The United States adopts Standard Time Zones, establishing the system still in use today. Before Nov. 18, 1883, there were more than 100 local times across North America. The adoption of a standardized time by the U.S. and Canadian railroads eliminated the confusion and helped to keep trains and people on schedule.
Browse Historical Events by Month:
What Happened in November?
Wars, expanding empires, and critical deaths. Explore significant events and milestones from November that have helped shape the world. Dates for earlier events may be approximate.
Note: Sources for the historical content shown, include research and reviews of relevant Online History Resources or printed material. When possible, we show a link to a source which provides additional or unique perspective about the event.
We do our best to provide accurate information but would appreciate being notified if any incorrect information is found. You may do so by using our Feedback link.
Democrat Grover Cleveland defeats Republican James G. Blaine Becoming the 22nd President of the United States and the first Democrat to occupy the White House after the Civil War. President Grover Cleveland was the only President to leave the White House and return for a second term four years later becoming also the 24th President. More
Canada's transcontinental railway is completed on November 7, 1885 as Donald Smith, later known as Lord Strathcona, drives the ceremonial last spike of the Canadian Pacific Railway, at Craigellachie, BC. More
North Dakota is admitted to the United States of America becoming the 39th State.
South Dakota is admitted to the United States of America becoming the 40h State.
Montana is admitted to the United States of America becoming the 41st State.
Washington is admitted to the United States Union becoming the 42nd State.
German physicist, Wilhelm Conrad Roentgen discovers X-rays while experimenting with cathode rays on November 8, 1895, he noticed a fluorescent screen glowing in the dark; realizing that unknown rays were passing through solid objects. He captured the first X-ray image of his wife's hand to prove the discovery. More
Alfred Bernhard Nobel signed the final version of his will, leaving the bulk of his immense fortune to a fund for the financing of annual honorary awards to be made in the fields of physics, chemistry, medicine or physiology, literature and peace. He died a year later on December 1896. The first Nobel Prizes were awarded in 1901. More
The first auto race in the U.S. is held in Chicago on Thanksgiving Day. The race was promoted by H. H. Kohlsaat, the publisher of the Chicago Times-Herald. the Duryea, built and driven by J. Frank Duryea crossed the finish line first, 7 hours and 53 minutes later, with an average speed of 7 miles per hour. The official distance was 54.36 miles, and this was accomplished on 3.5 gallons of gas. More
A political coup and massacre takes place in which the multiracial Fusionist (Republican and Populist) city government of Wilmington, North Carolina, is violently overthrown by a group of the state's white Southern Democrats conspiring and leading a mob of 2,000 white men to overthrow the legitimately elected government in Wilmington.
They expelled the opposition black and white political leaders from the city, destroyed the property and businesses of black citizens built up since the American Civil War, including the only black newspaper in the city, and killed from an estimated 60 to more than 300 people. More
The Boxer Rebellion begins in China. An uprising against against the spread of Western and Japanese influence including western religion begun by peasants but was eventually supported by the government.
The rebellion lasted from November 1899 until September 7, 1901, when the Boxer Rebellion was put down by the Eight-Nation Alliance of the United States, the United Kingdom, Russia, France, Japan, Germany, Italy, and Austria-Hungary and the Boxer Protocol was was signed to end the conflict. More
Panama declares independence from Colombia with U.S, Support while simultaneously negotiating a treaty granting the U.S. the right to construct the canal. The United States recognized Panama three days later The treaty that allowed the United States to build and operate a canal that traversed Panama.
The treaty also gave the United States the right to govern a ten-mile wide Canal Zone that encompassed the waterway, which was completed in 1914. In 1979, the United States transferred control of the Canal Zone to Panama, and in 1999 transferred control and responsibility for the Canal to Panama. More
Mary Anderson is granted a patent for a windshield wiper. The United States Patent Office awarded Anderson patent number 743,801 for her Window Cleaning device which consisted of a lever inside the vehicle that controlled a rubber blade on the outside of the windshield. More
Oklahoma is admitted to the United States of America becoming the 46th State of the Union.
Dr. Crippen is convicted in London for the murder of his wife, making it one of the first cases solved with the help of wireless communication.
The Mexican Revolution begins as Francisco Madero, speaking at San Luis Potosi, in San Antonio, Texas, calls for an uprising against the elitist government and oligarchical policies of Porfirio Díaz who had already being in power for 33 years and had just just declared himself the winner after a mock election against Madero and was starting his 7th term as president.
Although the revolt failed, it kindled revolutionary movements led by Pascual Orozco, Pancho Villa and Emiliano Zapata. All culminating with Díaz resignation in May 25,1911 and Madero being elected president, Madero was assassinated early in 1913 by Victoriano Huerta, a commander of the federal forces who dissolved the congress and assumed power. More upheavals followed and the revolution continued until 1920 when General Álvaro Obregón rose to power. More
The Bulgarian siege of the fortress city of Adrianople (modern-day Edirne) begins. The siege ended on March 26, 1913, when Bulgarian and Serbian forces captured the city. The decisive victory was a significant blow to the Ottoman army leading to the end of the First Balkan War.
Woodrow Wilson becomes the 28th President of the U.S. by defeating the incumbent William H. Taft and former president Theodore Roosevelt in the 1912 presidential election with a landslide victory in the electoral college and just 41.8% of the popular vote, the lowest vote share for a victorious presidential candidate since 1860. More
Russia declares war on Turkey, following the shelling of Russian ports and the sinking of Russian ships in the Black Sea by Turkey. Three days later, on November 5, 1914, Great Britain and France, declared war on the Ottoman Empire, respecting their agreement with Russia, widening the conflict of World War I.