(Sunday, March 4, 1917, 12:04 p.m. EST) — U.S. President Woodrow Wilson was inaugurated for a second term today with the administration of the oath by Chief Justice Edward D. White in Wilson’s official room in the Capitol, just back of the Senate Chamber.
As March 4 fell on a Sunday, the formal public inauguration ceremonies were delayed until the following day (March 5, 1917).
Video: 'Why Puerto Ricans are U.S. Citizen'
(Friday, March 2, 1917) — Puerto Ricans were granted U.S. citizenship today as President Woodrow Wilson signed the Jones-Shafroth Act. Continue reading Puerto Ricans granted U.S. citizenship 100 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Mar 2 1917)
Video: 'Dixie Jass Band One -Step -Original Dixieland Jass Band Victor 18255-A Original Record 1917'
(Monday, February 26, 1917) — The Original Dixieland Jass Band (an all-white group) made what’s generally regarded as the first commercial jazz recording, “Dixie Jass Band One-Step” and “Livery Stable Blues,” today in New York for the Victor label. Continue reading Original Dixieland Jass Band records first commercial jazz recording 100 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 26 1917)
Video: '1917 Immigration Act'
(Monday, February 5, 1917; during World War I) — Congress today overrode President Woodrow Wilson’s veto of the Immigration Act of 1917 aimed at preventing “undesirables” and anyone born in the “Asiatic Barred Zone” from entering the U.S. Continue reading Congress overrides President Wilson, passes immigration bill 100 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 5 1917)
(Saturday, February 3, 1917, 2:00 p.m. EST; during the Atlantic U-boat campaign of World War I) — President Woodrow Wilson announced today before a joint session of Congress that the United States had broken off diplomatic relations with Germany, after that nation had announced a policy of unrestricted submarine warfare.
Wilson did not declare that the U.S. would enter the war against Germany, though “preparations for war are being made” as The New York Times reported.
Video: 'The First Battle of Champagne'
(Wednesday, March 17, 1915; part of the Western Front of World War I) — The First Battle of Champagne between the French Fourth Army and the German Third Army in the Champagne region of France ended today in stalemate after three months of bloody fighting.
Video: 'La bataille des Dardanelles (1915)'
(Friday, February 19, 1915, 7:30 a.m. local time; during Naval operations in the Dardanelles Campaign, part of World War I) — British and French warships launched their initial attack today on Ottoman forces in the Dardanelles, a strait in northwestern Turkey. The Gallipoli Campaign that followed proved disastrous for the Allies.
Video: 'The Birth of a Nation (1915) [HD] - Lillian Gish'
(Monday, February 8, 1915) — The silent, groundbreaking and controversial epic film drama The Birth of a Nation, which chronicles the relationship of two families in the Civil War and Reconstruction eras, premiered today in Los Angeles.
Directed by D. W. Griffith, the film starred Lillian Gish, Mae Marsh, Henry B. Walthall, Miriam Cooper, Ralph Lewis and George Siegmann.
Video: 'The Great War episode 2 Stalemate' (Dec. 26, 1914, at 54:25)
(Saturday, December 26, 1914, 8:30 a.m. local time; on the Western Front of the First World War) — An unofficial Christmas truce that began two days ago on the Western Front ended today after German and British soldiers exchange pleasantries.
Video: 'The Great War episode 2 Stalemate' (Dec. 25, 1914, at 51:48)
(Friday, December 25, 1914, Christmas Day; on the Western Front of the First World War) — An unofficial Christmas truce that began yesterday held today along parts of the Western Front today between British and German soldiers who, in some cases, exchanged gifts and even played soccer with each other. Continue reading Unofficial Christmas truce continues along Western Front 100 years ago today (Dec 25 1914)
