1930

The year 1930 was a pivotal year, marking the beginning of the Great Depression's global impact and seeing significant advancements in various fields.

Politics and World Affairs

• January 13: The first meeting of the League of Nations conference for codifying international law convened in The Hague.

• March 6: Gandhi begins the Salt March, a nonviolent protest against the British salt monopoly in India. This pivotal event in the Indian independence movement significantly increased pressure on British rule.

• May 17: The Statute of Westminster defines the constitutional relationship between the United Kingdom and its dominions, granting them greater autonomy.

• June 28: The Reichstag is dissolved in Germany, marking a period of political instability that would lead to the rise of the Nazi Party.

• November 2: Haile Selassie is crowned Emperor of Ethiopia.

Economy and the Great Depression

• Throughout the year: The Great Depression intensifies globally. Unemployment soars, and businesses fail.

• June 17: The United States Congress passes the Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act, raising tariffs on thousands of imported goods. This act is widely regarded by economists to have worsened the Great Depression by reducing international trade.

Science and Technology

• January 21: The first regularly scheduled transatlantic telephone service between New York City and London begins.

• February 18: Clyde Tombaugh discovers Pluto at the Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff, Arizona. This discovery was a major advancement in astronomy.

• March 3: The world's largest reflecting telescope, the Hooker Telescope at Mount Wilson Observatory near Los Angeles, is used for the first time.

• May 15: Ellen Church becomes the first female flight attendant, working for Boeing Air Transport (later United Airlines).

Culture and Arts

• March 2: The play The Green Pastures by Marc Connelly opens on Broadway.

• April 21: The Threepenny Opera by Bertolt Brecht and Kurt Weill premieres in New York City.

• July 7: Arthur Conan Doyle, the creator of Sherlock Holmes, dies.

• October 24: The musical Girl Crazy opens on Broadway, featuring the song "I Got Rhythm" by George Gershwin.

Disasters

• November 26: The Iquitos earthquake, one of the largest earthquakes ever recorded, occurs in the border area between Peru and Colombia.

Events Relevant to the United States

• The Great Depression deepened significantly throughout the year, leading to widespread unemployment and economic hardship.

• The Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act was passed, exacerbating the Great Depression on a global scale.

• Clyde Tombaugh's discovery of Pluto at the Lowell Observatory.

• The beginning of transatlantic telephone service between New York City and London.

• The rise in popularity of jazz music and the opening of significant Broadway productions.