1913

1913 was a year of transition in the early 20th century, marked by political upheaval, social change, and rapid industrial and cultural development. In the Americas, Europe, and beyond, new ideas about governance, trade, and art were reshaping daily life.

On the European continent, the Balkan Wars concluded in 1913, redrawing borders and weakening the Ottoman Empire. The First Balkan War ended with the Treaty of London in May 1913, while the Second Balkan War, primarily among Balkan states, ended with the Treaty of Bucharest in August.

In Mexico, the overthrow of President Francisco I. Madero by Victoriano Huerta in February 1913 led to a violent phase of the Mexican Revolution.

In the United States, Woodrow Wilson was inaugurated in March 1913. The year saw the ratification of the 16th and 17th Amendments, establishing a federal income tax and direct election of senators respectively. The Federal Reserve Act, signed in December 1913, created the Federal Reserve System and reorganized the U.S. banking system.

Industrial development advanced, with the Ford Motor Company expanding the use of moving assembly lines in mass production, helping lower costs and accelerate manufacturing.

Modernist culture gained visibility: the Armory Show in New York introduced contemporary European art to American audiences, and Igor Stravinsky's ballet The Rite of Spring premiered in Paris, provoking a famous crowd disturbance and signaling shifts in music.

The Great Flood of 1913 affected parts of the central United States and the Mississippi River basin, causing widespread damage and highlighting flood-control issues.