With the 100th Anniversary of World War One upon us, 100 years seems like an incredibly long time for some people to imagine. Most people can’t imagine anything 100 years old, much less anything that has existed since then. To give a sense of perspective on exactly how long 100 years is, here is a brief list of some things that had not existed in 1918:
- Sliced bread was first sold in stores in 1928. Otto Rohwedder of Davenport, Iowa, had developed a prototype bread slicer in 1912, but it was destroyed in a fire. Until then, people had to make do with slicing whole loaves of bread to make toast or sandwiches!
The invention of the sliced bread machine in 1928 was the greatest thing since...well, you get the picture!
- Refrigerators gained popularity starting in the 1920s. Prior to having food chilled by Freon systems, people had to make do with iceboxes and order fresh ice every week. However, due to the Great Depression, refrigerators would not become household necessities until after World War II.
- Combining the innovations brought on by sliced bread and refrigerators, BLT sandwiches would also not become popular until the late 1940s! In 1918, Americans could only dream of having sandwiches made with packaged bacon and fresh tomatoes and lettuce on a regular basis!
- Penicillin, a lifesaving antibiotic used to treat viral infections, was also first discovered in 1928. Scottish scientist Alexander Fleming accidentally discovered this medicine when he left a culture of bacteria on a petri dish, which became contaminated by mold. He was able to synthesize this culture into a medicine and therefore revolutionized the face of treating infectious diseases around the world.
- Votes for Women in the United States would not be passed until the ratification of the 19th Amendment in 1919. Due to the large numbers of women working in factories, farms, and other industries during the war, women felt more empowered about their place in American society. This, combined with the already strong Suffragist Movement, inspired women across the country to push for their right to vote.
- Citizenship for Native Americans would not be granted until the passage of the Indian Citizenship Act in 1924. Prior to this act, Native American tribes were treated as foreign governments, whose reservations were treated as sovereign territory within the United States. Cherokee and Choctaw soldiers were among the many tribes who fought alongside the U.S Army during WWI. Some even served as prototype “Code Talkers” before the term gained widespread use during WWII!
- Civil Rights for African Americans were drastically different in 1918 as well. Many states still had Jim Crow laws on the books, and in Southern states, African American men accused of crimes could still run the risk of being lynched by race mobs. The Civil Rights Movement would not become a reality for another 45 years.
- The United States Flag only had 48 stars in 1918. The territories of Hawaii and Alaska would not become states until 1960.
A group of Choctaw men about to enlist in the U.S Army during WWI. Note the 48-star flag they are holding
All of these things that we take for granted had not existed when the United States was involved in World War One. 100 years may seem like an incredibly long time to think about, but in the grand scheme of history, it's only the blink of an eye.
--Jordan
--Jordan
RSS Feed