113 Years Ago: What Happened in 1910?

113 years ago (as of 2023), the world witnessed the year 1910, a pivotal time of transition between the Victorian/Edwardian eras and the modern age. This was the year Halley's Comet made its closest approach to Earth, King Edward VII died, the Boy Scouts of America was founded, and the Mexican Revolution began.

It was an era of rapid technological advancement with the first commercial air flight, the first public radio broadcast, and Georges Claude's demonstration of the first neon light—innovations that would help shape the 20th century.

Major Historical Events of 1910

The year 1910 was marked by significant political changes, technological breakthroughs, and cultural shifts that would help define the century ahead. Here are the major events that occurred 113 years ago:

Political Events

  • May 6: King Edward VII of the United Kingdom died, ending the Edwardian Era. His son ascended to the throne as King George V.
  • May 31: The Union of South Africa was created as a dominion within the British Empire, unifying previously separate colonies.
  • August 22: Japan formally annexed Korea, beginning a 35-year period of colonial rule that would last until 1945.
  • October 5: Portugal overthrew its monarchy and established the First Portuguese Republic after a revolution.
  • November 20: The Mexican Revolution began with Francisco I. Madero's Plan of San Luis Potosí, calling for an uprising against President Porfirio Díaz.
  • November 23: Johan Alfred Ander became the last person to be executed in Sweden, by guillotine.

Scientific and Technological Milestones

  • January 13: The first public radio broadcast took place, featuring the Metropolitan Opera in New York City.
  • February 8: The Boy Scouts of America was incorporated, bringing the youth movement to the United States.
  • May 18: Halley's Comet made its closest approach to Earth. Its appearance caused panic in some places due to erroneous reports that Earth would pass through the comet's tail, which was believed to contain poisonous gases.
  • June 22: The DELAG Zeppelin airship Deutschland made its first commercial passenger flight, marking an important step in aviation history.
  • December 3: French inventor Georges Claude demonstrated the first neon light at the Paris Motor Show, revolutionizing advertising and urban landscapes.
  • December: Georges Claude patented the neon discharge tube for use in advertising.

Cultural and Sports Milestones

  • February: The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) was founded in the United States, becoming one of the most influential civil rights organizations.
  • March 19: In Germany, the operetta "The Count of Luxembourg" by Franz Lehár premiered in Vienna.
  • March 27: The first seaplane took flight in France, piloted by Henri Fabre.
  • June: The first White Slavery Traffic Act (known as the Mann Act) was passed in the United States, prohibiting the interstate transport of women for "immoral purposes."
  • October 17: The first feature film produced in Hollywood, "In Old California," was released, directed by D.W. Griffith.
  • November 7: The first air freight shipment was undertaken by the Wright Brothers, flying a bolt of silk from Dayton to Columbus, Ohio.

Life in 1910: A Different World

To truly understand what the world was like 113 years ago, let's explore daily life, technology, and society in 1910:

Daily Life Statistics

  • The world population was approximately 1.7 billion (compared to 8 billion today).
  • Average life expectancy was around 50 years in developed countries.
  • Only 14% of homes in America had a bathtub.
  • Only 8% of homes had a telephone.
  • There were only 8,000 cars in the U.S. and just 144 miles of paved roads.
  • The maximum speed limit in most cities was 10 mph.
  • The average wage in the U.S. was 22 cents per hour.
  • More than 95% of all births took place at home.
  • Most women washed their hair once a month, using borax or egg yolks for shampoo.
  • The five leading causes of death were: pneumonia, influenza, tuberculosis, diarrhea, and heart disease.
Category 1910 Today
World Population 1.7 billion 8 billion
Life Expectancy (US) 50 years 77 years
Average U.S. Salary $750/year $54,000/year
Average House Price (US) $2,325 $392,000
Homes with Electricity ~14% (mostly urban) 99.9%
Women's Voting Rights Limited to few countries/states Nearly universal
Communication Telegraph, early telephone Internet, smartphones
Transportation Horses, early automobiles, trains Cars, planes, high-speed trains

Society and Politics

The world of 1910 was experiencing significant social and political transitions:

  • Women's Rights: The women's suffrage movement was gaining momentum, but most women still couldn't vote. In the U.S., women had voting rights in only 4 states.
  • Labor Conditions: The average workweek was 60 hours, with limited worker protections. Child labor was still common.
  • Class Divisions: Social class distinctions were much more rigid, with clear divisions between the wealthy, middle class, and working poor.
  • Empire Era: Colonialism was at its height, with European powers controlling vast territories across Africa, Asia, and other regions.
  • Progressive Era: In the U.S., the Progressive movement was working to address problems of industrialization, urbanization, immigration, and corruption.
  • Pre-War Tensions: European powers were engaged in an arms race and forming alliances that would eventually lead to World War I in 1914.

Technology and Innovation in 1910

The year 1910 represented a fascinating transitional period in technology—many modern innovations were just emerging, while older methods were still commonplace. Here's what technology looked like 113 years ago:

Transportation

  • Automobiles: Cars existed but were luxury items owned by the wealthy. Ford's Model T (introduced in 1908) was helping make automobiles more accessible.
  • Aviation: The Wright brothers had only achieved their first flight seven years earlier in 1903. In 1910, commercial aviation was just beginning.
  • Railways: Trains were the dominant form of long-distance transportation, with extensive networks in developed countries.
  • Urban Transit: Electric streetcars and early subway systems operated in major cities.
  • Maritime Travel: Ocean liners were the main form of intercontinental travel, with companies competing to build larger, faster ships.

Communication

  • Telephone: Phone service existed but was limited, with only 8% of American homes having telephones.
  • Telegraph: Still the primary means of rapid long-distance communication.
  • Wireless Telegraph: Radio technology was developing, primarily used for ship-to-shore communication.
  • Radio Broadcasting: The first public radio broadcast occurred in 1910, though regular broadcasting wouldn't become common until the 1920s.
  • Mail Service: Postal systems were well-developed, with multiple daily deliveries in cities.

Home Technology

  • Electricity: Available in cities but still novel in rural areas. Many homes used gas lighting.
  • Appliances: Early electric irons, toasters, and vacuum cleaners were available, but most housework was still done manually.
  • Plumbing: Indoor plumbing was becoming more common in urban areas, but many homes still used outhouses.
  • Heating: Coal or wood stoves were the primary heating method, with central heating systems in wealthier homes.
  • Refrigeration: Ice boxes (literally insulated boxes containing blocks of ice) were used to keep food cold.

Entertainment and Media

  • Cinema: Silent films were becoming popular entertainment, though the industry was still in its infancy.
  • Photography: Still largely professional, though Kodak's Brownie camera (introduced in 1900) was making photography more accessible.
  • Sound Recording: Phonographs and gramophones played wax cylinder or disc recordings.
  • Print Media: Newspapers and magazines were the primary mass media, with many cities having multiple competing papers.
  • Home Entertainment: Pianos were common in middle-class homes, serving as the center of family entertainment.

Fashion and Culture in 1910

The cultural landscape of 1910 was distinctive, with its own fashion trends, artistic movements, and entertainment preferences:

Fashion

The fashion of 1910 reflected the end of the Edwardian era and the beginning of newer, slightly more practical styles:

Women's Fashion

  • The "S-curve" silhouette was giving way to straighter lines
  • Ankles began to be visible for the first time in mainstream fashion
  • Corsets remained essential, though designs were beginning to be less restrictive
  • Wide-brimmed hats adorned with feathers, flowers, and ribbons were popular
  • High collars and long sleeves were standard for daywear
  • Hair was worn up, often in the "pompadour" style

Men's Fashion

  • Three-piece suits were standard formal wear
  • Bowler hats and homburg hats were popular
  • Starched collars and ties were worn even in casual settings
  • Pocket watches, rather than wristwatches, were standard
  • Facial hair was common, particularly mustaches
  • Walking sticks were fashionable accessories for gentlemen

Arts and Entertainment

  • Literature: Notable books published in 1910 included E.M. Forster's "Howards End" and Mark Twain's autobiography (published posthumously).
  • Visual Arts: Modern art movements were flourishing, with Post-Impressionism, Expressionism, and early Cubism transforming the art world.
  • Music: Ragtime was popular in America, with Scott Joplin at the height of his career. Classical composers like Gustav Mahler, Richard Strauss, and Claude Debussy were active.
  • Theater: Vaudeville was a dominant entertainment form, offering variety shows with music, comedy, and novelty acts.
  • Dance: The Tango was beginning to gain popularity in Europe and America, causing some controversy for its sensual nature.
  • Sports: Baseball was America's pastime, while boxing, horse racing, and the new sport of basketball (invented in 1891) were gaining followers.

Famous People Born in 1910

Many influential individuals who would shape the 20th century were born 113 years ago. Here are some notable figures born in 1910:

Political Figures

  • Jacques Cousteau (June 11) — French naval officer, explorer, conservationist, and filmmaker who studied the sea and underwater life
  • Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar (October 19) — Indian-American astrophysicist who won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1983
  • Dorothy Hodgkin (May 12) — British chemist who developed protein crystallography and won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1964
  • Akira Kurosawa (March 23) — Influential Japanese film director known for classics like "Seven Samurai" and "Rashomon"
  • Mother Teresa (August 26) — Catholic nun and missionary who founded the Missionaries of Charity and received the Nobel Peace Prize

Entertainers and Artists

  • Django Reinhardt (January 23) — Belgian-born jazz guitarist who pioneered the jazz guitar despite having two paralyzed fingers
  • Dizzy Dean (January 16) — American baseball player and later sports commentator
  • John Wayne (May 26) — American actor who became an icon of Western films
  • William Hanna (July 14) — American animator, director, and producer who co-founded Hanna-Barbera Productions
  • Jean Genet (December 19) — French novelist, playwright, and political activist

1910 to 2023: 113 Years of Change

The world has transformed dramatically in the 113 years since 1910. Here are some of the most significant changes across different aspects of society:

Major Historical Developments

  • Two World Wars (1914-1918 and 1939-1945)
  • The Great Depression (1929-1939)
  • The Cold War (1947-1991)
  • Decolonization of much of Africa and Asia
  • The fall of the Soviet Union
  • The rise of global terrorism and subsequent wars
  • The COVID-19 pandemic

Technological Revolution

  • The rise of mass automobile ownership
  • Commercial aviation becoming commonplace
  • Radio, television, and then digital media
  • Space exploration and satellite technology
  • Nuclear power and weapons
  • The computer revolution
  • The Internet and World Wide Web
  • Mobile phones and smartphones
  • Social media
  • Artificial intelligence and machine learning

1910: The Year in Context

To better understand what 1910 meant in the flow of history, let's place it in context with what came before and after:

Coming at the End Of:

  • The Victorian/Edwardian Eras: 1910 marked the end of the Edwardian Era in Britain with the death of King Edward VII.
  • The Belle Époque: A period in Western history characterized by optimism, peace, and artistic innovation before the devastation of World War I.
  • The Second Industrial Revolution: The period of rapid industrialization that saw the rise of steel, electricity, and chemical industries.
  • The "Age of Empire": European colonialism was at its height, with imperial powers controlling vast territories worldwide.

Coming Just Before:

  • World War I: Just four years later, the "war to end all wars" would begin, fundamentally reshaping the global order.
  • The Russian Revolution: Seven years later, the Russian Revolution would establish the first communist state.
  • Women's Suffrage: Women would gain voting rights in many countries in the decade after 1910.
  • The Jazz Age: The 1920s would bring new music, fashion, and social changes.
  • The Great Depression: The catastrophic economic collapse was still 19 years away.

Frequently Asked Questions

What was the population of the world 113 years ago?

In 1910, the world population was approximately 1.7 billion people, about one-fifth of today's population of 8 billion. The United States had about 92 million residents, compared to 330 million today.

What was the average cost of living in 1910?

In 1910, the average American worker earned about $750 per year ($0.22 per hour). A new house cost approximately $2,325, a new car cost around $750, and a pound of butter was $0.30. A loaf of bread cost about $0.05, and a quart of milk was $0.08.

What major inventions were still missing in 1910?

In 1910, many inventions we take for granted today didn't exist or were in very primitive forms. These included: television, home refrigerators, antibiotics, nuclear energy, radar, computers, jet aircraft, microwave ovens, credit cards, and ballpoint pens. Many homes still lacked electricity and indoor plumbing.

Who was the President of the United States 113 years ago?

In 1910, William Howard Taft was the 27th President of the United States. He served one term from 1909 to 1913. Taft was a Republican who had previously served as Secretary of War under President Theodore Roosevelt.

Why is studying events from 113 years ago important?

Studying history from 113 years ago helps us understand the roots of our modern world. Many of today's political boundaries, technological foundations, cultural movements, and global challenges have their origins in this era. Understanding this period gives context to our current situation and reminds us of how dramatically society can change within a century.