1928

In communication technology, John Baird of Scotland broadcast a transatlantic television signal from London to New York City on February 8, making the world a much more interconnected place. This paved the way for journalists to broadcast news developments around the world and for people to eventually see entertainment programming from foreign countries. Later this year, in July, Baird would go on to put on a demonstration of the world’s first color television transmission.

This was also a major year for the aeronautics field. In March, American aviator Charles Lindbergh was formally honored for his famous transatlantic flight by being presented with the Medal of Honor. In June of this year, aviator Amelia Earhart became the first woman to make a transatlantic flight, although she did make this flight as a passenger – not a pilot.

There were also some important developments on the international political stage. In January, a major internal rift in Soviet political circles reared its head when Leon Trotsky was exiled from Soviet territory. Trotsky was a major Marxist theorist, politician, and a founder of the Red Army. He was also a major rival to Joseph Stalin and was exiled for his opposition efforts.

A historic treaty was also signed this year – the Kellogg-Briand Pact. This was the first international agreement to make wars of aggression unlawful under international law. While this treaty would not, of course, actually achieve its ends, it is still noteworthy in that it was a significant step in international peace-building efforts. Conflicts were to be resolved through diplomacy first, which brought signatories closer to putting into practice traditional Western notions of “just war theory.”