|
|
|
|
| China's Boy Emperor |
|
The youngest-ever emperor of China succeeded the throne at just two years old on the 15 November in Beijing. The succession followed the death of Empress Dowager Cixi, who had manipulated the Chinese throne for decades. Rumours of foul play surrounded her death, especially because news of Emperor Guangxu's death shortly before hers. The Emperor had been in good health and the cause of his death is not known. The new ruler, Pu Yi, was nephew of the late Emperor, and is the ninth emperor in the Manchu (Qing) Dynasty which had ruled China in an unbroken line since 1644. [Pu Yi was also the last Emperor of China.] The infant's father, Prince Chun was made regent and took practical control of the Chinese government, ruling in his son's name. The crisis of imperial authority only enhanced the revolutionary republican movement in China which had been pressing for progressive reforms for some time. |
| Ford's Model T |
|
On 12 August, the first Model T Ford motor car rolled out of the factory in Detroit. Costing just $900, the Model T brought its maker, Henry Ford, one step closer to fulfilling his dream to manufacture a popular vehicle that everyone could afford. The Model T owed its low cost to new techniques of mass production - breaking down the complex job of building a car into a succession of simple operations. The car was assembled so quickly that it was only in black, because black enamel was the only paint that dried fast enough. Known affectionately as "Tin Lizzy", the Model T was an immediate success. 16.5 million Model Ts were found on the road in the next few years. Related link: Ford model T assembly line, 1913 |
| William Taft is US President |
|
William "Big Bill" Taft retained the American presidency for the Republicans by defeating Democratic opponent, William Jennings Bryan, by 7.7 million votes to 6.3 million. It was the third time that Bryan had run for presidency, setting an American record for political failure! He actually stood little chance against Taft, the favoured choice of the previous president, the combative but popular Theodore Roosevelt. Taft's mild manners and conciliatory approach brought about change of political style to Washington. However, he was unable to honour his campaign pledge to lower protective tarriffs, or to respond to public calls to conserve the natural resources of the US. Thus, his presidency split the Republican Party into conservative and progressive factions. |
| Terrible Earthquake in Italy |
|
A devastating earthquake brought the Christmas season to a horrific end for the Sicilian city of Messina, Sicily, on 28 December. Around 80,000 citizens were killed, and the city itself had been almost completely razed to the ground. Thousands more were believed to have perished in surrounding villages and on the mainland of Calabria. Martial law was declared as the scale of the disaster became known, and a massive international relief operation was mounted. The city's inhabitants were left dazed and homeless. Much-needed temporary shelter was set up and emergency supplies of food, clothing and medicine was brought in. Europe's worst earthquake almost entirely destroyed Messina's heritage of ancient buildings. Along with many other medieval churches, the Messina cathedral already damaged by several previous earthquakes, was reduced to a pile of dust. |
