Expatriate American poet T. S. Eliot publishes Prufrock and Other Observations.

Guillaume Apollinaire invents the term Surrealism to describe art that questionstraditional concepts of form, composition, and taste.

The art journal De Stijl is founded by Dutch painter Piet Mondrian.

27 Jan.

The president of Costa Rica is deposed by a military coup, an unusual event on that nation's otherwise peaceful democratic political tradition.

1 Feb.

Germany announces its resumption of unrestricted submarine warfare, which it had suspended in hopes of keeping the United States from entering the war on the side of the Allies.

In response to the German resumption of unrestricted submarine warfare, the United States breaks off diplomatic relations with Germany. Bolivia, Peru, and Brazil follow suit.

5 Feb.

The Mexican government of President Venustiano Carranza adopts a reformist constitution, promising to end centuries of feudal relations between powerful landowners and peasants in Mexico.

8 Mar..

The Russian Revolution of...