Politics

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Georgia Votes to Secede from the Union

In the tense months after Abraham Lincoln's election, Southern states debated their future in the Union amid fears over slavery and states' rights. Georgia's secession convention convened in Milledgeville on January 16, 1861, with delegates sharply divided between immediate secessionists and cooperationists favoring delay. On January 19, after intense debate, the convention voted 208 to 89 to adopt an ordinance dissolving Georgia's ties to the United States, making it the fifth state to secede. The ordinance declared the Union between Georgia and other states dissolved and asserted the state's sovereignty. This action accelerated the formation of the Confederate States of America and deepened the crisis leading to civil war.

Event Detail US Military Atlas

1861

Politics 19th Century North America

Jefferson Davis Resigns U.S. Senate as Mississippi Secedes

As Southern states moved toward secession amid disputes over slavery and states' rights, Mississippi became the second state to leave the Union. Senator Jefferson Davis, a former U.S. Secretary of War and Mississippi statesman, delivered a farewell address to the Senate on January 21, 1861. He expressed regret over the dissolution of the Union but affirmed his loyalty to his state. Davis's resignation cleared the way for his election as president of the Confederate States of America weeks later. The event underscored the irreconcilable divisions that ignited the American Civil War.

Event Detail US Military Atlas

1861

Politics 19th Century North America

Kansas Admitted as Free State

The Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854 had opened the territories to popular sovereignty on slavery, sparking violent conflict between pro- and anti-slavery settlers known as Bleeding Kansas. After years of contested elections and a pro-slavery Lecompton Constitution rejected by Congress, a new free-state constitution prevailed. On January 29, 1861, President James Buchanan signed the bill admitting Kansas as the thirty-fourth state. The admission occurred just weeks before the Civil War began, removing one flashpoint from national debate. Kansas entered the Union firmly opposed to slavery expansion.

Event Detail US Military Atlas

1861

Politics 19th Century North America

Delegates Convene to Form Confederacy

Following Abraham Lincoln's election in 1860, seven Southern states had seceded from the Union by early 1861 over disputes about slavery and states' rights. Representatives from South Carolina, Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, and Louisiana gathered in Montgomery, Alabama, on February 4, 1861, to create a unified provisional government. The delegates organized a convention, drafted a provisional constitution, and laid the groundwork for the Confederate States of America. Jefferson Davis of Mississippi would soon be chosen as the provisional president. This meeting marked the formal beginning of the Confederacy's political structure.

Event Detail America 250 Atlas

1861

Politics 19th Century North America

Jefferson Davis Inaugurated as Confederate President

By early 1861, seven Southern states had seceded from the United States amid disputes over slavery, states' rights, and the election of Abraham Lincoln. Delegates from these states convened in Montgomery, Alabama, to form the Confederate States of America and select leadership. On February 18, 1861, Jefferson Davis of Mississippi was sworn in as provisional president on the steps of the Alabama State Capitol before a large crowd. In his inaugural address, Davis emphasized the Confederacy's commitment to self-government and defended the right of secession as aligned with principles from the American Declaration of Independence. The ceremony formalized the new government's structure and set the stage for rapid organization of military and administrative institutions. Davis would later win a popular...

Event Detail US Military Atlas

1861

Politics 19th Century North America

Lincoln Arrives in Washington Amid Assassination Fears

Following his election, seven Southern states seceded, heightening tensions as Abraham Lincoln prepared to assume the presidency. A detective uncovered the Baltimore Plot to assassinate him during his train journey. On February 23, Lincoln, in disguise, slipped into Washington, D.C., early in the morning under heavy security arranged by Allan Pinkerton. He avoided public appearances en route from Harrisburg and arrived safely at the Willard Hotel. The secretive arrival drew criticism but ensured his safety until inauguration.

Event Detail Assassination Attempts

1861

Politics 19th Century Europe

Kingdom of Italy Is Proclaimed

Following the Risorgimento unification campaigns led by Camillo Cavour and Giuseppe Garibaldi, the Italian parliament in Turin passed legislation proclaiming Victor Emmanuel II of Sardinia as the first King of Italy. The new kingdom incorporated most of the peninsula except Rome and Venetia. This act formally ended centuries of fragmentation into separate states and duchies. The proclamation came after successful annexations of southern territories through the Expedition of the Thousand and northern consolidations. Victor Emmanuel assumed the title on March 17, establishing a constitutional monarchy under the House of Savoy.

Event Detail

1862

Politics 19th Century North America

Lincoln Shares Emancipation Plan with Cabinet

By summer 1862, the American Civil War had dragged on for over a year with Union forces struggling to gain decisive ground. President Abraham Lincoln, seeking a way to undermine the Confederacy's labor system and redefine the conflict's purpose, drafted a preliminary proclamation freeing enslaved people in rebel states. On July 22, he convened his cabinet at the White House to present the document for discussion. Cabinet members offered limited suggestions, with Secretary of State William Seward advising delay until a Union military victory to strengthen the proclamation's impact. Lincoln accepted the counsel and postponed public issuance. The meeting marked a critical internal step toward the eventual Preliminary Emancipation Proclamation issued in September.

Event Detail US Military Atlas

1863

Politics 19th Century North America

Lincoln Delivers Gettysburg Address

Following the Union victory at the Battle of Gettysburg in July 1863, the bloodiest engagement of the American Civil War with over 50,000 casualties, President Abraham Lincoln traveled to Pennsylvania to dedicate a new national cemetery. The dedication ceremony on November 19 featured a lengthy main oration by Edward Everett, after which Lincoln rose to deliver brief remarks lasting about two minutes. In his 271-word address, Lincoln invoked the Declaration of Independence, framed the war as a test of democratic principles, honored the fallen soldiers, and called for renewed commitment to the Union cause with the famous closing line about government of, by, and for the people. The speech occurred amid Lincoln's own health struggles, as he later contracted a...

Event Detail Free Speech Atlas

1864

Politics 19th Century North America

Nevada Becomes 36th U.S. State

During the American Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln sought additional Republican votes in Congress and electoral support for his reelection. Nevada Territory, with a population well below the usual 60,000 threshold for statehood, had boomed after the 1859 Comstock Lode silver discovery. On October 31, 1864, Congress rushed through legislation admitting Nevada as the 36th state despite its small population of around 40,000. Lincoln signed the proclamation the same day. The new state quickly ratified the 13th Amendment abolishing slavery and provided crucial support in the 1864 election.

Event Detail America 250 Atlas

1865

Politics 19th Century North America

Hampton Roads Peace Conference Held

By early 1865, the American Civil War had dragged on for nearly four years with mounting casualties and Confederate resources dwindling. President Abraham Lincoln sought to explore negotiated ends to the conflict while insisting on Union restoration and emancipation. On February 3, Lincoln and Secretary of State William Seward met Confederate Vice President Alexander Stephens and two other commissioners aboard the steamer River Queen in Hampton Roads, Virginia. The four-hour discussion covered armistice terms, slavery's future, and possible foreign alliances but foundered on core disagreements. No agreement emerged, and fighting continued. The conference highlighted the irreconcilable positions as the war neared its conclusion.

Event Detail America 250 Atlas

1865

Politics 19th Century North America

John Wilkes Booth Assassinates President Lincoln

As the American Civil War drew to a close in April 1865, President Abraham Lincoln had just delivered his second inaugural address calling for national reconciliation. On the evening of April 14, actor and Confederate sympathizer John Wilkes Booth entered the presidential box at Ford's Theatre in Washington, D.C., during a performance of the comedy Our American Cousin. Booth shot Lincoln in the back of the head with a single bullet before leaping to the stage and escaping. The president was carried across the street to the Petersen House, where he died early the next morning. The assassination shocked the nation still reeling from four years of conflict.

Event Detail Assassination Attempts

1865

Politics 19th Century North America

Abraham Lincoln Dies After Shooting at Ford's Theatre

As the American Civil War neared its conclusion following General Robert E. Lee's surrender at Appomattox, President Abraham Lincoln attended a performance of the comedy Our American Cousin at Ford's Theatre in Washington, D.C., on the evening of April 14. Confederate sympathizer and actor John Wilkes Booth entered the presidential box and shot Lincoln in the back of the head before leaping to the stage and escaping. Lincoln was carried across the street to the Petersen House, where doctors attended him through the night. He succumbed to the wound at 7:22 a.m. on April 15. Vice President Andrew Johnson was sworn in as the 17th president later that day, assuming leadership during the critical early phase of Reconstruction.

Event Detail Assassination Attempts

1865

Politics Born On 19th Century North America

Warren G. Harding Born in Ohio

Warren Gamaliel Harding was born on November 2, 1865, near the community then known as Corsica, now Blooming Grove, Ohio. After attending Ohio Central College, Harding became a newspaper owner and publisher in Marion, Ohio, and entered Republican politics. He served in the Ohio Senate, as lieutenant governor, and later in the United States Senate. Harding won the 1920 presidential election by a large margin on a campaign emphasizing a return to normal conditions after World War I. He became the twenty-ninth president in March 1921. His administration supported tax reductions, protective tariffs, immigration restrictions, and international naval arms limitation. Harding died suddenly in San Francisco on August 2, 1923, while traveling through the western United States. After his death,...

Event Detail America 250 Atlas

1867

Politics 19th Century North America

Dominion of Canada Established by British North America Act

By the mid-1860s, British North American colonies faced pressures from economic challenges, Fenian raids, and the need for unified defense and infrastructure like an intercolonial railway. Political leaders including John A. Macdonald of Canada West and George-Étienne Cartier of Canada East negotiated confederation terms. The British Parliament passed the British North America Act, which received royal assent and took effect on July 1, 1867. This created the Dominion of Canada, uniting the provinces of Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia under a federal system with a central parliament in Ottawa. The new dominion gained internal self-government while remaining part of the British Empire.

Event Detail America 250 Atlas

1867

Politics 19th Century North America

U.S. Formally Takes Possession of Alaska

Following the 1867 purchase treaty negotiated by Secretary of State William Seward for $7.2 million, Russia transferred its North American colony amid fears of British seizure during potential conflicts. On October 18, 1867, in Sitka, Russian and U.S. officials conducted a formal flag-raising ceremony marking the handover. The sparsely populated territory offered strategic Pacific access and resources, though critics labeled it Seward's Folly. Immediate administration fell to the U.S. Army, beginning American governance over the vast region. The event expanded U.S. continental reach without immediate conflict.

Event Detail America 250 Atlas

1868

Politics 19th Century North America

House of Representatives Impeaches Andrew Johnson

Following the American Civil War, President Andrew Johnson clashed repeatedly with Radical Republicans in Congress over Reconstruction policies, particularly regarding the rights of freed slaves and the readmission of Southern states. Johnson attempted to remove Secretary of War Edwin Stanton in violation of the Tenure of Office Act, which Congress had passed to protect officials aligned with legislative goals. On February 24, 1868, the House of Representatives voted 126 to 47 to impeach Johnson, adopting 11 articles of impeachment centered on the Stanton dismissal and related charges of misconduct. The Senate trial later acquitted Johnson by a single vote on key articles, allowing him to complete his term. This marked the first presidential impeachment in U.S. history.

Event Detail America 250 Atlas

1868

Politics 19th Century East Asia

Tokugawa Shogunate Abolished in Japan

After centuries of rule by the Tokugawa family, internal pressures from Western contact and domestic unrest weakened the shogunate. In 1867, Shogun Tokugawa Yoshinobu resigned amid growing support for imperial restoration among powerful domains like Satsuma and Choshu. On April 11, 1868, Yoshinobu surrendered Edo Castle to imperial forces without major bloodshed, effectively ending the shogunate's 265-year control over Japan. The event marked the culmination of the Boshin War's early phase and transferred real power to the young Emperor Meiji. Pro-imperial troops secured the capital, paving the way for rapid modernization.

Event Detail

1868

Politics 19th Century North America

Senate Acquits Andrew Johnson by One Vote

Following the Civil War, President Andrew Johnson clashed repeatedly with Radical Republicans in Congress over Reconstruction policies, including the Tenure of Office Act restricting his removal of cabinet officials. Impeached by the House in February 1868 on eleven articles, Johnson faced trial in the Senate. On May 16, 1868, the Senate took its first key vote on the eleventh article and fell one vote short of the two-thirds majority needed for conviction. Similar narrow margins on other articles preserved Johnson's presidency.

Event Detail America 250 Atlas

1870

Politics 19th Century Europe

Napoleon III Deposed as Third Republic Proclaimed

France under Napoleon III had experienced economic growth and modernization during the Second Empire but faced growing republican opposition and foreign policy missteps. The Franco-Prussian War erupted in July 1870 after diplomatic crises involving Prussia. French forces suffered a catastrophic defeat at Sedan on September 2, where Napoleon III was captured. News of the surrender reached Paris amid public outrage and fears of invasion. On September 4, republican deputies led by Léon Gambetta gathered at the Hôtel de Ville and proclaimed the Third Republic, ending the empire and establishing a provisional Government of National Defence. The move reflected widespread rejection of imperial rule following military collapse.

Event Detail

1870

Politics 19th Century Europe

Italian Forces Capture Rome and Complete Unification

Following the proclamation of the Kingdom of Italy in 1861, Rome remained under papal control as the last major holdout of the Papal States, protected earlier by French troops. With France distracted by the Franco-Prussian War, Italian forces under General Raffaele Cadorna advanced on the city. On September 20, after a brief artillery bombardment that breached the Aurelian Walls near Porta Pia, Italian troops entered Rome. Papal forces offered limited resistance before surrendering. The event ended the temporal power of the papacy over Rome and allowed the city to become Italy's capital.

Event Detail

1871

Politics 19th Century Europe

German Empire Proclaimed at Versailles

Following Prussia's victory in the Franco-Prussian War, southern German states agreed to join the North German Confederation under Prussian leadership. On January 18, 1871, in the Hall of Mirrors at the Palace of Versailles, King Wilhelm I of Prussia was proclaimed German Emperor by assembled princes and military leaders. Chancellor Otto von Bismarck orchestrated the ceremony to symbolize the unification of Germany under Prussian dominance. The new empire adopted a constitution blending federal elements with strong imperial authority centered in Berlin.

Event Detail

1871

Politics 19th Century Europe

French Troops Enter Paris to Crush the Commune

Following France's defeat in the Franco-Prussian War, the Paris Commune had governed the city since March 18, 1871, implementing radical reforms including separation of church and state and workers' self-management amid the establishment of the Third Republic. On May 21, national forces under Adolphe Thiers and Marshal MacMahon breached the city walls and began the semaine sanglante, or Bloody Week. Street-by-street fighting ensued as government troops systematically retook barricades and neighborhoods held by Communard National Guard units. The assault continued through the end of May, resulting in an estimated 10,000 to 20,000 Communard deaths from battle and summary executions, alongside the Commune's own killings of hostages including the Archbishop of Paris.

Event Detail

1872

Politics Born On 19th Century North America

Calvin Coolidge Born in Plymouth, Vermont

Calvin Coolidge was born John Calvin Coolidge on July 4, 1872, in Plymouth, Vermont. After graduating from Amherst College, he studied law and built a political career in Massachusetts, holding local offices before serving in the state legislature, as lieutenant governor, and as governor. His response to the 1919 Boston police strike brought him national attention. Coolidge became vice president in 1921 and succeeded to the presidency after Warren G. Harding died in August 1923. He won election in his own right in 1924 and served until 1929. His administration favored limited federal spending, tax reduction, and a generally business-friendly approach during a period of rapid economic expansion. Coolidge also signed the Indian Citizenship Act of 1924 and supported international...

Event Detail America 250 Atlas