1930

1930 was a calendar year marked by economic hardship and notable political and cultural developments. The worldwide Great Depression was intensifying after the 1929 stock market crash, with unemployment rising in many countries.

In the United States, the Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act was enacted, raising tariffs to protect domestic industries but reducing global trade and contributing to economic strain. Internationally, the London Naval Treaty was signed by major powers to limit naval armaments. The Indian independence movement saw the Salt March led by Mahatma Gandhi as a disciplined civil disobedience against British salt taxes in March and April.

In science and culture, Pluto, the solar system’s then-planet, was discovered on February 18, 1930 by Clyde Tombaugh at the Lowell Observatory. The first FIFA World Cup took place in Uruguay, with Uruguay winning. The film All Quiet on the Western Front premiered and won the Academy Award for Best Picture, recognized as a significant anti-war work of cinema.

Other notable trends of the year included a continuing drought in parts of the United States that contributed to the Dust Bowl era of the early 1930s, exacerbating agricultural distress. Among notable individuals born in 1930 was Clint Eastwood, who would become a prominent actor and director. 1930 thus stands as a year of important political decisions, scientific discovery, and cultural milestones set against the backdrop of a global economic downturn.