The 1900s

1901 125 years ago

Philippine–American War: Filipino guerrillas killed more than forty American soldiers in a surprise attack on the town…

The Philippine–American War, known alternatively as the Filipino–American War, Philippine Insurrection, or Tagalog Insurgency, emerged in early 1899 following the United States' an…

Philippine–American War: Filipino guerrillas killed more than forty American soldiers in a surprise attack on the town…

1900

Fires destroy Canadian cities Ottawa and Hull, reducing them to ashes in 12 hours

The Hull-Ottawa fire of 1900 was a devastating fire in 1900 that destroyed much of Hull, Quebec, and large portions of Ottawa, Ontario.

Fires destroy Canadian cities Ottawa and Hull, reducing them to ashes in 12 hours

1900

Hawaii becomes a territory of the United States, with Sanford B

Hawaii is an island state of the United States, in the Pacific Ocean about 2,000 miles (3,200 km) southwest of the U.S. mainland. One of the two non-contiguous U.S. states, it is t…

Hawaii becomes a territory of the United States, with Sanford B

1900

The Scofield Mine disaster kills over 200 men in Scofield, Utah in what is to date the fifth-worst mining accident in Un

The Scofield Mine disaster was a mining explosion that occurred at the Winter Quarters coal mine on May 1, 1900. The mine was located at 39°42′57″N 111°11′17″W near the town of Sco…

The Scofield Mine disaster kills over 200 men in Scofield, Utah in what is to date the fifth-worst mining accident in Un

1900

Opening of World Amateur championship at the Paris Exposition Universelle, also known as Olympic Games

The Exposition Universelle of 1900, better known in English as the 1900 Paris Exposition, was a world's fair held in Paris, France, from 14 April to 12 November 1900, to celebrate …

Opening of World Amateur championship at the Paris Exposition Universelle, also known as Olympic Games

1900

The children's novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, by L

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz is a 1900 children's fantasy novel written by author L. Frank Baum and illustrated by W. W. Denslow. It is the first novel in the Oz series of books. A K…

The children's novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, by L

1900

The United Kingdom proclaims a protectorate over Tonga

A protectorate, in the context of international relations, is a state or dependent territory that foregoes an independent foreign policy in favour of alliance with a protecting pow…

The United Kingdom proclaims a protectorate over Tonga

1900

Second Boer War: British troops relieve Mafeking

The Second Boer War, also known as the Boer War, Transvaal War, Anglo–Boer War, or the South African War, was a conflict fought between the British Empire and the Boer republics ov…

Second Boer War: British troops relieve Mafeking

1900

Second Boer War: The United Kingdom annexes the Orange Free State

The Second Boer War, also known as the Boer War, Transvaal War, Anglo–Boer War, or the South African War, was a conflict fought between the British Empire and the Boer republics ov…

Second Boer War: The United Kingdom annexes the Orange Free State

1900

N'Djamena is founded as Fort-Lamy by the French commander Émile Gentil

N'Djamena is the capital and largest city of Chad. It is also a Special Status Province, divided into 10 districts or arrondissements, similar to the city of Paris.

N'Djamena is founded as Fort-Lamy by the French commander Émile Gentil

1900

Great Britain annexes Tonga Island

Great Britain is an island in the North Atlantic Ocean off the north-west coast of continental Europe, consisting of the countries England, Scotland and Wales. With an area of 209,…

Great Britain annexes Tonga Island

1900

American Civil War: Sergeant William Harvey Carney is awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroism in the Assault on the B

The American Civil War was a civil war in the United States between the Union and the Confederacy, which was formed in 1861 by states that had seceded from the Union to preserve sl…

American Civil War: Sergeant William Harvey Carney is awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroism in the Assault on the B

1900

Thousand Days' War: The Colombian Conservative Party turns the tide of war in their favor with victory against the Colom

The Thousand Days' War was a civil war fought in Colombia from 17 October 1899 to 21 November 1902, at first between the Liberal Party and the government led by the National Party,…

Thousand Days' War: The Colombian Conservative Party turns the tide of war in their favor with victory against the Colom

1900

Second Boer War: British soldiers take Pretoria

The Second Boer War, also known as the Boer War, Transvaal War, Anglo–Boer War, or the South African War, was a conflict fought between the British Empire and the Boer republics ov…

Second Boer War: British soldiers take Pretoria

1900

Indian nationalist Birsa Munda dies of cholera in a British prison

Birsa Munda was an Indian tribal independence activist, and folk hero who belonged to the Munda tribe. He spearheaded a tribal religious millenarian movement that arose in the Beng…

Indian nationalist Birsa Munda dies of cholera in a British prison

1900

Hawaii becomes a United States territory

The Territory of Hawaii or Hawaii Territory was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from April 30, 1900, until August 21, 1959, when most of its t…

Hawaii becomes a United States territory

1900

Empress Dowager Cixi of China orders all foreigners killed, including foreign diplomats and their families

Empress Dowager Cixi was a Manchu noblewoman of the Yehe Nara clan who periodically controlled the government of the late Qing dynasty as empress dowager and regent from 1861 until…

Empress Dowager Cixi of China orders all foreigners killed, including foreign diplomats and their families

1900

The Federation of Australia is given royal assent.

The Federation of Australia was the process by which the six separate British self-governing Australian colonies—New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, a…

The Federation of Australia is given royal assent.

1900

The Reichstag approves new legislation continuing Germany's naval expansion program, providing for construction of 38 ba

The Reichstag is a historic legislative government building on Platz der Republik in Berlin that is the seat of the German Bundestag. It is also the meeting place of the Federal Co…

The Reichstag approves new legislation continuing Germany's naval expansion program, providing for construction of 38 ba

1900

The second German Naval Law calls for the Imperial German Navy to be doubled in size, resulting in an Anglo-German naval

The Naval Laws were five separate laws passed by the German Empire, in 1898, 1900, 1906, 1908, and 1912. These acts, championed by Kaiser Wilhelm II and his State Secretary for the…

The second German Naval Law calls for the Imperial German Navy to be doubled in size, resulting in an Anglo-German naval

1900

Boxer Rebellion: Western Allied and Japanese forces capture the Taku Forts in Tianjin, China

The Boxer Rebellion, also known as the Boxer Uprising, Boxer Movement, Yihetuan Movement, or Boxer War, was an anti-foreign, anti-imperialist, and anti-Christian uprising in North …

Boxer Rebellion: Western Allied and Japanese forces capture the Taku Forts in Tianjin, China

1900

Boxer Rebellion: The Imperial Chinese Army begins a 55-day siege of the Legation Quarter in Beijing, China

The Boxer Rebellion, also known as the Boxer Uprising, Boxer Movement, Yihetuan Movement, or Boxer War, was an anti-foreign, anti-imperialist, and anti-Christian uprising in North …

Boxer Rebellion: The Imperial Chinese Army begins a 55-day siege of the Legation Quarter in Beijing, China

1900

Baron Eduard Toll, leader of the Russian Polar Expedition of 1900, departs Saint Petersburg in Russia on the explorer sh

Eduard Gustav Freiherr von Toll, better known in Russia as Eduard Vasilyevich Toll and often referred to as Baron von Toll, was a Russian geologist and Arctic explorer. He led the …

Baron Eduard Toll, leader of the Russian Polar Expedition of 1900, departs Saint Petersburg in Russia on the explorer sh

1900

Boxer Rebellion: China formally declares war on the United States, Britain, Germany, France and Japan, as an edict issue

The Boxer Rebellion, also known as the Boxer Uprising, Boxer Movement, Yihetuan Movement, or Boxer War, was an anti-foreign, anti-imperialist, and anti-Christian uprising in North …

Boxer Rebellion: China formally declares war on the United States, Britain, Germany, France and Japan, as an edict issue