1935 was a year of significant global events, marked by political instability, scientific breakthroughs, artistic achievements, and continued technological advancements. This year witnessed the rise of totalitarian regimes, crucial social reforms in the United States, and important developments across various fields.
Politics and International Relations
January 13: A plebiscite is held in the Saarland, resulting in an overwhelming vote for reunification with Germany. This demonstrated strong nationalist sentiment following the Treaty of Versailles.
March 16: Adolf Hitler formally repudiates the military restrictions placed on Germany by the Treaty of Versailles and announces the re-armament of the German military, initiating a policy of rearmament.
May 2: The Franco-Soviet Treaty of Mutual Assistance is signed between France and the Soviet Union, aiming to contain German aggression.
June 18: The Anglo-German Naval Agreement is signed, allowing Germany to build a navy one-third the size of the British Royal Navy. This agreement, made without consulting France or Italy, undermined the Stresa Front.
October 3: Italy invades Ethiopia, marking the beginning of the Second Italo-Ethiopian War. The League of Nations imposed economic sanctions on Italy, but they proved ineffective.
United States
January 29: President Franklin D. Roosevelt asks Congress to pass the Social Security Act.
April 8: The Emergency Relief Appropriation Act of 1935 is passed, providing $4.8 billion for work relief programs, a key component of Roosevelt's New Deal.
May 6: The Works Progress Administration (WPA) is established as part of the New Deal to provide jobs to the unemployed.
July 5: President Franklin D. Roosevelt signs the National Labor Relations Act (Wagner Act), granting workers the right to organize and bargain collectively.
August 14: President Franklin D. Roosevelt signs the Social Security Act into law, establishing a system of old-age benefits, unemployment insurance, and aid to families with dependent children.
August 31: Congress passes the Neutrality Act of 1935 in response to growing tensions in Europe. It imposed an embargo on trading in arms and war materials with all parties in a war.
Science and Technology
January 11: Amelia Earhart becomes the first person to fly solo from Honolulu, Hawaii, to Oakland, California.
January 25: Beer is sold in cans for the first time, revolutionizing the beverage industry.
October 20: George Carothers patents nylon, paving the way for the synthetic fiber industry.
Arts and Culture
February 27: The film The Lives of a Bengal Lancer premieres, becoming a major box office success.
May 18: T.S. Eliot's play Murder in the Cathedral premieres at Canterbury Cathedral.
November 13: The Metropolitan Opera in New York City gives the first performance of George Gershwin's opera Porgy and Bess.
Disasters and Accidents
May 18: The Dust Bowl reaches its peak in the United States, causing widespread ecological and agricultural damage.
1935 was a pivotal year that foreshadowed the global conflict to come and simultaneously laid the groundwork for future social and technological advancements. The events of this year had a lasting impact on the 20th century and beyond.