Virginia History Time Line
20th Century

In 1902, the Virginia Constitution was rewritten for the third time. The original constitution was written by Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, George Mason and George Washington. It stated many rights such as freedom of the press or the freedom of being able to talk freely and the right of your own religion. In 1902, however, specially elected delegates held a convention to write a new state constitution. The African Americans were at that time being discriminated against and were having trouble voting even though it was legal for them to vote. This new constitution included new rules that made it hard for African Americans to vote. The rules included a poll tax of $6.00 that people had to pay to be able to vote. This was a lot of money in 1902, and some people couldn't afford it. Also, people had to pass a test so they could vote. The questions could be anything about Virginia's constitution. These tests were used to keep people from voting.

Woodrow Wilson was elected the twenty-eighth President of the United States and the eighth to come from Virginia. He was in office from 1913 to 1921. During this time, Wilson asked Congress to declare war on Germany, Austro-Hungary, and Turkey because German submarines attacked American ships. Because of this, the United States entered World War I helping Great Britain, France, and Russia.

In 1914, war broke out in Europe. World War 1 divided Europe into two main forces. Germany, Austro-Hungary, and Turkey on one side led the fight against Great Britain, France, and Russia on the other. The United States tried to stay out of the war but when German submarines attacked American ships in 1917, President Woodrow Wilson asked Congress to declare war. We joined the side of Britain, France, and Russia.

The Great Depression was when many businesses in the United States had trouble making money. During World War I, business was good because factories made supplies for the troops. But after the war, businesses failed and lots of people lost their jobs. All of the stock markets were going down, so a lot of banks had to close which meant that people lost their savings, too. Because of this people got so upset they went crazy. Some even committed suicide. This happened in the year 1929.

In Germany a new group was rapidly rising to power. This group was led by Adolf Hitler. He was a evil man bent on making Germany the strongest military power in the world. Together with Italy, Japan, and several smaller countries they started their conquest to take over the world. Hitler believed in a type of war called a "Blitzkrieg" or lightening war which called for troops to work with mobilized units, aircraft and the concept of surprise attack. In this way he took over Poland. Britain and France started to help in the growing war. During this time all the United States had done was to station its naval fleet around the Hawaiian Islands. Japan at the time was easily taking over the smaller Pacific islands when they realized the United States' Navy would have to be dealt with. A few minutes before 8:00 A.M., on December 7, 1941, Japanese carrier-based planes struck a vicious attack on the US Naval fleet stationed in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. In the cunning two hour attack, eight battleships and thirteen other naval craft were either sunk or critically damaged. Luckily, they did not damage any of the carriers. The Japanese had drawn the United States into the war. A few days later, Germany and Italy declared war on the U.S. Throughout the war, on the lips of every diving fighter pilot and every charging Marine came the shout "Remember Pearl Harbor". The war ended on May 8, 1945, when Germany surrendered to the Allied forces. The Japanese surrendered when the Atomic bomb "fat man" was dropped on a city in Japan. The Japanese Emperor stated "I cannot bear to see my innocent people suffer any longer."

Arthur Robert Ashe was born in Richmond on July 10, 1943. He was the first African American named to the U.S. Davis Cup team. During his career, he won thirty-three major tennis titles, including the U.S. Open in the men's singles championship at Wimbleton in 1975. There is a statue of Authur Ashe in Richmond that is a memorial to this famous Virginian.  

1954 was a very special year for African Americans because it was the year that segregation in schools ended. In May of that year, the Supreme Court ruled that segregation in public schools was illegal. They said that separate schools were not equal and that all children should go to the same school together. Segregation means being separated because of a reason like skin color. African Americans fought for freedom and equality. 

In the year 1989, Lawrence Douglas Wilder was elected governor of Virginia. Many people wonder why this event was so special. It was a major hit because Wilder was the first black American Governor. He went to the Howard University Law School in Washington, D.C. and he graduated in 1959. He served as governor for one term only because Virginia's constitution allows just a single term for governorship. He hosts his own radio talk show, teaches college students, and still influences state politics today.