1910s American History
The 1910s pulled America toward world war and workplace tragedy. These stories draw on archives, hearings, and contemporary reporting.
7 documented stories. All stories · Topics
Weird America
The 1918 Flu in America: How a Pandemic Killed More U.S. Troops Than Combat in WWI
Crowded camps and liberty-loan parades spread a virus that filled morgues — while wartime censors muted the headlines. (1918 flu pandemic America)
Crime
The Triangle Shirtwaist Fire: 146 Garment Workers Locked Inside a Burning Factory
Young women jumped from windows; the tragedy sparked labor law and fire exit reforms.
Weird America
The SS Eastland: 844 Dead When a Pleasure Boat Capsized in Chicago Harbor
Western Electric workers boarded for a picnic — the ship rolled over in 20 feet of water.
Crime
The Ludlow Massacre: When Colorado Militia Killed Striking Miners’ Families
A tent colony burned; two women and eleven children died underground; and labor war erupted across the coalfields.
Scandal
The Black Sox Scandal: Eight Players Accused of Throwing the 1919 World Series
Gamblers met star pitchers, and America’s pastime faced its greatest corruption crisis.
Military
The Night German Spies Blew Up New York Harbor
In 1916, German saboteurs detonated a massive munitions depot in Jersey City — the blast shattered windows in Manhattan and damaged the Statue of Liberty.
Weird America
The Great Molasses Flood: When a 25-Foot Wave of Syrup Killed 21 People in Boston
In 1919, a poorly constructed storage tank burst in Boston's North End, releasing 2.3 million gallons of molasses in a wave that moved at 35 mph, crushed buildings, and drowned horses.