia region of Ukraine during a period of significant ethnic and political tensions.
11 Aug 1919 Weimar Constitution Signed: On August 11, 1919, the Weimar Constitution was formally signed into law, marking a pivotal moment in German political history. This democratic constitution established the Weimar Republic, replacing the imperial system and creating a new parliamentary framework for governance in post-World War I Germany.
12 Aug 1919 British Military Levies Commence Operations in Mesopotamia: In a significant colonial administrative development, the first British-controlled military units composed of local Iraqis and diverse ethnic groups, known as 'levies', began their operational activities in the region formerly known as Mesopotamia. This marked an important transition in British military and administrative strategy in the Middle East.
13 Aug 1919 American Expeditionary Forces Hospital Closure: The American Expeditionary Forces closed their military hospitals in Paris, with Hospital No. 57 discharging its final patient after treating over 8,500 patients since September 1918, signaling the conclusion of medical operations following World War I.
14 Aug 1919 Russian Civil War Counter-Offensive: On August 14, 1919, during the Russian Civil War, the Red Army under Vladimir Yegoryev launched a significant counter-offensive against the White Army. The Bolshevik forces, numbering 144,000 troops, confronted Anton Denikin's White Army of 185,000 men in a critical military engagement.
15 Aug 1919 Silesian Uprising: German Border Guards Massacre Ethnic Poles: On August 15, 1919, a tragic incident occurred near Mysłowice in Upper Silesia, where German border guards shot and killed 10 ethnic Poles during a labor dispute at a local mine. This brutal massacre, which took place while the region was still under German occupation, became a catalyst for the first Silesian Uprising, as Polish residents sought to force Germany to relinquish control of the territory.
16 Aug 1919 First Silesian Uprising Begins: On August 16, 1919, the First Silesian Uprising commenced, with Polish inhabitants of Upper Silesia rising against German control. This uprising was part of the broader struggle for territorial and ethnic autonomy in the region following World War I, reflecting the complex national tensions in Central Europe at the time.
17 Aug 1919 Bulgarian Agrarian National Union Wins Parliamentary Majority: In a significant democratic moment for Bulgaria, the Bulgarian Agrarian National Union secured a majority of parliamentary seats during the national elections. The election, characterized by a robust voter turnout of 70%, demonstrated strong civic engagement and represented a pivotal point in Bulgaria's post-World War I political landscape.
18 Aug 1919 German Naval Attack on Bolshevik Fleet at Kronstadt: In a significant naval engagement during the Russian Civil War, German warplanes and torpedo boats launched a devastating attack on the Bolshevik fleet stationed at Kronstadt, near Petrograd, effectively destroying most of the Soviet naval assets in the Baltic Sea.
19 Aug 1919 Afghanistan Gains Independence from United Kingdom: On August 19, 1919, Afghanistan officially gained full independence from the United Kingdom after years of British colonial control. King Amanullah declared the country's sovereignty, which was solidified through the Rawalpindi Treaty, ending the Third Anglo-Afghan War. This marked a significant moment in Afghanistan's history, representing the nation's successful resistance against British imperial rule and establishing its autonomy.
20 Aug 1919 Joe Wilhoit's Hitting Streak Ends: On August 20, 1919, Joe Wilhoit, an outfielder in the Western League playing for Wichita, saw his remarkable 69-game hitting streak come to an end. This was a significant moment in minor league baseball history, highlighting the extraordinary consistency and skill of the player during this extended period.
21 Aug 1919 Friedrich Ebert Becomes First President of the Weimar Republic: On August 21, 1919, Friedrich Ebert was officially sworn in as the first President of Germany following the establishment of the Weimar Republic. This marked a critical transition from the imperial system to a democratic parliamentary republic in the aftermath of World War I. Ebert, a prominent member of the Social Democratic Party (SPD), played a pivotal role in stabilizing Germany during a tumultuous period of political and social upheaval.
22 Aug 1919 Uneventful Day in 1919: While no major historical events were documented for August 22, 1919, this period was part of the post-World War I era, characterized by significant global political and social transformations. The world was recovering from the devastating conflict, with nations rebuilding and redefining international relationships.
23 Aug 1919 Afghanistan Achieves Independence from British Rule: After a 300-year period of British colonial occupation, Afghanistan successfully gained its independence, marking a crucial moment in the country's path to national sovereignty. This event was part of the broader decolonization movements following World War I and represented a significant milestone in Afghanistan's political history.
24 Aug 1919 White Russian Forces Capture Odessa: During the tumultuous Russian Civil War, White Russian armies successfully captured the strategically important Black Sea port city of Odessa on August 24, 1919. This military victory was a significant moment in the complex conflict between the White Russian forces and the Bolsheviks, highlighting the ongoing struggle for control of Russian territories.
25 Aug 1919 First Paris-London Commercial Passenger Flight: The first scheduled passenger airplane service was inaugurated between Paris and London, marking a significant milestone in commercial aviation history. This event represented a breakthrough in international air travel, demonstrating the growing feasibility of rapid transportation across national borders.
26 Aug 1919 First Regular Television Broadcast in the United States: On August 26, 1919, the Westinghouse Electric Corporation made history by conducting the first regular television broadcast in the United States. This groundbreaking moment marked a significant milestone in communication technology, laying the foundation for the future of visual media and mass communication.
27 Aug 1919 Death of Louis Botha, South African Prime Minister: Louis Botha, the first Prime Minister of the Union of South Africa, passed away while in office due to complications from the global influenza pandemic of 1918-1919. A prominent Boer War general and statesman, Botha played a crucial role in South Africa's transition from British colonial rule to a unified nation. His death marked the end of a significant political era, as he was instrumental in negotiating with the British and promoting reconciliation between Afrikaners and English-speaking South Africans.
28 Aug 1919 John Smuts Becomes Premier of South Africa: General Jan Christiaan Smuts assumed the role of Prime Minister of the Union of South Africa, marking a significant moment in the country's political transition following the end of World War I and the establishment of the Union in 1910.
29 Aug 1919 Lack of Documented Historical Events in 1919: While no specific historical events were found for August 29, 1919, this period was part of the post-World War I era, characterized by significant global political and social transformations. The world was recovering from the devastating conflict, with the Treaty of Versailles having been signed earlier that year, reshaping international boundaries and geopolitical relationships.
30 Aug 1919 Knoxville Race Riot Erupts: The Knoxville Race Riot began on August 30, 1919, with a violent incident where an unidentified intruder entered the home of Bertie Lindsey and shot her while she was sleeping. This event was part of a broader pattern of racial tensions and violence that characterized the 'Red Summer' of 1919, a period marked by widespread racial conflicts across the United States.
31 Aug 1919 Socialist Party Fragmentation: On August 31, 1919, the Socialist Party of America experienced a significant internal split. While the Right Wing, consisting of approximately 30,000 members, continued their national convention in Chicago, the Left Wing of 10,000 native-born, English-speaking members formed the Communist Labor Party of America.