It was a time of both great social and political change. From politics to fashion, forces clashed to produce one of the most extraordinary decades of the century.

Sports heroes and superstars were created, including two of the world's best baseball players Babe Ruth and Shoeless Joe Jackson. The Negro National League for Baseball was founded. Many famous names of today originated from 1920. Agatha Christie published her first novel and the Good Humor bar was first sold. The first hair dryer was produced and the Band-Aid was created. Does any of this sound familiar?

As everything changed, laws and politics were not far behind. Prohibition began, which became one of the most despised law in history and the trial of Sacco and Vanzetti begins. The decade of anti-immigration laws also began. The Immigration Act is also amended, allowing for deportation of anarchists and those advocating terrorism. The year 1920 started the wave of change!

• Jan. 5- Babe Ruth, Boston Red Sox star, was sold to the New York Yankees for $125,000, which was the biggest trade in baseball up to that time.
• Jan. 17- Prohibition begins, becoming the most disliked law in history. The 18^th amendment to the U.S. Constitution goes into effect prohibiting making, selling, possession, and use of alcohol. This was repealed in 1933.
• Feb. 3- Eugene O'Neill's Beyond the Horizon premieres on Broadway. Later wins the Pulitzer Prize for Drama.
• April 2- Physicist and genius Albert Einstein arrives in New York and lectures at Columbia University on his theory on relativity.
• April 20- Grand Canyon National Park is dedicated.
• May 5- Gun possession and the case of Sacco & Vanzetti begins.
• June 5- The decade of anti-immigration laws begin. The Immigration Act is amended, allowing for deportation of anarchist advocating terrorism.
• July 29- First transcontinental, New York to San Francisco, airmail service begins.
• August- "The Tommy Gun," a portable submachine gun, is demonstrated at a national gun show in Ohio. Invented by J.T. Thompson and named after him. This particular gun became famous with gangsters. "The Tommy Gun"
• The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) is founded by social reformers who include Clarence Darrow, Upton Sinclair, Jane Addams, and Helen Keller. FBI agents soon showed up to spy on this new organization.
• Aug. 1- Mohandas (Mahatma) Gandhi began his national campaign to free India from the occupying British colonialist government.
• Aug. Runner, Paavo Nurmi wins the 10,000 meter run in record time at the 1920 Olympic Games at Antwerp. This would lead him to win many other gold medals from 1920 to 1928. He would become the dominant runner of the decade. 
• Aug. 26- Womens' Suffrage was victorious, the 19th Amendment was ratified to the U.S. Constitution. This would finally allow women to vote.
• Sept. 3- Earning $3.9 million dollars, D.W. Griffith's film Way Down East, staring Lillian Gish premiered.
• Sept. - "Shoeless" Joe Jackson and 7 other members of the Chicago White Sox baseball team are accused of losing the 1919 World Series, to help out gamblers. 3 of the players confessed, and then ratted out the other 5 before a grand jury. This caused him to lose his spot in the Hall of Fame.
• Sept. 17- The American Professional Football Association was founded. It would later become the National Football League (NFL).
• Nov. 2- Era of Democratic leadership end in the US when Republicans, Warren G. Harding and Calvin Coolidge  Warren G. Harding and Calvin Coolidge become President and Vice President.
• Nov. 2- The Westinging House Company opens radio station, KDKA in Pittsburgh. That day KDKA reports the 1920 Presidential election results, it was a first!
• Nov. 6- Eugene O'Neill's play The Emperor Jones premieres on Broadway.
• Dec. 24- Enrico Caruso, opera tenor, sings his last performance-La Juive- at the New York's Metropolitan Opera House.
• Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde starring John Barrymore was released in U.S.
• The Mark of Zorro starring Douglas Fairbarks was in theaters.
• The Nazi party was formed by Adolf Hitler.
• Negro National League (baseball) was founded.

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last updated 12/04/05