13th Annual (?) Year in Review (100 Years Later)

By Aaron Boyes & Sean Graham

*We offer our two cents on the events of 1925. Let us know in the comments what you would have ranked as the year’s top event.*

It’s hard to believe that we’re already half-way through the 2020s, which means that we are now one hundred years removed from events of 1925. As with past editions (see the end of the post for links to all our previous editions), we use historical hindsight to analyze and debate what was the most important event of that year. It is only with the vision of one hundred years, we argue, can you truly declare an event “the most important”. And as always, events that heavily overlap with previous winners are ineligible for consideration.

For this year’s instalment, we have four brackets: the Foreshadowing Bracket, the Culture Bracket, the International Bracket, and everyone’s favourite the Potpourri Bracket.

So sit back, relax, and enjoy discovering what we think is the most important event from 1925.

Round One

Foreshadowing Bracket

Benito Mussolini Declares Himself Dictator

Mein Kampf Published

Aaron: The political atmosphere in post-First World War Italy, like many nations in Europe, was fraught with dissent and division, largely between two incompatible views on the state: socialists and fascists. This, of course, is an oversimplification, but we don’t have enough space here to write about the entire rise of fascism in Europe in the interwar years (Aaron recommends To Hell and Back: Europe 1914-1949 by Ian Kershaw for an accessible overview). For Italy specifically, the rise of fascism is linked to Benito Mussolini, Il Duce, who, following the March on Rome in 1922, became Prime Minister on October 30 when he was appointed to the position by King Victor Emmanuel III. As the years progressed, Mussolini and his Partito Nazionale Fascista (National Fascist Party) assumed more control over Italy’s government, and Mussolini gained more power for himself. On December 24, 1925, a law was passed that changed Mussolini’s title from “President of the Council of Ministers” to “Head of Government”. Mussolini was no longer responsible to Parliament and only the King could remove him from office. Italy, from 1925 until the Second World War, was a police state controlled by Il Duce.

As we wrote in last year’s edition, in November 1923, Nazi Party leader Adolf Hitler and General Erich Ludendorff launched the Beer Hall Putsch, an attempt to overthrow the Weimar Government and seize power. In April 1924, after a three-month trial, Hitler was sentenced to a paltry five years in prison at Landsberg. It was here at Landsberg that Hitler wrote (or narrated) Mein Kampf – My Struggle. The book outlined Hitler’s worldviews, his rabid antisemitism, his hatred for communism, the need for a pure German “race”, the need for lebensraum (living space) in Soviet-occupied territory, and the weakness of the German Weimar democracy. The first volume was published on July 18, 1925, but had slow initial sales. Once the Nazis assumed power in 1933 with Hitler as dictator, sales jumped significantly. Within the book, Hitler clearly outlined his ideas for the world to see, many of which became evident once the Holocaust was exposed. A highly controversial work even to this day, its publication was banned in Germany until the copyright expired in 2015. Although highly influential for its promotion of Nazism, the book has been criticized by contemporaries and translators for Hitler’s poor writing and style.

This is an excellent matchup, and it’s a tough that one of these events has to be knocked out in round 1. In terms of long-term significance, my vote is for Mein Kampf. By 1925 Mussolini had all but cemented his control of the Italian state, and the change of title simply provided the final, legal blessing of his dictatorship. Mein Kampf was the manifesto of Adolf Hitler, which he followed without hesitation with his rise to power which culminated in 1933. The book was translated into numerous languages, went through several editions, and sold millions of copies in the 1930s. Interestingly, it was common for newlyweds in Germany to be gifted a copy of Mein Kampf, and it became more of a social taboo not to own a copy. I remember learning about Mein Kampf in my third year German history course, and I’m sure that it remains an essential topic for any undergraduate. Its global reach – not only for its influence on events that occurred during the Second World War – cannot be understated.

Sean: There is no question that Mein Kampf is one of the most influential books of the 20th century, although I wonder about putting that ahead of the installation of Mussolini as dictator. Mein Kampf was a manifesto, but it is ultimately up to human beings on how those ideas influence actions. As a result, Mussolini could be considered a more active participant in later historical events as he had agency.

Aaron: For me, and this may sound like semantics, Mussolini was already dictator in all but name. The title change to “President of the Council of Ministers” was simply acknowledging what had happened: Mussolini was the government, which had gradually occurred since 1922. Mein Kampf, on the other hand, laid bare Hitler’s political and worldview, which he followed ruthlessly from his rise to power to the final moments of the Third Reich. That Hitler’s awful ideas, for the world to read, didn’t disqualify him from assuming power, and were, in fact, widely acclaimed in the 1920s and 1930s, I think speaks to Mein Kampf’s influence.

Mein Kampf wins 88-84

Locarno Treaties Signed

SS is Founded

Sean: Throughout 1925, German Foreign Minister Gustav Stresemann was continuing his push towards a rapprochement with the Allies in the hopes of easing Germany’s financial obligations that had been imposed following the First World War. A one-time ardent supporter of Germany’s war effort, Stresemann became disillusioned with the Imperial government at the end of the war and turned towards international collaboration as the ideal policy for German prosperity. In the fall, Stresemann was joined by representatives of seven countries in Locarno, Switzerland to negotiate mutual security deals. Among some of the provisions in the Locarno Treaties, Germany accepted its western border, providing reassurance to France about its borders and easing German concerns of French occupation, and signed arbitration treaties with Czechoslovakia and Poland which both renounced the use of force and guaranteed that any future disputes would go to the Permanent Court of International Justice. While the agreement may not have had a long-term stabilizing influence, it did improve relations in western Europe through the rest of the decade.

It is not uncommon for political leaders to have some personal protection – the RCMP provides protection for leaders in Canada – but the Schutzstaffel, commonly referred to as the SS, has to be the most notorious of these organizations. Founded in 1925, the organization had a relatively straightforward mandate: to protect Hitler and other party leaders, provide security at party meetings, and get more subscribers to People’s Observer, the party’s newspaper. By the end of the decade, however, the group’s focus had shifted towards the preservation of ‘racial purity’ and by the time the Nazis seized power the group had swelled to over 50,000 members. It was also designated an independent organization that held authority on Fuhrer authority, which allowed it to act outside legal restrictions. For the rest of its existence, it terrorized the German population, was a key cog in the Nazi party’s genocidal plans, and helped to concentrate Hitler’s power.

Between the two of these, the SS has, unfortunately, had a much greater impact and longer-lasting legacy. The horrors of the Third Reich were, in part, made possible because of the remarkable power held by the SS. Its ability to create fear, sow distrust within the population, and elicit loyalty to Hitler made it incredibly powerful within Nazi Germany. The Locarno Treaties were designed to prevent war and create prosperity in Germany, but that never came to fruition, which can somewhat be attributed to the SS.

Aaron: Considering that the Locarno Treaty, which was meant to prevent war, completely failed, and the SS, for all its terror perpetrated, is still remembered today, I agree with your analysis, Dr. Graham.

SS Founded wins 100-44

Culture Bracket

New Yorker Published for First Time

The Great Gatsby Published

Aaron: On February 21, 1925, the first issue of The New Yorker was published. The brainchild of Harold Ross and his wife Janet Grant with the financial backing of Raoul H. Fleischmann, The New Yorker was founded with an initial focus on New York’s social and cultural life, with an attention on humour. Over the next one hundred years, the magazine has morphed into a leading English-language periodical that boasts in-depth journalism, essays, works of fiction, and its famous cartoon – don’t worry, not everyone gets them. Since 2014, the first year in which magazines were eligible, The New Yorker has won 11 Pulitzer Prizes. With a print circulation of over 1.3 million, it remains one of the more recognizable and influential magazines.

The 1920s in the United States – and to a lesser extent, but certainly present in Western Europe and Canada – was a decade of opulence, extravagance, and social and cultural change. F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel The Great Gatsby, published on April 10, 1925, is one of the more famous works that captures this roaring decade, as well as its also well-publicized excesses. The story is set in New York City in 1922, in which Nick Carraway meets the mysterious millionaire, Jay Gatsby. The novel explores themes such as love, wealth, the jazz scene, flappers, bootlegging, and the American Dream. In the end, Carraway becomes disillusioned with the opulence of the era and the American Dream writ large. Despite modest sales when first published, The Great Gatsby is arguably Fitzgerald’s most famous works, having increased in popularity since the author’s death in 1940.

For this match up, I think I give the edge to The New Yorker. Millions of people every week engage with this magazine, from doing the crossword, reading the latest fiction, or misinterpreting the cartoon. Meanwhile, The Great Gatsby is read begrudgingly by high school students in North America of a bygone era.

Sean: Let me set a scene for you: it’s 1920s Ottawa where jazz is all the range and Dr. Boyes, a self-made millionaire who has moved east from the GTA to pursue his fortune, is trying to catch the eye of a woman for whom he has pined since his youth. For argument’s sake, let’s call her ‘Megan’. Over the course of an unforgettable summer he wines and dines with the social and economic elite of the city, all with ‘Megan’ on his arm. I think you would sign up for that.

And when his inevitable tragic downfall arrives, those around him are left to consider the cost of that opulent lifestyle, not only for those who may live it but for society as a whole. And that lesson could continue to resonate 100 years later, when signs of similar opulence in the face of increasing economic inequality threaten economic stability. We might even adapt that story to the stage and screen to great success. The name Boyes would become synonymous with a cautionary tale warning against the world’s many corrupting forces. That’s a story you want – perhaps even need – told to the next generation.

Now that I’ve leveraged your ego to convince you of the story’s import, just replace ‘Boyes’ with Gatsby and you have your answer.

Aaron: Wow. That millionaire Boyes sounds like quite a guy! Ok, I’m sold.

The Great Gatsby Published Wins 77-66

Film Shown on Airplane for First Time

Grand Ole Opry Broadcast Begins

Sean: On the evening of November 28, 1925, 77-year-old-fiddler Uncle Jimmy Thompson appeared on radio station WSM – Nashville as part of the debut edition of the WSM Barn Dance. This turned into a popular program and continued under that name until 1927, when NBC’s George D. Hay introduced the show by saying “for the past hour we have been listening to the music taken largely from the Grand Opera, but from now on we will present the Grand Ole Opry.” The name stuck and the show has been bringing country music to international audiences ever since. It was first televised in 1978 and has featured legends from across the musical spectrum, including Ne-Yo last month. The show has also made legends out of its members, who are required to perform on the show a minimum number of times per year. One such legend, Jeannie Steele, appeared over 5,000 times between her 1967 debut and her death earlier this year. A regular staple in millions of homes, the Grand Ole Opry remains a powerful force in North American popular culture.

In April 1925, passengers settled into their seats in London getting ready for their flight across the English Channel to Paris. At this point in aviation history, regular commercial flights were still rare and in-flight entertainment was non-existent. Being in the sky was entertainment enough. But on this fateful day, passengers were treated to an in-flight showing of The Lost World, a silent monster/adventure film using stop motion effects. Where today passengers can stream entertainment, this showing required a nitrate film, which was a risky proposition in the converted First World War bomber and its fabric hull. Fortunately, the film was viewed without incident and the passengers all arrived in Paris no worse for wear, the forebearers of what is now a century-long tradition of passing the time on a plane by watching a feature film.

In this matchup, I have to go with the showing of The Lost World. Not only are movies on planes a universal experience for fliers around the world, but the act has created its own genre of film – plane movies. The Grand Ole Opry is great, but watching a movie on a plane is so second nature at this point that it has to move forward.

Aaron: Every year. He does it every year. Despite my well-known objection to having something plane related, Sean somehow sneaks in a plane-related event.

Sean: PLANES!

Aaron: [Aaron walked away at this point]

Film Shown on Airplane for First Time Wins 66-58

International Bracket

Male Suffrage in Japan

Yunnan Earthquake

Aaron: We have written about women’s suffrage movements before, but have yet to address universal male suffrage – likely because, like women’s suffrage today, it is somewhat taken for granted. Japan is known as one of the more conservative nations, and although it is a significant democracy in 2025, it wasn’t until 1925 that universal manhood suffrage (to a degree) was enacted. Before 1925, very few Japanese men (and women not at all until 1946) could vote; in fact, in the 1890s only around 1% could, and those who could vote had to be 25 years or older and pay more than 15 Yen in annual taxes. In 1897, the Universal Suffrage League was created, which advocated for the removal of the tax restriction for voting. On March 29, 1925, the Diet of Japan passed legislation that extended the “one man, one vote” policy to all Japanese men aged 25 and over. With this law, the electorate almost quadrupled, and was first seen in practice in the 1928 elections.

On March 16, 1925, a 7.1 magnitude earthquake struck the Chinese province of Yunnan, with the city of Dali being the most impacted. Using the Modified Mercalli intensity scale, the earthquake was a level IX, or Violent, out of XII. According to the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the “earthquake wrought havoc” in the city of Dali, in which the city was “completely devastated”. More than 76,000 homes were destroyed, and more than 40,000 families were impacted; in Dali alone, 3,600 people were killed. Across the region, fatalities numbered close to 5,000. As climate change continues to wreak havoc across our planet in 2025, it is important to remember that these natural disasters, and the human toll they take, were frequent and devastating. What stands out from the 1925 disaster, is the destruction of the city of Dali and the high death toll.

The winner of this matchup should be a no-brainer. In fact, the editor of this bracket should be fined for placing such a mismatch. So, to save everyone’s time: I think the male suffrage should win.

Sean: The expansion of the vote in Japan is a significant development to be sure, but the Yunnan earthquake is a notable event that should be included on the list. Considering the incredible damage that earthquakes have had across China in the century since, however, it does not have the same long-term implications as its opponent.

Male Suffrage in Japan wins 120-67

Mehar Baba Silence Begins

Britain Passes Unemployment Insurance Act

Sean: Mehar Baba was a 31-year-old spiritual master in western India in the summer of 1925 when he embarked on a 44 year observance of silence. Communicating through gestures and an alphabet board, Baba led his disciples on a pursuit to realize the oneness of God where consciousness comes through the seven stages of evolution of forms. To that end, he pursued service to others, including feeding the poor, cleaning latrines, and bathing lepers. In the 1960s, he started to travel extensively to the United States and Europe where he encouraged young people to pursue a spiritual life. He never broke his observance of silence before his death in 1969 and today his tomb remains a pilgrimage site for his followers.

The United Kingdom’s Unemployment Insurance Act of 1925 was not, on its own, the beginning of the British social safety net, but it did mark an important step. Initial unemployment insurance programs had been introduced in 1909 and 1911 and provided coverage based on contributions from employers, employees, and the state. Following the First World War, many out of work civilians and former service members received benefits through ‘Out of Work Donations,’ which existed outside the established system and ultimately saved the Unemployment Fund money. Following the 1924 election, which brought the Labour Party to power, Prime Minister Ramsey MacDonald sought to re-structure the entire benefits system. When the Conservatives returned to power in 1925, however, they passed the most comprehensive unemployment relief program in the country’s history, adding relief for widows, orphans, and the elderly.

Between these two, I think I might lean more towards Mehar Baba’s silence. By no means I am an expert on his life nor the spiritual significance of his silence, but just the ability to be silent for 44 years is so remarkable that I think it has the edge here. The 1925 Act, which a major evolution of the British unemployment system, was not the introduction of unemployment insurance and required subsequent amendments whereas Baba’s silence was permanent.

Aaron: There are days when I’m in the office and don’t speak to a single person, and at the end I wonder “did I actually utter anything out loud in 8 hours?” I can’t even begin to fathom not speaking for 44 years; it would be impossible for me. That said, the expansion of unemployment insurance to more Britons, laying the groundwork for further expansions as time progressed, I feel gets the edge in this match up. Millions of Britons were impacted by and benefitted from this new Act, which, at a time when many governments did not offer much in relief, this was a significant step toward the modern social welfare state.

Sean: Are you the office pyrrhia? Do you heat up fish in the microwave and take virtual meetings without headphones? How else could one explain no social interaction over the course of a whole day?!? Of course, that perhaps explains your whole argument – because people have a social safety net you’re under no obligation to create a social working environment because they can just leave and still have some access to income. That’s some next level reasoning, Dr. Boyes.

Aaron: It’s like you’re watching me on a normal office day!

Britain Passes Unemployment Insurance Act Wins 98-82

Potpourri Bracket

Scopes Trials

United Church of Canada Holds First Service

Aaron: In July 1925, Tennessee high school teacher John T. Scopes was accused of violating the Butler Act – a Tennessee law that banned the teaching of anything other than creationism as outlined in the Bible, i.e., evolution. A trial was held in which the prosecution was represented by three- time presidential candidate William Jennings Bryan, and the defence by Clarence Darrow. Highly reported, the trial was given the monicker the “Monkey Trial” by journalist H.L. Mencken, who published articles mocking the anti-evolution side. The trial lasted eight days – sometimes having occurred outside due to the stifling heat – and the jury took only nine minutes to return a guilty verdict. Scopes was fined by Judge John T. Raulston $100, the equivalent of around $1,856 in 2025 USD, even though he wasn’t sure that he actually taught evolution and thus violated the Butler Act. Scopes’ lawyers appealed the decision to the Tennessee Supreme Court where, after deliberation, the convection was set aside on a legal technicality: only the jury had the right to impose a fine, not the judge. The trial brought national attention to the fierce debate, one that continues to this day.

On June 10, 1925, the United Church of Canada was official created following the passing of The United Church of Canada Act, R.S.M. 1924 (updated in 1990). As the legislation states, the “Presbyterian Church of Canada, The Methodist Church of Canada, and the Congregational Church of Canada have by their petition represented that they have agreed to unite and form one body or denomination of Christians under the name of ‘The United Church of Canada’.” In many small towns across Canada, the three denominations existed, each having their own church to attend. Due to the small populations, it wasn’t uncommon for a clergyman to serve his denomination, and then also perform pastoral care for other congregations. According to the 2021 Canadian census, 1.2 million people self-identified as being members of the United Church, making it the second-largest denomination in Canada behind Catholicism. It would be irresponsible, however, not to mention the Church’s role in the Indian Residential School system. When the United Church was founded, it took over administration of 15 Residential Schools, the last one having closed in 1969. The Church offered a formal apology to Indigenous Peoples in 1986 and to survivors of its Residential Schools in 1998.

As an atheist I feel like I am the perfect person to address this matchup first. Leaving aside my own feelings on the topic of religion, I think that the Scopes Trial is more significant in terms of its long-term legacy. The trial really brought to light the divide in American society in terms of the evolution-creationism debate. Other states had laws on the books that banned the teaching of evolution, many of which existed until 1968 when the US Supreme Court ruled in Epperson v. Arkansas that prohibiting the teaching of evolution in schools was unconstitutional. I’m sure the United Church of Canada is important for the over 1 million Canadians affiliated with it, but I’m not sure it has had the same reach as the Trial.

Sean: I yield to your expertise, Dr. Boyes.

Scopes Trials wins 66-6

Chrysler Founded

Water Ski Patent

Sean: “Give me a break, give me a break, break me off a piece of that Chrysler car!”

Incorporated in 1925, Chrysler can trace its origins back to the Maxwell Car Company, which was founded in 1913. As a result, when the company became Chrysler, with Walter P. Chrysler as its president, it came with over a decade of a track record of making vehicles. In fact, the company introduced its new six-cylinder engine at the 1924 New York Automobile Show. A couple of years later the company bought Dodge Brothers, Inc and introduced Plymouth, both of which helped established its place as a mainstay in the American automobile market. A significant contributor to the United States’ Second World War effort, the company’s history through the second half of the 20th century and into the 21st was fraught with peril, including multiple government bailouts. Now part of Stellantis, the company continues to draw the ire of politicians. Despite this, the classic star hood ornament remains very recognizable and the name Chrysler is synonymous with the glory days of American automobiles.

Every summer, Canadians from coast to coast to coast flock to cottages, chalets, and camps to enjoy the natural beauty this country has to offer. For many, this includes water sports like canoeing, swimming, and paddle boarding. For those looking for more thrills, water skiing, where someone wears a pair of skis as they are pulled behind a boat, is another option that turned 100 this year. You see, the patent for the first water skis was submitted in October 1925 by Fred Waller. Marketed as ‘Dolphin Akwa-Skees,’ the water skis were made of dried mahogany, a popular material for boats at the time. Requiring a different technique for snow skis, water skis were very popular and quickly spread, with trick skis – which are shorter and do not have a fin – being introduced in 1940. It may remain a relatively niche sport, but those who love it are very passionate and dedicated.

I don’t drive a car and I have never water skied, so I am similarly perfectly qualified to comment on this matchup! Between the two, though, I would go with Chrysler as I have at least sat in a Chrysler car. One point in the water skis favour, however, is that there is more water on the earth than land, so perhaps water skis are more useful overall, but I think that the average Canadian would look at this and go with Chrysler.

Aaron: I have been on water skis once in my life while at a friend’s cottage when I was 12. It took me more than 30 minutes just to stand up and not immediately wipe out – Norm if you’re reading this, thank you for your patience! I have, however, been in several cars manufactured by Chrysler, and I believe that more people have been inside a Chrysler vehicle than have been on water skis. Perhaps once the ice caps have completely melted thanks to climate change, greatly increasing the volume of water on our planet, more people will need to learn to water ski to get to where they want to go; until that time, I am going with Chrysler.

Chrysler Founded Wins 100-28

Second Round

Foreshadowing Bracket

Mein Kampf Published

SS Founded

Aaron: Both Mein Kampf and the creation of the SS are directly tied to Adolf Hitler. For its global reach, and the fact that it is still in publication today (which is controversial), I think that the publication of Mein Kampf is more important.

Sean: When I was in high school and learning about the Second World War I went down to the school library and found a copy of Mein Kampf. I picked up and read about 3 or 4 pages and quickly realized that, beyond the obvious bile it contains, it is a rambling, nonsensical screed. Granted I was looking at it with the full context of what happened in the 20 years following its release, but it was hard to look at it and understand how it would be compelling to anyone. And yet, these ramblings of a madman have had a long-lasting impact..

Mein Kampf Published Wins 72-35

Culture Bracket

The Great Gatsby Published

Film Shown on Airplane for First Time

Sean: Are we in another Gilded Age? Some people think so. Are in we in another ‘Roarin’ Twenties’ where things at the top of the economy look go but the majority are left behind? Perhaps. Do those two periods offer a guide to modern life that can be useful in navigating a rapidly changing social and economic dynamics. Movies on planes are great – I’m looking at you Hairspray! – but the modern relevance of The Great Gatsby gives it the edge in this matchup.

Aaron: [Aaron still has not returned from the last plane-related event].

Aaron:…wait. What? You picked a non-plane related event?! The world is healing.

Sean: I’m nothing if I’m not entirely objective when it comes to planes!

The Great Gatsby Published Wins (99-89)

International Bracket

Male Suffrage in Japan

British Unemployment Insurance

Sean: Unemployment insurance is a vital part of the modern social safety net – and one that I have personally benefitted from in the aftermath of grad school – so I can accept an argument that has it winning here. Expanding suffrage in Japan, however, is arguably much more important to modern geo-politics. If you look at the Asia-Pacific world right now, Japan is the most powerful of the democratic countries. In a region where Chinese influence seems to be ever expanding and there are debates about the strength of Indian democracy, Japan standing firm as the region’s only G7 member is important for global democratic principles and international relations. Granted, it was not until 1947 that there was full, universal suffrage in Japan, but male suffrage in 1925 got the vote away from exclusively land owning men, so it was a key step in that direction.

Aaron: In both instances – suffrage and unemployment insurance – some people already enjoyed rights under the law. For me, I think the Unemployment Insurance Act is more significant because it provided more direct care to millions of Britons. And considering that the Great Depression was only a few years away, forcing millions to rely on government assistance (to varying degrees of success), the timing was impeccable to expand social security coverage.

Sean: But perhaps that’s why suffrage should take this matchup – the system that was put in place in 1925 was wholly inadequate to deal with the harsh economic realities of the Great Depression and had to be re-worked. That’s not to say that voting rights in Japan were fully resolved after 1925, but it strikes me that it is a much more linear path in the case of suffrage. Subsequent changes were not made to address failings in its implementation, but rather to further expand it to ensure all people had the franchise. That gives it the edge, in my book.

Male suffrage in Japan wins 67-66 (OT)

Potpourri Bracket

Chrysler Founded

Scopes Trial

Aaron: Chrysler was (now that it was taken over) simply one of another in a myriad of car manufacturers. The Scopes Trial, on the other hand, brought into focus the fierce creationism-evolution debate that continues to rage in the United States. Although the trial was about teaching evolution, at its heart it was about free speech and how that is protected under the First Amendment. It also laid the groundwork for the Supreme Court case in 1968.

Sean: But isn’t that a point that works against the Scopes trials? Yes they were influential, but that there needed to be another Supreme Court case 43 years later to overturn these regressive laws demonstrates the limits of their power. Chrysler, on the other hand, remained a powerful force in not only the American, but global automotive industry for the better part of the last century. When faced with similar debates in past years, I believe we have evolved to the point where the latter has greater influence.

Aaron: I really wanted to talk more about the Monkey Trial. But I see your point.

Chrysler Founded Wins 88-67

Semi-Final

Mein Kampf Published

The Great Gatsby Published

Sean: Two books with remarkable influence and staying power. I’m going to go purely based on readability in thinking about this comparison. I had to read Gatsby in high school and chose to read a couple pages of Mein Kampf as part of a history project. At least Gatsby made sense. It has also been translated into so many languages that people around the world can still engage in that world. Mein Kampf, on the other hand, is a scourge that continues to be part of the collective understanding because its vile ideas still have some adherents. So perhaps it’s aspirational – not that Gatsby is anything to truly aspire to – but if I’m picking what book I want to exist it’s undoubtedly The Great Gatsby.

Aaron: Somehow I have not read The Great Gatsby, but I have tried to read Mein Kampf. Like Sean, I found it utterly frustrating with a clunky style, seemingly unconnected ideas, and, overall, the ramblings of a madman. At first, I thought maybe it was the translation that I was reading, but no, it’s the source material. I also agree with Sean that if I had to pick, I would delete Mein Kampf from the historical record. But since both exist, I still think Mein Kampf has had a more significant impact than Gatsby. Both works have been translated into numerous languages and have been read all over the world, but Mein Kampf and its vile ideas helped Hitler assume power in 1933 and alter the world’s course irrevocably.

Sean: And that’s yet another example that we can’t have nice things.

Mein Kampf Published Wins (81-75)

Male Suffrage in Japan

Chrysler Founded

Aaron: I think you outlined the case for universal male suffrage in Japan very well earlier, Sean. In 2024, Chrysler (now Stellantis) sold 1.3 million vehicles; in the 2024 Japanese general election, more than 50 million people voted (out of over 100 million eligible). By sheer numbers, the expansion of suffrage in Japan – which increased the electorate four-fold in 1925, and then again when women gained the right to vote in 1946 – in my opinion is why it should win this match up.

Sean: But, but, cars! And trucks! And more cars! People love their cars. Of course, as a non-car owning person, I don’t, but at the very least can acknowledge their influence on the culture, especially since we turnover so much land to housing our precious cars. But when I think of the great auto makers – especially the great American auto makers, Chrysler is in a distant third to GM and Ford. As a result, I’m with you Dr. Boyes that male suffrage in Japan has the greater influence.

Male Suffrage in Japan wins 100-45

Enrico Palazzo Memorial Championship Game

Mein Kampf Published

Male Suffrage in Japan

Aaron: Once again we have an excellent final match up. I think that both events deserve to be in the Rico Pollazzo Memorial Championship Match, and whichever wins deserves it. With that said, my choice is Mein Kampf. I argued earlier that sheer numbers is why male suffrage in Japan should win over Chrysler; in this case, I am going based on international impact. Hitler was candid about his political philosophy; it was based on racism, hate, and fear. He didn’t try to hide it during his rise to power – although he may have toned down the extremism when beneficial. As a political treatise, Mein Kampf is arguably the most important in the 20th century, even though the Third Reich failed to last its promised thousand years.

Sean: We can certainly hope to live in a world one day where the ideas put forth in Mein Kampf are relegated to the dust bin of history – something that we teach about as a cautionary tale but have no place in contemporary ideology. So to that end, do we look at this matchup as one of aspiration? Where we look at these two events and take from the past what we want to see in the future? In that world, suffrage is extended around the world – not just to men, obviously – so that all citizens can have their say in the future of their respective nations. In that world, the racist bile, scapegoating, and gaslighting of Mein Kampf is no more and people of all religions, ethnicities, and nationalities can live harmoniously side-by-side. If our bracket can help highlight that stark dichotomy and push for a better world, isn’t that something we should consider?

Aaron: Mein Kampf was brutally honest in its ideas and simplicity and is viewed in this regard. We are taught that Mein Kampf is extremist drivel, because that’s what it was when it was published. History is not supposed to make us feel good; it just is what it is. And it is our jobs, not only as historians, but people who think critically to view the past for what it was and not impose our values on it. For that reason, as sad as it may be, this is why, I think, Mein Kampf’s publication in 1925 is the most significant event of that year.

Mein Kampf Published Wins (55-44)

Past Winners

1910: Binder Clip Patented

1911: First International Women’s Day

1912: Titanic Sinks on Maidan Voyage

1913: Zipper Patent

1914: First Successful Non-Direct Blood Transfusion

1915: Women’s Suffrage Legalized in Kingdom of Denmark

1916: Margaret Sanger Opens First American Birth Control Clinic in Brooklyn

1917: Russian Revolution

1918: Spanish Flu Pandemic

1919: First Nonstop Transatlantic Flight