1912

1912 was a leap year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar. It was a year marked by political upheaval, international conflict, disasters, and cultural events that had lasting effects on the 20th century.

In East Asia, the Xinhai Revolution culminated in the overthrow of the Qing dynasty and the establishment of the Republic of China. Sun Yat-sen served as provisional president; Pu Yi abdicated on February 12, 1912, and Yuan Shikai became president later that year. Albania declared its independence from the Ottoman Empire on November 28, 1912.

In Europe, the First Balkan War began in October 1912 as the Balkan League fought the Ottoman Empire, reshaping borders and heightening tensions that contributed to World War I.

The year saw notable disasters and explorations. The ocean liner Titanic sank on April 15, 1912, after striking an iceberg during its maiden voyage from Southampton to New York, with more than 1,500 casualties. In Alaska, the eruption of Novarupta in June 1912 was one of the largest volcanic eruptions of the 20th century, creating the Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes. The period also saw Alfred Wegener begin developing his ideas about continental drift.

The 1912 Summer Olympics were held in Stockholm from July 6 to 22. Athletes from around the world competed, with notable performances including Jim Thorpe’s victories in the decathlon and pentathlon for the United States.

In the United States, the presidential election resulted in Woodrow Wilson’s victory after a split in the Republican vote between incumbent William Howard Taft and former president Theodore Roosevelt. The events of 1912 helped set the stage for later geopolitical shifts and the onset of World War I.