Timeline: 1858-1878 World Events

Jan 30, 1858

First Black Drama Published

William Wells Brown, an African American abolitionist, publishes "To Escape; or, A Leap for Freedom"

Mar 19, 1859

Premier of "Faust" in Paris

Charles Gounod's opera "Faust" premiers at Théâtre-Lyrique in Paris, France. A comic adaptation of a tragic novel, the opera became a popular culture cornerstone.

Sep 1, 1859

The Carrington Event

A massive solar flare caused the strongest recorded geomagnetic storm in history. The storm caused telegraph communication to fail worldwide, as well as auroras visible all the way in the tropics.

Nov 24, 1859

"Origin of Species" Published

Charles Darwin publishes his book "Origin of Species", arguing evolution as scientific fact; that species are descended and modified from their predecessors, as opposed to entirely new creations.

Dec 20, 1860

Lincoln Elected President - Southern States Secede

After Abraham Lincoln wins the Presidential Election, The South Carolina General Assembly votes unanimously to secede from the United States. 11 other states follow suite and form the Confederate States of America.

1861

Serfdom Abolished in Russia

Tsar Alexandar II issued the "Emancipation Manifesto", a collection of 17 legislative acts abolishing serfdom in the Russian Empire. Peasants could now buy land from their landlords, who were advanced the money by the state while the peasants would pay it back over several years of "redemption payments", ultimately creating deficits and damaging the economy of the empire as a whole.

Mar 17, 1861

Italy Unifies

Previously broken into several states, Italy is unified into a single country by Giuseppe Garibaldi, and King of Sardinia, Victor Emmanuel II.

Mar 20, 1861

Earthquake In Mendoza

Provincial capital city of Mendoza, Argentina, is devastated by an earthquake of an estimated 7.2 seismic magnitude. The quake resulted in approx. between 6,000-12,000 casualties. Ruptured gas supplies caused fires lasting four days, and canal blockages resulted in flooding and landslides. The city, including the government house, were later rebuilt in a nearby location.

Period: Apr 12, 1861 to Apr 26, 1865

American Civil War

Beginning with the Confederate rebel attacks on Fort Sumter in Charleston, SC, the United States descended into war between the industrialized Northern States and the agricultural Southern States over the abolition of slavery.

May 17, 1861

First Color Photograph

Scottish scientist James Clerk Maxwell shows his photo of a tartan ribbon to the Royal Institution in London.

May 20, 1862

Homestead Act Signed

Abraham Lincoln signs into law the Homestead Act, where heads of household who had not fought against the Union could purchase land for a small fee and an agreement to cultivate the land for at least five years.

Jul 1, 1862

Russian Jews Gain Rights to Publish Books

Tsar Alexandar II of Russia grants Jews the right to publish books.

Sep 17, 1862

Battle of Antietam

The deadliest battle in US history, occurring in Maryland's Antietam Creek, resulting in 23,000 casualties.

Jan 1, 1863

Emancipation Proclamation

President Lincoln issues Emancipation Proclamation, announcing that "all persons held as slaves" within rebellious states "are, and henceforward shall be free."

Oct 3, 1863

Thanksgiving Day Designated

President Lincoln officially designates the last Thursday of every November to be Thanksgiving Day.

Mar 24, 1864

Treaty of London Signed

The UK returns ownership of the Ionian Islands back to Greece.

Jul 9, 1864

British Railway Murder

On a late night train in London, bank clerk Thomas Briggs was robbed and murdered by Franz Miller. The uniqueness and publicity of the case influenced both the imaginations of the public as well as railway safety. Communication cords were later installed in carriages that would allow passengers to contact train staff.

Apr 14, 1865

Lincoln Assassinated

President Abraham Lincoln is assassinated by John Wilkes Booth at Ford's Theater in Washington.

Jul 4, 1865

Alice's Adventures In Wonderland

Charles Dodgson, under the pen name of Lewis Carroll, publishes first edition of his children's novel "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland".

Aug 12, 1865

Antiseptic Surgery

British Surgeon Joseph Lister performs the first antiseptic surgery, applying Louis Pasteur's germ theory by using phenol on surgical instruments to reduce wound infection and need for amputation.

1866

Cholera Epidemic

Cholera travels from Europe to New York, killing over 5,000 people.

Mar 30, 1867

Alaska Purchase

The United States purchases Alaska from Russia for $7.2M.

Jul 28, 1868

14th Amendment Ratified

US Secretary of State William H. Seward announces the ratification of the 14th Amendment by the states.

May 10, 1869

Transcontinental Railroad Complete

Completion of the Transcontinental Railroad reduced the travel time from New York City, New York to San Francisco, California from months to just 7 days.

Jun 5, 1870

The Great Fire of Pera

A massive fire spread throughout the Pera district of Constantinople, Turkey, took 13 hours to put and killed an estimated 3,000 people.

1871

Japan Ends Feudal System

Following the end of the Boshin Civil War, domain leaders petition for abolition of domains. A prefectural system is established with over 305 prefectures.

Sep 2, 1872

Karl Marx Speaks at the Hague

Karl Marx speaks at the Congress of the International Workingmen's Association (IWA). The movement splits between Marxists and the anti-authoritarian Bakuninists.

Mar 3, 1873

The Comstock Act

The Comstock Law amended US postal regulations and banned the use of the mail to advertise, publish, or sell sexually suggestive material, including information about contraception and abortion. The law had the effect of severely impeding the dissemination of birth-control information.

Period: 1874 to 1876

Egyptian-Ethiopian War

After several attempts by Egypt over decades to assert dominance over the Ethiopian-Sudanese border, the conflict ended with a victory for Ethiopia and a treaty guaranteeing their independence.

Mar 15, 1874

Treaty of Saigon

The Treaty of Saigon was signed by the Third French Republic and the Nguyễn Dynasty of Vietnam. Vietnam made economic and territorial concessions to France, while France waived a previous war indemnity and promised military protection against China. The treaty effectively made Vietnam a protectorate of France.

Jul 24, 1874

The Incandescent Lamp

Canadian patent filed by Matthew Evans and Henry Woodward for their incandescent lightbulb. They were unsuccessful in commercializing, and later sold the patent to Thomas Edison.

Aug 4, 1875

Hans Christian Anderson Dies

Danish fairytale author and poet Hans Christian Anderson dies at 70 in Copenhagen.

Mar 7, 1876

Graham Bell Patents Telephone

29-year old Scottish-born Alexander Graham Bell receives patent for the telephone.

Mar 4, 1877

Swan Lake Premiers in Moscow

Pyotr Tchaikovsky was commissioned by the Bolshoi Theater in Moscow to compose Swan Lake, which premiered to critical failure in 1877, but was revived later with more success. Tchaikovsky was heavily influenced by Romanticism blended with Russian folkloric sound, his works known for carrying emotional intensity.