Peter Pilshtikoff (1889 - 1971)

Refresh this page to see various historical events that occurred during Peter's lifetime.

In 1889, in the year that Peter Pilshtikoff was born, on March 4th, Benjamin Harrison became the 23rd President of the United States. His grandfather, William Henry Harrison, was the 9th President of the United States. His father, John Scott Harrison - son of William Henry - was in the U.S. House of Representatives.

In 1914, he was 25 years old when in August, the Panama Canal opened to traffic. Begun by the French in the 1880's and abandoned, the United States undertook further construction in 1904. After 10 years, and the elimination of malaria carrying mosquitoes (which caused immense delays for the French and the Americans), the 48 mile long artificial waterway - a series of locks - created a shortcut for ships traveling between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.

In 1929, at the age of 40 years old, Peter was alive when American Samoa officially became a U.S. territory. Although a part of the United States since 1900, the Ratification Act of 1929 vested "all civil, judicial, and military powers in the President of the United States of America".

In 1965, at the age of 76 years old, Peter was alive when from August 11 to 16, riots broke out in Watts, a Black section of Los Angeles. An allegedly drunk African-American driver was stopped by LA police and, after a fight, police brutality was alleged - and the riots began. 34 people died in the rioting and over $40 million in property damage occurred. The National Guard was called in to help the LA police quell rioting.

In 1971, in the year of Peter Pilshtikoff's passing, in March, Congress passed the Twenty-sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution, which lowered the voting age to 18 (from 21). It was a response to the criticism that men could fight at 18, but not vote for the policies and politicians who sent them to war. The states quickly ratified the Amendment and it was signed into law on July 1st by President Richard Nixon.