Quantitative Neutron Moment Publication
Publishes a quantitative magnetic-resonance determination of the neutron magnetic moment with Felix Bloch.
Permanent historical records ยท Updated 2026-11-03
1940 in United States of America
Explore 52 historical events and records for United States of America in 1940.
Historical records for United States of America in 1940
Sorted by month and day. Records with no month are shown last. Showing 40 of 52 unique records.
52Unique records
1 of 2Page
32Named events on this page
23Named people on this page
10Places on this page
January
February
Uranium-235 Separation
Separates uranium-235 for early fission measurements.
March
Second Roosevelt Letter
Writes again to President Roosevelt urging stronger attention to uranium research developments.
Uranium-235 Fission
Shows uranium-235 is responsible for slow-neutron fission.
April
Birth of Alfredo James Al Pacino
Birth of Alfredo James "Al" Pacino
Third Roosevelt Letter
Sends another letter to Roosevelt concerning the need for effective action on uranium research.
July
Alliance United States and partner not stated in source
Provides for a shipbuilding program for entry into the 2nd World War
Armament
Provides for a shipbuilding program for entry into the 2nd World War
August
Alliance United States and Great Britain
Will supply Britain with 50 WW1 destroyers for the lease of Caribbean naval bases
Armament
Congress authorizes the President to call the National guard & other reserves for 1 yr
Conscription
Congress authorizes the President to call the National guard & other reserves for 1 yr
September
Alliance United States and Great Britain
Congress agrees to lend 50 destroyers to Britain in return for 99 yr naval base leases
Armament
Congress agrees to lend 50 destroyers to Britain for 99 yr leases on naval bases
Legislation
Congress agrees to lend 50 destroyers to Britain in return for 99 yr naval base leases
Lend-Lease
Congress agrees to lend 50 destroyers to Britain in return for 99 yr nave base leases
Conscription
Burke-Wadsworth Bill, passed to provide for limited conscription
Legislation
Burke-Wadsworth Bill, passed to provide for limited conscription
Mobilization
Burke-Wadsworth Bill, passed to provide for limited conscription
October
United States Citizenship
Becomes a United States citizen while retaining Swiss citizenship.
MIT Radiation Laboratory
Helps establish the laboratory that develops wartime microwave radar.
November
Election
Elected for a 3rd term, 27 million votes to Wilkies 22 million votes
MIT Radiation Laboratory
Directs major American radar research at MIT.
December
Birth of Frank Vincent Zappa
Birth of Frank Vincent Zappa
Aid to Britain
Makes a speech pledging more aid to Britain & declares the Axis will not win the war
Alliance Alben Barkley and to the Allies
Approves the speech goven by Roosevelt to give additional support to the Allies
Alliance Axis
The Defence Commission announces approval for arms contracts worth ล2.5 million. Makes a speech pledging more aid to Britain & declares the Axis will not win the war. It is announced that the "loan or lease" plan will be extended to Greece & China
Defence Commission
The Defence Commission announces approval for arms contracts worth ล2.5 million
Plutonium Discovery
Produces plutonium from uranium-derived neptunium.
Other events (month unknown)
Academy Award
Winner of Best Supporting Actor for The Westerner
Academy Award
Winner of the Oscar for Best Actor, "The Philadelphia Story" as Macaulay Connor
Alliance USA and Britain
Discusses naval co-operation between the USA & Britain
Betatron Electron Accelerator
Builds the first successful betatron, accelerating electrons to high energy with a changing magnetic field.
Congress Street Residence
Marguerite Oswald moved with young Lee to a rented home on Congress Street after renting out the family property on Alvar Street.
Discovery of Neptunium
Co-discovers neptunium, the first transuranium element, extending the periodic table beyond uranium.
Election
Defeated by Roosevelt for the Presidency
For Whom the Bell tolls
Publication of "For Whom the Bell tolls"
Marriage to Heinrich Blucher
Arendt married Heinrich Blรผcher while living in France.
Neptunium Discovery
Finds neptunium during uranium irradiation studies.
Our Town
Directs Our Town
Problems of Nebular Research
Hubble publishes Problems of Nebular Research in Scientific Monthly, reviewing unresolved observational questions involving galaxies, distance measurements, redshifts and the interpretation of deep-space surveys.
How these records were prepared
Generated from the World History Database historical_events table. Identical display records are collapsed; descriptions otherwise retain the stored text. Coverage and source quality vary. Check primary and specialist sources before citing individual historical claims.