1919Main MenuProhibition is RatifiedThe 18th Amendment, which prohibited "the manufacture, sale, or transportation of intoxicating liquors within, the importation thereof into, or the exportation thereof from the United States and all territory," was ratified on this day.Seattle General StrikeTens of thousands of workers in Seattle joined a five day strike that would be followed by waves of labor unrest across the nation. In the next two years almost four million workers across the U.S. went on strike.8th Illinois Regiment Returns from WarThis all African American unit fought in France during the First World War. Soldiers from the 8th returned to Chicago and marched down Michigan Ave in February 1919.The Red ScareA wave of labor unrest and persecution of radicals and those deemed un-american shaped the political climate in 1919.365th Infantry ParadeThe 365th all African American infantry unit returned to Chicago in March 1919 after fighting in France. Wartime service gave soldiers new perspectives that shaped their views of events in Chicago in 1919.Mayor Thompson Re-electedWilliam Hale Thompson is re-elected Mayor of Chicago.Red SummerIn dozens of cities African American communities were targets of white mob violence that left untold numbers of people dead, injured, and displaced.19th Amendment Approved by CongressCongress approves the 19th Amendment, guaranteeing women the right to vote.Treaty of VersaillesTreaty of Versailles is signed in Paris, ending World War I and creating the League of Nations.Wingfoot Air Express CrashWingfoot Air Express, a dirigible operated by Goodyear Tire, caught fire and crashed into the skylight of the Illinois Trust and Savings Building at LaSalle and Jackson.Eugene Williams DrownedRiots erupted after an African American swimmer was stoned to death by a white man on the beach.Angelus Building RiotViolence broke out at the Angelus apartment building (3501 S. Wabash), the only white occupied apartment building on an all-Black city block, in a largely Black neighborhood.Mayor Requests State MilitiaMayor William H. Thompson called for activation of the Illinois state militia.Housing Conditions and SegregationHow can housing conditions and segregation in 1919 help us understand the riots?Black Migration to ChicagoHow can migration patterns in 1919 help us understand the riots?Labor Conflict and RaceHow can labor conflicts in 1919 help us understand the riots?Communist Party USA FoundedThe 1918 October Revolution led to the rise of a Left Wing who valued revolutionary socialism within the Socialist Party USA. The Left Wing was unable to gain control of the Socialist Party and split off to form the Communist Party USA.The Great Steel StrikeU.S. Steel Corporation workers in Chicago joined iron and steel workers across the country in a strike that shut down half of the nation's steel industry.White Sox Play World SeriesThe Chicago White Sox played in the World Series against the Cincinnati Reds.About the Exhibit
One hundred years ago, a week of rioting tore open deep racial divisions in Chicago. This timeline of 1919 places Chicago’s race riots in the context of dramatic local and global events that year. Scroll through the timeline and select each entry to explore records that show how Chicagoans experienced explosive labor conflicts, soldiers returning from war, changing migration, a dirigible disaster, and other events that shaped the city in 1919.
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12019-07-24T14:03:17+00:00Kate Flynn7a93418b93b9db509597a67ae6311be88dcb38d6Race Riots and Chicago in 1919Kate Flynn1splash2019-07-24T14:03:17+00:00Kate Flynn7a93418b93b9db509597a67ae6311be88dcb38d6
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12019-07-24T14:03:17+00:00Kate Flynn7a93418b93b9db509597a67ae6311be88dcb38d6Prohibition is Ratified1The 18th Amendment, which prohibited "the manufacture, sale, or transportation of intoxicating liquors within, the importation thereof into, or the exportation thereof from the United States and all territory," was ratified on this day.plain2019-07-24T14:03:17+00:0001-16-1919Kate Flynn7a93418b93b9db509597a67ae6311be88dcb38d6
12019-07-24T14:03:20+00:00Kate Flynn7a93418b93b9db509597a67ae6311be88dcb38d6Seattle General Strike3Tens of thousands of workers in Seattle joined a five day strike that would be followed by waves of labor unrest across the nation. In the next two years almost four million workers across the U.S. went on strike.plain2019-07-24T15:32:52+00:0001/21/1919Kate Flynn7a93418b93b9db509597a67ae6311be88dcb38d6
12019-07-24T14:03:17+00:00Kate Flynn7a93418b93b9db509597a67ae6311be88dcb38d68th Illinois Regiment Returns from War1This all African American unit fought in France during the First World War. Soldiers from the 8th returned to Chicago and marched down Michigan Ave in February 1919.plain2019-07-24T14:03:17+00:0002-1919Kate Flynn7a93418b93b9db509597a67ae6311be88dcb38d6
12019-07-24T14:03:18+00:00Kate Flynn7a93418b93b9db509597a67ae6311be88dcb38d6The Red Scare1A wave of labor unrest and persecution of radicals and those deemed un-american shaped the political climate in 1919.plain2019-07-24T14:03:18+00:0003-1919Kate Flynn7a93418b93b9db509597a67ae6311be88dcb38d6
12019-07-24T14:03:16+00:00Kate Flynn7a93418b93b9db509597a67ae6311be88dcb38d6365th Infantry Parade2The 365th all African American infantry unit returned to Chicago in March 1919 after fighting in France. Wartime service gave soldiers new perspectives that shaped their views of events in Chicago in 1919.plain2019-07-24T15:33:46+00:0003/10/1919Kate Flynn7a93418b93b9db509597a67ae6311be88dcb38d6
12019-07-24T14:03:17+00:00Kate Flynn7a93418b93b9db509597a67ae6311be88dcb38d6Mayor Thompson Re-elected1William Hale Thompson is re-elected Mayor of Chicago.plain2019-07-24T14:03:17+00:0004-01-1919Kate Flynn7a93418b93b9db509597a67ae6311be88dcb38d6
12019-07-24T14:03:16+00:00Kate Flynn7a93418b93b9db509597a67ae6311be88dcb38d6Red Summer1In dozens of cities African American communities were targets of white mob violence that left untold numbers of people dead, injured, and displaced.plain2019-07-24T14:03:16+00:0006/01/1919Kate Flynn7a93418b93b9db509597a67ae6311be88dcb38d6
12019-07-24T14:03:16+00:00Kate Flynn7a93418b93b9db509597a67ae6311be88dcb38d619th Amendment Approved by Congress1Congress approves the 19th Amendment, guaranteeing women the right to vote.plain2019-07-24T14:03:16+00:0006-04-1919Kate Flynn7a93418b93b9db509597a67ae6311be88dcb38d6
12019-07-24T14:03:18+00:00Kate Flynn7a93418b93b9db509597a67ae6311be88dcb38d6Treaty of Versailles1Treaty of Versailles is signed in Paris, ending World War I and creating the League of Nations.plain2019-07-24T14:03:18+00:0006-28-1919Kate Flynn7a93418b93b9db509597a67ae6311be88dcb38d6
12019-07-24T14:03:20+00:00Kate Flynn7a93418b93b9db509597a67ae6311be88dcb38d6Wingfoot Air Express Crash1Wingfoot Air Express, a dirigible operated by Goodyear Tire, caught fire and crashed into the skylight of the Illinois Trust and Savings Building at LaSalle and Jackson.plain2019-07-24T14:03:20+00:0007-21-1919Kate Flynn7a93418b93b9db509597a67ae6311be88dcb38d6
12019-07-24T14:03:17+00:00Kate Flynn7a93418b93b9db509597a67ae6311be88dcb38d6Eugene Williams Drowned2Riots erupted after an African American swimmer was stoned to death by a white man on the beach.plain2019-07-25T15:37:03+00:0007/27/1919Gretchen Neidhardtf8aac65083dd8407d9238044a16c756173f4d1dd
12019-07-24T14:03:16+00:00Kate Flynn7a93418b93b9db509597a67ae6311be88dcb38d6Angelus Building Riot1Violence broke out at the Angelus apartment building (3501 S. Wabash), the only white occupied apartment building on an all-Black city block, in a largely Black neighborhood.plain2019-07-24T14:03:16+00:0007-28-1919Kate Flynn7a93418b93b9db509597a67ae6311be88dcb38d6
12019-07-24T14:03:17+00:00Kate Flynn7a93418b93b9db509597a67ae6311be88dcb38d6Mayor Requests State Militia1Mayor William H. Thompson called for activation of the Illinois state militia.plain2019-07-24T14:03:17+00:0007-30-1919Kate Flynn7a93418b93b9db509597a67ae6311be88dcb38d6
12019-07-24T14:03:17+00:00Kate Flynn7a93418b93b9db509597a67ae6311be88dcb38d6Housing Conditions and Segregation3How can housing conditions and segregation in 1919 help us understand the riots?image_header2019-07-25T15:39:49+00:0007/31/1919Gretchen Neidhardtf8aac65083dd8407d9238044a16c756173f4d1dd
12019-07-24T14:03:16+00:00Kate Flynn7a93418b93b9db509597a67ae6311be88dcb38d6Black Migration to Chicago1How can migration patterns in 1919 help us understand the riots?image_header2019-07-24T14:03:16+00:0008/01/1919Kate Flynn7a93418b93b9db509597a67ae6311be88dcb38d6
12019-07-24T14:03:17+00:00Kate Flynn7a93418b93b9db509597a67ae6311be88dcb38d6Labor Conflict and Race2How can labor conflicts in 1919 help us understand the riots?image_header2019-07-24T21:01:40+00:0008/02/1919Gretchen Neidhardtf8aac65083dd8407d9238044a16c756173f4d1dd
12019-07-24T14:03:16+00:00Kate Flynn7a93418b93b9db509597a67ae6311be88dcb38d6Communist Party USA Founded1The 1918 October Revolution led to the rise of a Left Wing who valued revolutionary socialism within the Socialist Party USA. The Left Wing was unable to gain control of the Socialist Party and split off to form the Communist Party USA.plain2019-07-24T14:03:16+00:0009-01-1919Kate Flynn7a93418b93b9db509597a67ae6311be88dcb38d6
12019-07-24T14:03:17+00:00Kate Flynn7a93418b93b9db509597a67ae6311be88dcb38d6The Great Steel Strike1U.S. Steel Corporation workers in Chicago joined iron and steel workers across the country in a strike that shut down half of the nation's steel industry.plain2019-07-24T14:03:17+00:0009/22/1919Kate Flynn7a93418b93b9db509597a67ae6311be88dcb38d6
12019-07-24T14:03:16+00:00Kate Flynn7a93418b93b9db509597a67ae6311be88dcb38d6White Sox Play World Series1The Chicago White Sox played in the World Series against the Cincinnati Reds.plain2019-07-24T14:03:16+00:0010-01-1919Kate Flynn7a93418b93b9db509597a67ae6311be88dcb38d6
12019-07-24T14:03:16+00:00Kate Flynn7a93418b93b9db509597a67ae6311be88dcb38d6About the Exhibit8plain2019-07-31T14:47:20+00:00Kate Flynn7a93418b93b9db509597a67ae6311be88dcb38d6
