1907 witnessed significant developments across the globe, spanning political shifts, scientific breakthroughs, cultural movements, and technological advancements. This article highlights key events of the year, with a particular focus on those impacting the United States.
Politics and International Relations
January 14: The Kingston Earthquake devastates Jamaica, then a British colony.
January 26: The Short Parliament is elected in Finland, the first parliament in the world elected by universal suffrage, including women.
February 26: The United States Congress passes the Expatriation Act, which states that an American woman who marries a foreigner loses her U.S. citizenship.
June 15 - October 18: The Second Hague Peace Conference takes place, aiming to further codify the laws of war and establish a permanent court of arbitration.
August 31: The Anglo-Russian Convention is signed, ending the Great Game rivalry between Great Britain and Russia in Central Asia and paving the way for the Triple Entente.
November 16: Oklahoma becomes the 46th state of the United States.
Science and Technology
January 4: Dmitri Mendeleev, creator of the periodic table, dies in Saint Petersburg, Russia.
October 1: Henry Ford introduces the Model T automobile, revolutionizing transportation and manufacturing processes in the United States. This event significantly impacted the automotive industry and the development of mass production techniques.
The first Autochrome color photographs are made available to the public by the Lumière brothers.
Alois Alzheimer publishes his first paper describing the symptoms of what would become known as Alzheimer's disease.
Leo Baekeland patents Bakelite, the first synthetic plastic, with numerous applications in the industrial and domestic spheres.
Culture and Arts
January 28: The premiere of Oscar Straus' operetta Ein Walzertraum in Vienna.
March 5: Dmitri Merezhkovsky publishes his novel "The Coming Ham."
October 1: Construction of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's current site on Fifth Avenue in New York City begins.
Pablo Picasso paints "Les Demoiselles d'Avignon," considered a pivotal work in the development of Cubism.
Baden-Powell establishes the Boy Scout movement (experimental camp; official establishment in 1908).
Joseph Conrad publishes The Secret Agent: A Simple Tale.
The first edition of Maclean's magazine is published in Canada.
Labor and Social Movements
The Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) continues to gain traction, advocating for radical labor reform and organizing workers across various industries in the United States.
Anti-immigration sentiment remains strong in the United States, leading to continued restrictions and debates regarding immigration policy.
Other Notable Events
December 6: The Monongah Mining Disaster occurs in Monongah, West Virginia, killing 362 miners and marking the worst mining accident in United States history. This event highlighted the dangers faced by workers in the mining industry and led to calls for improved safety regulations.
This summary provides a glimpse into the multifaceted landscape of 1907. The year served as a crucial bridge between the 19th and 20th centuries, marked by significant political maneuvering, scientific discoveries that reshaped understanding of the world, cultural shifts that challenged traditional norms, and technological innovations that transformed daily life.