It was at the beginning of a new decade for America.
After the Industrial Revolution, the United States transitioned into the period
known as the Progressive Era which lasted from 1895 till the 1920’s. It was a
time of unrest and reform. In the 1910’s, labor unions grew as the middle class
became increasingly unhappy. Accidents and unsafe working conditions in
factories added to the turmoil of the decade. This decade was the beginning of
reform for the future of the American people.
In Springfield, we celebrated the 1912 Illinois
State Fair Friday, October 4 through Saturday, October 12. On October 7, Horace
Kearney crashed his Curtis biplane from a height of 100 ft. During the same day,
Chuck Wilkerson of Springfield went up in a hot air balloon and made a
successful parachute jump. Unfortunately, his balloon burned the next day. The
Governor, and candidate for President, Woodrow Wilson spoke at the Illinois
State Fair on October 9.
In 1912, these important historic events also took
place:
Jan 6 – New Mexico became the 47th state.
Feb 14 – Arizona joined the United States as the 18th
state.
March 12 – Girl Guides (later to be known as Girl
Scouts) formed in Savannah, Georgia by Juliette Gordon Low
April 10 – RMS Titanic set sail from Southampton,
England for her first and last voyage.
April 15 – RMS Titanic sank at 2:27 AM off the coast
of Newfound after hitting an iceberg. As the ship sinks, the band played on.
Oct 14 – Bull Moose Party candidate, Theodore
Roosevelt, is shot while campaigning in Milwaukee.
Oct 18 – The first of the Balkan Wars began.
Nov 5 – Woodrow Wilson defeats Theodore Roosevelt
and Pres. Taft to become the next United State President.
Nov 25 – The American College of Surgeons
incorporated in Springfield, Ill.
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