Timeline: 1920s

Covenant of the League of Nations requires members to “endeavor to secure and maintain fair and humane conditions of labor for men, women and children” and “secure just treatment of the native inhabitants of territories under their control.”

Quota Act of 1921 sets annual ceiling at 350,000. The law especially restricts flow of immigrants coming from eastern and southern Europe.

In 1921, Margaret Sanger founds the American Birth Control League, which evolves into Planned Parenthood.

A bill making lynching a federal offense passes in the House of Representatives in 1922 but fails in the Senate.

In 1923, Supreme Court strikes down a minimum-wage law for District of Columbia women because, with the vote, women are considered equal to men. This ruling cancels all state minimum wage laws.

U.S. Border Patrol is created, 1924.

In 1924, J. Edgar Hoover takes over BOI, precursor to the FBI, and will direct it for 48 years.

In 1924, the Society for Human Rights in Chicago becomes the country's earliest known gay rights organization.

Indian Citizenship Act of 1924 grants all Native Americans the rights of citizenship, including the right to vote in federal elections.

National Origins Act of 1924. Annual ceiling of 150,000 made permanent. This basic law remains in effect through 1965.

In 1926, a group of black women is beaten by election officials while attempting to register to vote in Birmingham.

Stock Market Crash Oct. 29, 1929