Major Events of October 1920: 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 1920 and discover how they influenced the world both then and now.

Major Events of October 1920: Key Historical Moments from the Month

01 Oct 1920 Charles Ponzi Indicted on Mail Fraud: Charles Ponzi, the infamous financial fraudster who gave his name to the 'Ponzi scheme', was indicted on 86 counts of mail fraud, marking a significant moment in early 20th-century financial crime prosecution.
02 Oct 1920 British Warning to Soviet Union over Naval Presence: Lord Curzon, the British Foreign Secretary, sent a stern diplomatic warning to Soviet Foreign Minister Georgy Chicherin regarding Soviet submarine activities in the Baltic Sea. Curzon explicitly stated that the Royal Navy would attack Russian submarines on sight, escalating tensions between Britain and the Soviet Union.
03 Oct 1920 First Professional Football Games Played in America: The American Professional Football Association (later renamed the National Football League or NFL) played its inaugural games, marking the beginning of professional football in the United States and laying the groundwork for what would become one of the most popular sports leagues in the world.
04 Oct 1920 Charles Ponzi Indicted for Mail Fraud: Charles Ponzi, the infamous financial fraudster whose name became synonymous with pyramid investment schemes, was indicted on 86 counts of mail fraud. This landmark legal action marked a significant moment in financial crime prosecution, exposing one of the most notorious financial scams in early 20th-century America.
05 Oct 1920 1920 World Series: Cleveland Indians Triumph with Historic Plays: In a memorable Game 5 of the 1920 World Series, the Cleveland Indians defeated the Brooklyn Robins in a remarkable display of baseball prowess. The game was highlighted by two extraordinary moments that would become legendary in baseball history: Bill Wambsganss' unassisted triple play, an incredibly rare feat, and Elmer Smith's grand slam. Wambsganss' play, in particular, remains one of the most remarkable defensive plays ever recorded in World Series history, making this game a significant moment in early 20th-century baseball.
06 Oct 1920 Ukrainian War of Independence: Starobilsk Agreement: On October 6, 1920, a significant diplomatic agreement was signed between representatives of the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic and the Makhnovshchina (an anarchist revolutionary movement led by Nestor Makhno). The Starobilsk agreement represented a complex political negotiation during the tumultuous Ukrainian War of Independence, highlighting the intricate power dynamics between Soviet and anarchist forces seeking to define Ukraine's political future.
07 Oct 1920 Brussels Conference Proposes Global Economic Reforms: The Brussels Conference issued a comprehensive joint report recommending critical international economic reforms. Key proposals included national budget balancing, substantial reduction of military armaments, establishment of an international credit association, and comprehensive currency reform to stabilize the global economic landscape in the aftermath of World War I.
08 Oct 1920 Establishment of Bukharan People's Soviet Republic: On October 8, 1920, the Bukharan People's Soviet Republic was officially declared at a convention in the city of Bukhara. This significant political transformation occurred five weeks after the abolition of the Emirate of Bukhara's monarchy. Fayzulla Khodzhayev, the key revolutionary leader who orchestrated the overthrow of the emirate, was appointed as the nation's de facto leader, serving as Chairman of the Council of People's Ministers.
09 Oct 1920 Polish Troops Capture Vilnius: Polish military forces successfully captured the city of Vilnius, a strategic territorial acquisition during the Polish-Soviet War and the subsequent Polish-Lithuanian conflict over the region.
10 Oct 1920 1920 World Series: Cleveland Indians Triumph: The Cleveland Indians defeated the Brooklyn Robins in the 1920 World Series, winning five games to two. This series was particularly memorable for two extraordinary plays: Bill Wambsganss' unassisted triple play and Elmer Smith's grand slam, which were unprecedented in World Series history.
12 Oct 1920 Polish-Soviet War Ceasefire: After successful military operations capturing strategic cities including Tarnopol, Dubno, Minsk, and Dryssa, a ceasefire was enforced in the ongoing Polish-Soviet War.
13 Oct 1920 Racial Terrorism in Roxboro, North Carolina: On October 13, 1920, the Black community in Roxboro, North Carolina, faced severe racial intimidation and threats of violence from a white lynch mob. This terroristic campaign followed the lynching of Ed Roach, an innocent Black farmworker, in July 1920, highlighting the pervasive racial violence and systemic oppression during the Jim Crow era.
14 Oct 1920 Treaty of Tartu between Finland and Soviet Russia: On October 14, 1920, Finland and Soviet Russia signed the Treaty of Tartu, a significant diplomatic agreement that resolved territorial disputes following the Finnish War of Independence. The treaty established clear borders between the two nations and involved strategic territorial exchanges, marking an important moment of diplomatic resolution after years of conflict.
15 Oct 1920 Devastating Belgian Cyclone of 1920: On October 15, 1920, a catastrophic cyclone struck Belgium, causing widespread flooding and unprecedented destruction. The extreme weather event resulted in the tragic loss of 450 lives, making it one of the most deadly natural disasters in Belgian history. The cyclone's immense power devastated multiple regions, destroying infrastructure, agricultural lands, and entire communities. The high death toll and extensive damage prompted significant national emergency response and long-term recovery efforts.
16 Oct 1920 British Coal Miners' National Strike of 1920: On October 16, 1920, approximately 1,000,000 unionized coal miners in Great Britain initiated a nationwide strike, demanding higher wages and improved working conditions. This labor action highlighted the growing tensions between workers and mine owners during the post-World War I industrial landscape, reflecting the broader labor movement's struggle for workers' rights and economic fairness.
17 Oct 1920 Chicago Bears First NFL Game: The Chicago Bears, originally known as the Decatur Staleys, played their inaugural National Football League (NFL) game on October 17, 1920. In this historic match, they secured a decisive 7-0 victory, marking the beginning of what would become one of the most storied franchises in professional football history.
18 Oct 1920 London Unemployment Protests Turn Violent: A massive demonstration by unemployed workers in London erupted into conflict, with approximately 50 people sustaining injuries during the protest. The event highlighted the significant economic hardships and social tensions in post-World War I Britain, reflecting the widespread unemployment and economic instability of the era.
19 Oct 1920 LaWanda Page Birth: LaWanda Page was born in Cleveland, Ohio. She would later become a renowned African American comedian and actress, best known for her memorable role as Aunt Esther on the groundbreaking sitcom 'Sanford and Son', which was a significant representation of Black comedy in the 1970s.
20 Oct 1920 Charles Ponzi Indicted for Massive Mail Fraud: Charles Ponzi, the infamous financial swindler who pioneered the 'Ponzi scheme', was indicted on 86 counts of mail fraud. His fraudulent investment operation promised extraordinary returns by exploiting international postal reply coupon arbitrage, but was actually a classic pyramid scheme that ultimately collapsed, causing significant financial losses to thousands of investors.
21 Oct 1920 Timothy Leary Birth: Timothy Leary, a controversial American psychologist, author, and prominent advocate for psychedelic research, was born on October 22, 1920. He became a significant counterculture figure known for his extensive research and promotion of LSD during the 1960s, significantly influencing discussions about consciousness and psychology.
22 Oct 1920 Scholastic's Founding: Scholastic was established with the launch of The Western Pennsylvania Scholastic, initially a four-page newspaper targeting high school students in the Pittsburgh region. This modest publication would evolve into Scholastic Inc., which would become the world's largest provider of children's books and educational media, including 32 classroom magazines by 1922.
23 Oct 1920 Inaugural League of Nations Assembly: The first official meeting of the League of Nations convened, marking a pivotal moment in international diplomacy following World War I. This groundbreaking organization represented a landmark attempt to establish a global platform for peaceful conflict resolution, collective security, and international cooperation, ultimately serving as a precursor to the United Nations.
24 Oct 1920 Netherlands Establishes Maximum Work Week Legislation: On October 24, 1920, the Netherlands implemented a groundbreaking labor law that standardized work hours, limiting the maximum work week to 45 hours. The legislation structured the work schedule into five 8-hour days and a shortened 5-hour Saturday, representing a significant milestone in workers' rights and labor reform during the early 20th century.
25 Oct 1920 Death of Terence MacSwiney after Hunger Strike: Terence MacSwiney, the Lord Mayor of Cork and prominent Sinn Féin politician, died in Brixton Prison, England after a remarkable 74-day hunger strike. His prolonged protest against British rule and imprisonment became a powerful symbol of Irish resistance during the Irish War of Independence.
26 Oct 1920 Álvaro Obregón Elected President of Mexico: On October 26, 1920, Álvaro Obregón was officially announced as the newly elected president of Mexico, marking a significant moment in the country's post-revolutionary political landscape. Following the tumultuous Mexican Revolution, Obregón represented the Constitutionalist faction and was a key figure in stabilizing the nation after years of conflict. His election signaled a transition towards institutional governance and the consolidation of revolutionary ideals.
27 Oct 1920 1920 United States Presidential Election: The United States presidential election of 1920 marked a significant milestone in American democratic history. Republican candidate Warren G. Harding defeated Democrat James M. Cox and Socialist Eugene V. Debs. This election was particularly historic as it was the first national U.S. election in which women had the right to vote, following the ratification of the 19th Amendment earlier that year.
28 Oct 1920 British Coal Miners' Strike of 1920 Resolved: The significant British coal miners' strike was successfully settled, with workers achieving a notable wage increase. Miners secured an additional two shillings per day in base pay, along with supplementary bonus structures, marking a pivotal moment in labor negotiations during the early 20th century.
29 Oct 1920 Birth of Baruj Benacerraf: Baruj Benacerraf, a Venezuelan-born immunologist, was born on this date. He would later become a distinguished scientist and Nobel Prize laureate in Physiology or Medicine, making significant contributions to understanding immune system genetics and cellular interactions.
30 Oct 1920 Founding of the Communist Party of Australia: On October 30, 1920, the Communist Party of Australia was officially established in Sydney, marking a significant moment in the nation's political history. This event represented the formal organization of communist ideology within Australia, reflecting the global spread of communist movements in the early 20th century. The party would go on to play a notable role in Australian political discourse, labor movements, and social activism throughout the subsequent decades.
31 Oct 1920 Romania's Annexation of Bessarabia: On October 31, 1920, Romania officially annexed Bessarabia, a region historically contested between Romania and Russia. This annexation was a significant territorial expansion following the dissolution of the Russian Empire and the end of World War I. The Treaty of Paris in 1920 formally recognized Romania's sovereignty over the region, which had been predominantly Romanian-speaking.