1923 : Political Events

We post daily with the news from 100 years ago, but here are some of the main historical events from 1923.

1. The French occupation of the Ruhr was a response to Germany’s inability to pay war reparations after World War I. This event led to economic and political instability in Germany, including hyperinflation and the rise of extremist political groups.
2. The Treaty of Lausanne officially ended the Ottoman Empire and marked the end of the Turkish War of Independence. The treaty led to the formation of modern-day Turkey, with Mustafa Kemal Atatürk as its first president.
3. The Irish Free State started its first full year following a long struggle for independence from Britain, with the Constitution of the Irish Free State having been agreed on 6 December 1922. The treaty also resulted in the partition of Ireland into Northern Ireland and the Irish Free State, which had been agreed in 1922.
4. The general election of December 1923, in which the Conservative Party, under the leadership of Stanley Baldwin, won the most seats in the last election to have a third party winning 100 seats.
5. Stanley Baldwin became the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom three times between 1923 and 1937, succeeding Andrew Bonar Law on 22 May 1923. He was a member of the Conservative Party and was known for his efforts to promote national unity, his opposition to appeasement in the lead-up to World War II, and his support for the British Empire.
6. The first successful transatlantic radio broadcast from Europe to North America took place on December 3rd, 1923. This event marked a major milestone in the development of long-distance communication technology and paved the way for the widespread use of radio in the 20th century.
7. The Munich Putsch was a failed attempt by Hitler and the Nazi Party to seize power in Germany. Although the Putsch was unsuccessful, it marked the beginning of Hitler’s rise to power in Germany.
8. The Mutual Agreement between Greece and Turkey was aimed at resolving tensions between the two countries in the aftermath of the Ottoman Empire. The agreement aimed to stabilise the region and prevent further conflict between the two countries, although to hundreds of thousands of refugees as part of the population exchange between the two countries.
9. The Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. was dedicated on May 30th, 1923. The memorial is a symbol of the United States’ commitment to preserving the legacy of President Abraham Lincoln and is one of the country’s most famous landmarks.
10. Benito Mussolini and the Italian Fascist Party continued their rise to power in Italy in 1923, following a series of political and social upheavals. Mussolini’s dictatorship lasted until 1943, when he was overthrown and later executed by Italian partisans.
11. The launch of Time Magazine, one of the most influential news magazines in the world. The magazine was first published on March 3rd, 1923, and has since become a leading source of news, analysis, and commentary on a wide range of topics, including politics, business, and popular culture.
12. The introduction of the Marriage and Divorce (Religious Marriages) Bill, which aimed to provide greater legal recognition for religious marriages and to strengthen the rights of married women. The bill was part of a broader movement in the UK to reform family law and to promote gender equality in the early 20th century.