1938 News and Interesting Tidbits From History

US Pledges To Protect Canada In Case Of Invasion
President Roosevelt publicly pledged to defend Canada should it be invaded by an enemy and in return he expected Canada to come to American aid if the U.S. was attacked. Canada and the U.S. did not have any formal allegiance, but Roosevelt said the two countries had a mutual interests in defending each other. The former Munroe doctrine was stripped of its paternalism and encouraged an allegiance between, “free peoples which geographical proximity strengthens in the case of Canada and the United States.”

Honeymoon Bridge Collapses
The Honeymoon Bridge across Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada collapses after a severe ice storm causes the lower river to flood with ice and place undue stress on the abutments causing the bridge to collapse.

Average Incomes Down Up to 20%
One of the effects of the Great Depression was changes in incomes.

In 1938 "The national average income dropped in comparison from 10 years earlier in 1928 by 7% with some areas of the workforce earning up to 20% less than 10 years earlier".

It should also be remembered that the costs of everything else cost less ranging from Gas - Property. Much of these reduced wages and costs can be attributed to Government lowering the rate for their own employees including those on work programmes.

Crude Oil Found In Abilene Texas
Crude oil was found in Abilene, Texas. causing excitement that was felt by the people of the town of Opin, located approximately south of Abilene.

Jews Not Allowed To Vote
On the same day of one of Hitler’s addresses to over seven million people, it is declared that Jews will not be allowed to vote. This event took place after Hitler’s return from his trip to Austria, and after Austria’s treasury was combined with Germany’s.

Italy Wins 1938 World Cup
Italy wins the 1938 World Cup in France defeating Hungary 4-2 in the final

Revenue Act of 1938
The Revenue Act of 1938 was passed. The content of this particular piece of legislation had called for a series of corporate tax cuts, which was a very controversial topic during this period in history. At first President Roosevelt had opposed this bill, and refused to sign it. However, Congress had managed to override the president’s veto.

Fannie Mae Established
Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae - FNMA) established as part of Roosevelt's New Deal to provide liquidity to the mortgage market and expand the flow of money to mortgage lenders.

Fair Labor Standards Act
Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938

( 1 ) The minimum wage set at .25 cents per hour.
The Latest Act Makes minimum of $7.25 an hour by the summer of 2009
( 2 ) Overtime must be paid at time and a half.
( 3 ) 40 hour work week that went into effect Oct 24, 1940.
( 4 ) The minimum age for employment of adolescents was set at 14 outside of school hours.

Twister Rodessa, Louisiana
A twister that hit in Rodessa, Louisiana has left a trail of death with 25 killed so far. Numerous more people were missing, and serious damage had been done to the area . Some of the worst area damage that had been done (besides the taking of human lives) included the “swooping” of about a dozen supply shacks and oil wells. These shacks and wells had been carried well over a mile, by up to several hundred yards wide.

Agricultural Adjustment Act
Following on from problems in the farming industry highlighted the previous year President Franklin Roosevelt signed a new version of the Agricultural Adjustment Act (AAA). The new bill was designed to steady agriculture prices, as well as farmers' earnings and the stockpiling of agricultural surpluses. The AAA also established the Federal Crop Insurance Corp. which offered insurance to wheat farmers in case of damage caused by "unavoidable natural causes."

"When the Saints Go Marching In"
"When the Saints Go Marching In" was recorded by Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra. Though the song was first written to be a spiritual song, many jazz and folk artists have adopted it and made it very popular throughout the years.

Native American Indian Swastika
Problems with Native American Indian Businesses using The Swastika which is an Indian symbol of good luck and predates the modern world including the use of the swastika buy the Nazi Party in Germany is causing those Indian businesses to stop displaying the sign due to people believing it stands for the Nazis.

Campaign of Terror Against Jews
German Nazis launch a campaign of terror against Jewish people their homes and businesses in Germany and Austria leaving at least 100 dead and over 30,000 arrested and sent to concentration camps .

Jewish shopkeepers in Vienna were forced to picket their own shops with placards saying don't but from Jews , they were forced to do this by members of the Hitler Youth Movement , at the same time the librarian of the national library was given a list of non Arian works to be removed from the library.

This provided the prelude to the Holocaust in Germany. Over 100,000 German Jews left Germany realizing that they would not be safe. The world powers were outraged by what the Nazis had done but the strongest they did was to break off diplomatic relations which allowed Nazis to commit the mass murder of 6 million European Jews during the Holocaust

War of the Worlds
Radio dramatist Orson Welles caused mass hysteria and frightened tens of thousands of listeners causing people to flee from their homes and praying for salvation when the play War of the Worlds was aired on Radio, The dramatization was so good people mistook the play for newscasts which caused the panic .

Seabiscuit Match Race Against War Admiral at Pimlico
Seabiscuit often called the ( people's champion )raced against Triple Crown winner War Admiral in the Pimlico Special in Baltimore, Maryland and won the match race.

It is estimated over 40 million listened to the match on the radio and "War Admiral" was the favorite at (1-4 with most bookmakers) . ( As seen in the 2003 Movie Seabiscuit )

Tommy Dorsey and his orchestra
Tommy Dorsey and his orchestra recorded "I Hadn’t Anyone ’til You" with Jack Leonard as vocalist. Tommy Dorsey and his brother became two of the most famous big band leaders of their day and are still the model for many jazz and swing musicians today.

Japan Attempts to Conquer China
An attempt to conquer China was made by the Japanese when 60,000 soldiers entered Northern China by way of planes and tanks. They were attempting to complete the same type of conquest that was lead by Kubia Kahn, the Mongol emperor.

March of Dimes Foundation
Franklin Delano Roosevelt himself a victim of polio, founds the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis ( Polio ) 1938

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