Timeline (Scientific America)

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1860
Joseph Wells and his wife Sarah emigrate to America seeking a better life than their lower middle class subsistence.

1866
Herbert George Wells is born.

1889
Having gained some prosperity from his china shop in New York, Joseph Wells invites his adult son to visit the World Fair in Paris. H. G. Wells is entranced by the wonders of progress all around him and impressed by the Eiffel Tower. It was also the first time H. G. Wells met Thomas Edison. Though the interaction between the two men is brief, it nevertheless forms the foundation of their future friendship.

1893
H. G. Wells visits the Chicago World Fair. He rides the Ferris Wheel. In his memoirs, Wells attributes all of his inspiration to this experience, claiming “…when I rose into the sky and saw the whole world unfold before me, feeling myself lifted by the power of Science, I had no choice but to write about it.”

1895
H. G. Wells publishes his first novel, The Time Machine. The book describes a man who travels through time to visit a distant future where men have achieved enlightenment and happiness through technological progress. At the end of the book the Time Traveler returns to his own time, having pocketed a few of the museum pieces. It is strongly implied that these will be used to bring about the utopian society of the future millennia early.

The book is a mixed hit in the United States, but does not extend far beyond it until Wells’ later work creates more interest.

1896
H. G. Wells writes The Island of Doctor Smith, a novel about a man who created a race of intelligent beast-men and faces persecution by his enemies, who wish to destroy the island along with its wonderful creatures.

The work is well-received as an adventure story. In scholastic circles, critics note its themes of scientific independence and suppression and an underlying implication of racism.

1898
After several successful novels, H. G. Wells writes his breakout hit The War of the Worlds. Detailing the grim tale of a Martian invasion of the shores of the United States and the heroic stand of the American military and ending with the destruction of the aliens by means of a weapon engineered by Thomas Edison, it takes the country, and soon the world, by storm. Wells’ other books are reprinted and he rises to some prominence within the society of writers.

The War of the Worlds is generally credited with giving a new life to the genre of Scientific Romance. Like Wells’ earlier works, it glorified both science and its defenders, in addition to being a compelling read.

1901
The sequel to The War of the Worlds is published. The Men in Mars, telling the story of the counter-invasion of Mars by Earth’s military, is an even bigger hit than the original. It inspires a whole slew of books about space exploration and dealing with alien worlds and creatures. Several critics suggest it is a response to the rising militaristic tensions in Europe.

1908
With the public’s enthusiasm for science at all-time high, a number of politicians attempt to seize the trend. The Scientific Party of America is formed. Its founder attempt to harness to force of people’s optimism by promising to build a brighter future for all Americans through funding development of new technology. Wells accepts honorary membership but refuses to run for office, claiming he’s of more use by being the ‘Paul Revere of the Future’, warning people of the Golden Age that is theirs to seize.

1911
Albert Brahms becomes the first member of the Scientific Party to be elected Congressman. Brahms claims that the writings of Wells are what inspired him to run for public office. Right away, he urges increased funding for science and development.

1914
With the beginning of a terrible war in Europe, Brahms urges for scientific developments to be applied to the army. Inspired Wells’ novel The War in the Air, he paints a grim picture of airplane-based warfare over the East Coast. His arguments are heeded and the Brahms Grand for Military Research is created. The first Brahms Grant is given to the Wright Brothers in an effort to create the world’s first true air force.

1916
The Scientific Party enjoys unprecedented support, having captures several additional seats both in the House of Representatives and the Senate. In the 1916 election, Albert Brahms is nominated as the Scientific Presidential candidate.

During the election, the then-President Woodrow Wilson runs under the slogan “He Kept Us Out of the War.” The Republican nominee, Elihu Root, likewise runs on a platform of peace. Brahms runs as the more militant candidate, vowing to do “Whatever is Needed” to preserve America’s freedom and progress. He advocated harsher dealings with German submarine warfare. Though this resonated with some segments of the population, many were skeptical of this. He stayed in the race mostly by the strength of his promises to ensure the automation of factories, which would ensure the work day would be drastically reduced while all the products become cheaper and the support of the Progressive Party and former President Roosevelt.

Things change mid-election when a message from Germany to Mexico urging the latter to ally itself with Germany is discovered. The message suggests that it may be in Mexico’s interests to declare war on U.S. if U.S. enters the European Theater. It goes on to list the benefits Mexico could gain by seizing American resources and removing the population from American lands.

The message throws most Americans into outrage. Wilson and Root attempt to reverse their positions, but this mainly succeeds in losing support from the remaining pro-peace faction. Brahms’ polls skyrocket. On Election Day he narrowly edges out the other candidates, becoming the first Scientific President of the United States.

1917
The United States Navy battles the German submarine fleet in mid-sea. The fledgling United States Air Force is transported by ship to Britain, from where it makes first tentative attacks against Germany. Incendiary ammunition is used to destroy German zeppellins, proving once and for all the superiority of heavier-than-air aircraft.

H.G. Wells writes The Black Oppressor, a novel about an evil man who seizes control of a country's science and uses it for evil instead of good, before being overthrown by the book's protagonist, at which point the progress towards the scientific utopia can begin. There is little doubt the novel is political.

Congress passes the Making Service Pay Act, encouraging Americans to enroll in the military in exchange for financial and educational benefits.

A series of Revolutions takes place in Russia.

1918
United States gains total air superiority over Europe. The British give America all their research on tank construction.

The fighting continues to stalemate.

1919
Americans use the ever-improving bombing techniques to demolish German trenches, eventually leading to victory. The First American Fighting Machine Force arrives just in time to help demolish the Central Powers.

The Treaty of Versailles is signed. President Brahms is very excited to join the League of Nations, proclaiming it to be "The First Step towards the True World State, guided by the principles of Science and Representative Democracy to unite all of Earth in a Utopian Community." He insists that the treaty require Germany to make any and all of its scientific discoveries freely available to the public.

1920
During the 1920 election, Brahms panders to his base by doubling the budget of the National Academy of Sciences. His opponents from Republican and Deomocratic parties attempt to woo the nationalists by painting the United States entry into the League of Nations as the end of the country. But with the extremely low number of war casualties and the optimism following the victory, Brahms has little trouble getting re-elected. He is put over the top by his signing of the Alcohol Education Act, requiring a 'drinking license' from anyone who wishes to ingest alcohol. In order to acquire the license, the participant must go through a class which outlines the dangers of drinking.