Date with History: October 1

Mao declares a new China while, decades earlier, a Model T rolled off the line at $825.

One paperback for one calendar date: what happened on October 1, and who was born on it.

What happened on October 1

1949: Mao Zedong proclaims the founding of the People's Republic

On October 1, 1949, Mao Zedong proclaimed the founding of the People's Republic of China from Tiananmen Square, declaring "the Chinese people have stood up." China now marks National Day on this date each year with a week-long holiday.

1908: Henry Ford begins selling the Model T for $825

On October 1, 1908, Henry Ford began selling the Model T for $825. Assembly-line production would eventually drop the price to $260, putting fifteen million Americans behind the wheel and reshaping how the country lived and worked.

Famous birthdays on October 1

1924 — Jimmy Carter
Jimmy Carter, born 1924, redefined what an ex-president could accomplish after office.

1935 — Julie Andrews
Julie Andrews, born 1935, brought a four-octave voice to Mary Poppins and The Sound of Music.

Nearby dates

September 30 · October 2 · All October dates

Part of Date with History, a 366-book collection with one book for every date of the year. 5″×8″ paperback, cream paper.

Historical selections are editorially researched. This is a date-specific book, not a personalized or custom-made product.