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Major Events of October 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 October 1919 and discover how they influenced the world both then and now.

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

  • 01 Oct 1919 Elaine Race Riot in Arkansas: The Elaine Race Riot broke out in Phillips County, Arkansas, marking one of the deadliest racial conflicts in American history. African American sharecroppers attempting to organize for better working conditions were met with extreme violence by white landowners and local authorities, resulting in numerous deaths and highlighting the brutal racial oppression of the time.
  • 02 Oct 1919 Woodrow Wilson's Debilitating Stroke: On October 2, 1919, U.S. President Woodrow Wilson suffered a massive stroke that left him partially paralyzed, dramatically altering the course of his presidency and personal life. The stroke occurred at the White House, just seven days after experiencing a physical collapse during a speech in Pueblo, Colorado. This medical event would significantly impair Wilson's ability to govern, effectively rendering him incapacitated for the remainder of his presidential term.
  • 03 Oct 1919 Morgenthau Report on Jewish Treatment in Poland: American diplomat Henry Morgenthau Sr. released a critical report documenting the treatment of Jewish people in the Second Polish Republic, including detailed accounts of the Pinsk massacre committed by the Polish Army on April 5, highlighting human rights concerns.
  • 04 Oct 1919 Racial Violence During Gary, Indiana Labor Dispute: On October 4, 1919, during a labor strike in Gary, Indiana, a violent racial confrontation erupted when a streetcar carrying 40 African American strikebreakers was attacked by a mob of hundreds of striking workers. The attackers first heckled and threw rocks at the streetcar, then forcibly removed the black workers, beating them and dragging them through the streets in a brutal display of racial and labor tensions.
  • 05 Oct 1919 Altitude World Record Set by Rudolph Schroeder: American pilot Rudolph Schroeder achieved a groundbreaking altitude world record, flying a Packard aircraft to an impressive height of 9,622 meters (31,568 feet), demonstrating significant advancements in aviation technology and human flight capabilities.
  • 06 Oct 1919 U.S. Army Intervenes in Gary Steel Workers Strike: Escalating tensions during the steel workers strike in Gary, Indiana, prompted the United States Army to enter the city and restore order, reflecting the significant labor unrest and social tensions in the industrial Midwest following World War I.
  • 07 Oct 1919 KLM Netherlands Airlines Established: KLM (Koninklijke Luchtvaart Maatschappij N.V.) is founded as the national airline of the Netherlands, making it the oldest airline still operating under its original name. The airline would go on to become a significant player in international aviation.
  • 08 Oct 1919 Russian Civil War: 8th Army Counteroffensive in Voronezh: During the Russian Civil War, the 8th Army launched a strategic counteroffensive against the White Army, successfully forcing them out of the strategically important city of Voronezh, Russia. This military action was part of the broader conflict between the Bolshevik Red Army and the anti-communist White Army forces.
  • 09 Oct 1919 Black Sox Scandal World Series: The Cincinnati Reds won the 1919 World Series in a controversial event that would become known as the Black Sox Scandal. Eight players from the Chicago White Sox were later accused of intentionally losing the series in exchange for money from gamblers, fundamentally undermining the integrity of professional baseball.
  • 10 Oct 1919 Estonia's Radical Land Reform: Estonia implemented a transformative land reform policy, nationalizing 97% of agricultural land. This radical redistribution aimed to break the historical feudal land ownership system and provide more equitable access to land for peasants and farmers, fundamentally reshaping the country's socio-economic structure in the aftermath of World War I and the Estonian War of Independence.
  • 11 Oct 1919 Red Army Counteroffensive in Russian Civil War: The 13th and 14th Red Armies launched a successful counteroffensive against the White Army in the strategically important cities of Orel, Kursk, and Tula, representing a crucial turning point in the Russian Civil War.
  • 12 Oct 1919 Royal Navy Fleet Mutiny in Scotland: A significant mutiny erupted among the Royal Navy fleet at Port Edgar, Scotland, involving approximately 150 sailors who abandoned their posts and prevented the fleet from departing. In a bold move, around 50 sailors marched to Whitehall in London, presenting a list of grievances regarding fleet conditions. The mutiny concluded with the arrest of 96 sailors and officers, highlighting the growing tensions within the post-World War I British naval forces.
  • 13 Oct 1919 International Aerial Navigation Convention: The Convention relating to the Regulation of Aerial Navigation was signed, representing a significant milestone in international aviation law and establishing early frameworks for global air travel regulations.
  • 14 Oct 1919 Founding of Wahl Clipper Corporation: The Wahl Clipper Corporation was established in Sterling, Illinois, marking a significant milestone in personal grooming technology. The company began manufacturing electric razors and grooming products, pioneering innovations in personal care equipment that would revolutionize home and professional grooming practices.
  • 15 Oct 1919 First Long-Distance Horse Race in New England: A pioneering endurance horse race was launched from Vermont to Massachusetts, featuring fourteen horses competing in a challenging 300-mile journey. The race offered a substantial prize of $1,000, which would have been a significant sum in 1919, attracting skilled riders and hardy horses eager to demonstrate their stamina and skill.
  • 16 Oct 1919 Hitler's First Public Political Speech: Adolf Hitler delivers his first significant public political address at a meeting of the German Workers' Party in Munich, marking an early milestone in his rise to political prominence. This speech would be one of the initial steps in his eventual transformation of the small nationalist party into the Nazi Party.
  • 17 Oct 1919 A. Mitchell Palmer's Senate Testimony on Radicalism: United States Attorney General A. Mitchell Palmer appeared before the Senate to discuss efforts to combat perceived radicalism. He reported that the Justice Department had compiled a list of 60,000 names and was preparing to make significant arrests, reflecting the intense anti-radical sentiment in post-World War I America.
  • 18 Oct 1919 Lack of Documented Historical Events - October 18, 1919: While no specific historical events have been definitively recorded for this date, it represents a period shortly after World War I, during the complex post-war reconstruction era in global politics and society.
  • 19 Oct 1919 Premiere of 'J'accuse' - Powerful Anti-War Silent Film: Abel Gance's groundbreaking silent film 'J'accuse' premiered in Paris, offering a profound and poignant critique of war in the aftermath of World War I. The film was renowned for its powerful anti-war sentiment and innovative cinematographic techniques.
  • 21 Oct 1919 Birth of Jazz Singer Anita O'Day: Anita O'Day, a legendary jazz singer known for her distinctive vocal style and improvisational skills, was born on October 21, 1919. She became a prominent figure in the swing and bebop eras, performing with notable bandleaders like Gene Krupa and Stan Kenton. O'Day was renowned for her unique phrasing, rhythmic innovation, and ability to scat sing, making significant contributions to the evolution of jazz music.
  • 22 Oct 1919 Lack of Documented Historical Events - October 1919: While no specific historical events have been definitively recorded for October 22, 1919, this period was part of the post-World War I era, characterized by significant global political and social transformations. The year 1919 was marked by the Paris Peace Conference, the Treaty of Versailles, and the emergence of new national boundaries in Europe.
  • 23 Oct 1919 Lack of Documented Historical Events in 1919: While no specific historical events were found for October 23, 1919, this period was part of the post-World War I era, characterized by significant global political and social transformations. The year 1919 was marked by the Paris Peace Conference, the Treaty of Versailles, and the emergence of new nation-states following the collapse of empires.
  • 24 Oct 1919 Czechoslovakia Establishes Diplomatic Presence in United States: In a pivotal moment for the newly formed Czechoslovak state, Foreign Minister Eduard Benes officially appointed Jan Masaryk as the head of the Czechoslovak Legation in Washington, D.C., signaling the young nation's commitment to international diplomacy and recognition following the end of World War I.
  • 25 Oct 1919 Lack of Documented Historical Events - October 25, 1919: While no specific historical events were found for this date, the year 1919 was a significant period of global transition following World War I, marked by political restructuring, social changes, and the emergence of new national boundaries.
  • 26 Oct 1919 Women's Suffrage Legislation in Czechoslovakia: A landmark moment in Czechoslovakian democratic history, the first set of Women's Suffrage legislation was passed, granting women the fundamental right to vote in national elections. This progressive legislation marked a significant step towards gender equality and political representation in the newly formed Czechoslovak Republic, following the end of World War I and the dissolution of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.
  • 27 Oct 1919 Volstead Act Signed by US Congress: The US Congress signed the Volstead Act, which provided enforcement mechanisms for the 18th Amendment (Prohibition). This legislation prohibited the manufacture, sale, and transportation of alcoholic beverages in the United States, marking a significant moment in American social and legal history.
  • 28 Oct 1919 Volstead Act Passed, Prohibition Begins: On October 28, 1919, the United States Congress passed the Volstead Act, officially known as the National Prohibition Act, over President Woodrow Wilson's veto. This landmark legislation provided the legal framework for enforcing the 18th Amendment, which banned the production, transportation, and sale of alcoholic beverages in the United States. The Act would take effect in January 1920, marking the beginning of the Prohibition era, a significant period in American social and legal history.
  • 29 Oct 1919 New Zealand Women's Political Rights Milestone: A landmark moment in women's political rights occurred in New Zealand, where women were officially granted the right to stand for election into parliament. This progressive legislation represented a significant step towards gender equality in political representation.
  • 30 Oct 1919 Baseball Spitball Prohibition Proposed: Major league baseball presidents convened and formally recommended the abolishment of the spitball pitch, a controversial technique where pitchers would apply saliva or other substances to the baseball to alter its aerodynamic properties and movement. This recommendation marked a significant moment in baseball's efforts to standardize pitching techniques and ensure fair play.