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Tax sales
3rd May » West Virginia becomes the first state to legislate a broad sales tax, but does not implement it until a number of years later due to enforcement issues. -
Emergency Quota Act
The United States Congress passes the Emergency Quota Act establishing national quotas on immigration. -
First Female Governor
Nellie Tayloe Ross of Wyoming becomes the first female governor in the United States. -
Motion Pictures Codes
The Motion Picture Production Code is instituted, imposing strict guidelines on the treatment of sex, crime, religion and violence in film, in the U.S., for the next thirty-eight years -
Chicago Reporter Killed by Mob
A 'Chicago Tribune' reporter, Jake Lingle, is killed during rush hour at the Illinois Central train station by Leo Vincent Brothers, allegedly over a $100,000 gambling debt owed to Al Capone -
Hattie McDaniel wins Oscar
For her role as Mammy in film known as Gone with the Wind', Hattie McDaniel becomes the first African American to win an Academy Award. -
First African American on postage stamp
Booker T. Washington becomes the first African American to be depicted on a United States postage stamp -
Bombing of Pearl Harbor
The United States was drawn into World War II with the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor in December 1941 -
Four Freedoms Speech
Jan 6 US President Franklin Roosevelt makes his "Four Freedoms" speech (freedom of speech and worship; freedom from want and fear) during his US State of Union address -
Duke Ellingtion's Take the Train
Feb 15 Duke Ellington first records "Take the A Train"