Major Events of March 1925: 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 March 1925 and discover how they influenced the world both then and now.

Major Events of March 1925: Key Historical Moments from the Month
- 01 Mar 1925 New York City Fire Department Rescue 2 Established in Brooklyn: On March 1, 1925, the New York City Fire Department (FDNY) officially put Rescue 2 into service in Brooklyn. This specialized rescue unit would become an integral part of the city's emergency response infrastructure, dedicated to handling complex and high-risk rescue operations.
- 02 Mar 1925 Japan Expands Democratic Rights: Japan's House of Representatives officially recognizes male suffrage, marking a significant milestone in the country's democratic evolution and expanding political participation rights for men.
- 03 Mar 1925 Tri-State Tornado Devastates Midwest: On March 3, 1925, the Tri-State Tornado, one of the most destructive and deadliest tornadoes in United States history, tore through Missouri, Illinois, and Indiana. This unprecedented meteorological event caused catastrophic damage, killing over 600 people and leaving thousands injured and homeless. The tornado, which traveled an extraordinary 219 miles, set records for its length, duration, and devastating impact, becoming a pivotal moment in understanding severe weather patterns in the American Midwest.
- 04 Mar 1925 First Presidential Radio Inauguration: President Calvin Coolidge becomes the first U.S. President to have his inauguration broadcasted live on radio, marking a significant milestone in media and political communication.
- 05 Mar 1925 Great Tri-State Tornado of 1925: On March 18, 1925, one of the most devastating and deadliest tornadoes in United States history swept through Southeast Missouri, Southern Illinois, and Southwest Indiana. This unprecedented meteorological event caused catastrophic destruction, resulting in approximately 695 confirmed fatalities and over 2,000 injuries across multiple communities. The tornado, which traveled an extraordinary continuous path of 219 miles, remains the longest-tracked tornado in recorded history. Its unprecedented width of up to one mile and sustained winds estimated at over 300 miles per hour obliterated entire towns, leaving unprecedented levels of devastation in its wake. Communities like Murphysboro, Illinois, and West Frankfort were particularly hard-hit, with entire neighborhoods reduced to rubble.
- 06 Mar 1925 Belgium's Territorial Expansion: Belgium officially annexed the regions of Eupen, Malmedy, and Sankt Vith, expanding its territorial boundaries following the aftermath of World War I and the Treaty of Versailles. This territorial transfer significantly reshaped the geopolitical landscape of the region.
- 07 Mar 1925 First American Negro Congress Organized: The American Negro Congress was established as a significant civil rights organization aimed at advancing racial equality and addressing systemic discrimination against African Americans during the early 20th century. This organization represented an important milestone in the collective political mobilization of Black Americans, seeking to challenge racial injustice through coordinated advocacy and activism.
- 08 Mar 1925 Uneventful Day in 1925: While no specific major historical events were documented for March 8, 1925, this does not necessarily mean nothing of significance occurred. Many historical moments happen without immediate recognition or documentation. The year 1925 was a period of significant global transitions, including the aftermath of World War I and the early stages of the Roaring Twenties.
- 09 Mar 1925 Nellie Tayloe Ross: First Woman Governor in U.S.: On March 9, 1925, Nellie Tayloe Ross made history by becoming the governor of Wyoming, succeeding her late husband. She was the first woman to serve as a state governor in the United States, breaking significant gender barriers in American political leadership. Her election represented a landmark moment in women's political empowerment during the early 20th century, paving the way for future female political leaders.
- 10 Mar 1925 Antisemitic Murder of Hugo Bettauer: Otto Rothstock, a young Nazi Party member, assassinated Austrian Jewish writer Hugo Bettauer in a politically motivated attack. Rothstock was enraged by Bettauer's satirical novel 'Stadt ohne Juden' (The City Without Jews), which critiqued antisemitism. Bettauer was shot five times in his office and died from his wounds on March 26, 1925, in a chilling early example of Nazi-inspired violence.
- 11 Mar 1925 Pink's War: British RAF Operation in Waziristan: In a significant colonial military operation, the British Royal Air Force conducted aerial bombardments against the mountain strongholds of the Mahsud (Mahsud) tribal warriors in South Waziristan, a rugged region in what is now Pakistan. This military campaign, known as 'Pink's War', represented an early example of aerial counterinsurgency tactics used by British imperial forces to suppress local resistance.
- 12 Mar 1925 Death of Sun Yat-sen: A Pivotal Moment in Chinese History: Sun Yat-sen, the influential Chinese revolutionary, politician, and first President of the Republic of China, passed away on March 12, 1925. His death marked a significant turning point in China's political landscape and revolutionary movement.
- 13 Mar 1925 Tennessee Legislature Bans Evolution Teaching: The Tennessee legislature passed a bill that banned the teaching of Charles Darwin's theory of evolution in the state's public schools, a controversial decision that would later lead to the famous Scopes 'Monkey' Trial.
- 14 Mar 1925 League of Nations Hopes for German Membership: The Council of the League of Nations expressed optimism that Germany might apply for membership in September, signaling potential diplomatic reconciliation and reintegration of Germany into the international community following World War I.
- 15 Mar 1925 Albania-Italy Banking Agreement: Albania's Foreign Minister Mufid Libohova signed a significant financial agreement with Mario Alberti, Director of the Italian bank Credito Italiano, to establish the National Bank of Albania, marking an important moment in the country's financial infrastructure development.
- 16 Mar 1925 Birth of Luis E. Miramontes, Co-Inventor of Contraceptive Pill: Luis E. Miramontes, a renowned Mexican chemist, was born on this day. He would later become a pivotal figure in reproductive science, co-inventing the contraceptive pill, which revolutionized women's reproductive rights and family planning worldwide. His groundbreaking work significantly impacted social dynamics and women's autonomy in the 20th century.
- 17 Mar 1925 Tri-State Tornado Outbreak of 1925: On March 17, 1925, the most devastating tornado outbreak in United States history began, with the infamous Tri-State Tornado causing unprecedented destruction across Missouri, Illinois, and Indiana. This catastrophic weather event would ultimately claim 695 lives, injure over 2,000 people, and destroy numerous towns along its 219-mile path. The tornado, which traveled an extraordinary distance and maintained ground contact for an unprecedented duration, remains the longest and deadliest single tornado in recorded American history. Its immense power and widespread devastation led to significant improvements in tornado tracking, warning systems, and community disaster preparedness.
- 18 Mar 1925 Tri-State Tornado of 1925: The deadliest tornado in U.S. history occurred on March 18, 1925, traveling from southeastern Missouri through southern Illinois and into southwestern Indiana. The tornado lasted 3.5 hours, traveled 219 miles, and caused 695 fatalities, with over 2,000 injuries and significant destruction of homes and towns. This catastrophic event devastated multiple communities, leaving unprecedented destruction in its wake.
- 19 Mar 1925 Angelo Roncalli Consecrated as Bishop: Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli was consecrated as a bishop on March 19, 1925, marking a significant milestone in his ecclesiastical career. This event was an early step in his remarkable journey that would eventually lead him to become Pope John XXIII, a pontiff known for his progressive and conciliatory approach during the Second Vatican Council.
- 20 Mar 1925 Death of George Nathaniel Curzon, British Statesman: George Nathaniel Curzon, a prominent British statesman and former Viceroy of India, passed away. Known for his significant diplomatic roles and contributions to British imperial policy during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Curzon was a key figure in British colonial administration.
- 21 Mar 1925 Butler Act Bans Teaching Evolution in Tennessee: The Butler Act was signed into law, prohibiting the teaching of human evolution in Tennessee's public schools. This legislation represented a significant moment in the ongoing tension between scientific understanding and religious beliefs in early 20th-century America.
- 22 Mar 1925 Dutch Socialists Call for National Disarmament: On March 22, 1925, socialist political groups in the Netherlands formally presented a parliamentary motion demanding comprehensive national disarmament. This proposal reflected the growing pacifist sentiment in Europe during the interwar period, emerging in the aftermath of World War I's devastating conflict. The socialists argued that reduced military expenditures would allow for greater investment in social welfare and economic reconstruction.
- 23 Mar 1925 Tennessee's Anti-Evolution Law: On March 23, 1925, Tennessee became the first state in the United States to pass a law prohibiting the teaching of the theory of evolution in public schools. This landmark legislation, known as the Butler Act, made it illegal for educators to teach any scientific theory that contradicted the biblical account of human origin, setting the stage for the famous Scopes 'Monkey' Trial later that year.
- 24 Mar 1925 KSL-AM Radio Station Launches in Salt Lake City: KSL-AM, a pioneering radio station in Salt Lake City, Utah, commenced its first radio transmissions, marking an important milestone in the city's media and communication history. This broadcast represented the growing radio technology and media landscape of the 1920s.
- 25 Mar 1925 First Public Television Transmission by John Logie Baird: On March 25, 1925, Scottish inventor John Logie Baird made a groundbreaking public demonstration of transmitting moving silhouette pictures at Selfridge's department store in London. This pivotal moment marked a significant milestone in the development of television technology, showcasing the first live transmission of moving images to a public audience. Baird's innovative work laid the foundational groundwork for modern television broadcasting, transforming how visual information would be shared and consumed in the 20th century.
- 26 Mar 1925 Pierre Boulez: Avant-Garde Composer and Conductor: Pierre Boulez was a groundbreaking French composer, conductor, and pianist who revolutionized 20th-century classical music. A key figure in the post-World War II avant-garde movement, Boulez was known for his innovative compositional techniques, serialist approach, and significant contributions to contemporary classical music.
- 27 Mar 1925 Charles I Ascends to the Throne: Charles I becomes the monarch of England, Scotland, and Ireland, succeeding his father King James I. His reign would be marked by significant political tensions that ultimately led to the English Civil War, and he was the first English monarch to be tried and executed for treason.
- 29 Mar 1925 German Presidential Election of 1925: The Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD) officially nominated Otto Braun as their candidate for the presidential election on March 29, 1925. This election took place during the Weimar Republic period, a critical time of political transition and instability in Germany following World War I. Otto Braun, a prominent Social Democratic politician, represented the party's moderate left-wing perspective in a complex and polarized political landscape.
- 30 Mar 1925 Death of Rudolf Steiner: Rudolf Steiner, renowned Austrian philosopher, social reformer, and founder of anthroposophy and Waldorf education, passed away on March 30, 1925, leaving behind a significant intellectual and educational legacy.
- 31 Mar 1925 Art Deco Style Exposition in Paris: The Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels Modernes takes place in Paris from April to October, officially giving name and recognition to the Art Deco design movement.