History of Red in Timeline

Red is a color located at the long wavelength end of the visible light spectrum, ranging from approximately 625-750 nanometers. Positioned next to orange and opposite violet, it is a primary color in the RGB model and a secondary color in CMYK. The complementary color to red is cyan. Red hues vary considerably, encompassing shades like scarlet, vermillion, crimson, pink, and burgundy.

1900: The Labour Party in Britain founded

In 1900, the Labour Party in Britain (founded 1900) was founded. Red also became the color of many social democratic parties in Europe.

1900: Founding of the Labour Party in the United Kingdom

In 1900, the Labour Party was founded in the United Kingdom, and it was closely associated with the red flag.

1901: Founding of the Socialist Party of America

The Socialist Party of America was founded in 1901 and chose red as their color.

August 1914: British Army stops wearing red dress uniforms

In August 1914, with the outbreak of the First World War, the British Army stopped wearing the red military uniform as a dress uniform.

1917: Soviet Russia adopts a red flag

Following the Bolshevik Revolution in 1917, Soviet Russia adopted a red flag, which would later be used throughout the entire history of the Soviet Union as the Soviet red banner.

1917: Russian Revolution

In 1917, following the success of the Russian Revolution, red became the color of the Russian Bolsheviks.

1918: Founding of the Christian-Social People's Party in Liechtenstein

In 1918, the Christian-Social People's Party in Liechtenstein was founded and advocated for democracy and progressive social policies.

1918: End of the German Empire

With the end of the German Empire in 1918, the colors red, white, and black, associated with German nationalism, began to be used by the Nazi party.

1919: Founding of the Communist Party USA

In 1919, the Communist Party USA chose red as their color.

1920: Chinese Communist Party founded

In 1920, the Chinese Communist Party was founded.

1920: Creation of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police

In 1920, the North-West Mounted Police, created in 1873, was renamed the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. They continued to wear the Red Serge uniform.

1927: Red used for German danger warning signs

In 1927, red color started to be used for the margin of danger warning sign, give way signs and prohibitory signs in Germany, following the previous German-type signage (established by Verordnung über Warnungstafeln für den Kraftfahrzeugverkehr).

1949: Communist Party takes power in China

In 1949, the Chinese Communist Party took power in China, and the red flag and hammer and sickle became the national symbols.

1954: North Vietnam adopts a red flag

In 1954, North Vietnam adopted a red flag.

1960: Invention of the ruby laser

In 1960, the ruby laser was invented, which emitted in the red region of the spectrum.

1962: Invention of the red helium–neon laser

In 1962, the red helium–neon laser was invented and was widely used in scientific applications including holography, and in education. They were also used commercially in LaserDisc players.

1968: Red standardized for stop signs and stop lights

In 1968, at the Vienna Convention on Road Signs and Signals, red was standardized as the international color of stop signs and stop lights on highways and intersections.

1968: National racing colors replaced by commercial liveries in Formula One

In 1968, national colors were mostly replaced in Formula One by commercial sponsor liveries. However, Ferrari always kept the traditional red, although the shade of the color varies.

1972: The Socialist Party of America dissolved

In 1972, the Socialist Party of America was dissolved.

1975: Vietnam adopts a red flag

In 1975, all of Vietnam adopted a red flag.

1991: Russia returns to pre-revolutionary flag

After the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991, Russia reverted to the pre-revolutionary blue, white, and red flag.

1994: Sweden joins the European Union and lifts ban on Allura Red AC

In 1994, Sweden joined the European Union, which led to the country lifting its ban on Allura Red AC.

1998: Founding of the Red Hat Society

The Red Hat Society, a social group for women 50 and over, was founded in 1998.

2000: Fixed usage established during the 39-day recount following the 2000 United States presidential election

During the 39-day recount following the 2000 United States presidential election, media began to discuss the contest in terms of "red states" versus "blue states".

2000: Evidence of ochre use found at Pinnacle Point

In 2000, paleoanthropologists found evidence inside cave 13B at Pinnacle Point that Late Stone Age people were scraping and grinding ochre, likely to color their bodies, between 170,000 and 40,000 years ago.

2004: Georgia adopts new white flag with red crosses

In 2004, Georgia adopted a new white flag, which consists of four small and one big red cross in the middle touching all four sides.

June 30, 2010: Call for FDA to ban Red 40

On June 30, 2010, the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) called for the FDA to ban Red 40.

2016: Red as the most common color found in national flags

In 2016, red was found on the flags of 77 percent of the 210 countries listed as independent. This made it the most common color found in national flags.