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Year

1868

8 sourced events from this year.

Events

1868 Timeline

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1868

Politics19th CenturyNorth 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 DetailAmerica 250 Atlas
1868

Politics19th CenturyEast 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

Law19th CenturyNorth America

U.S. Signs Fort Laramie Treaty with Sioux

Following Red Cloud’s War and years of conflict over Bozeman Trail routes through Native hunting grounds, U.S. commissioners met Sioux and Arapaho leaders at Fort Laramie in present-day Wyoming to negotiate peace. On April 29, 1868, representatives of the Brulé, Oglala, Miniconjou, and other bands signed the treaty, which established the Great Sioux Reservation including the Black Hills, closed the Powder River Country to white settlement, and promised annuities in exchange for an end to raids. The agreement required ratification by three-fourths of adult male tribal members and aimed to confine tribes to defined lands while ending hostilities. Immediate implementation included the withdrawal of U.S. forts along the trail.

Event DetailAmerica 250 Atlas
1868

Politics19th CenturyNorth 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 DetailAmerica 250 Atlas
1868

Civil Rights19th CenturyNorth America

U.S. 14th Amendment Ratified, Granting Citizenship

Following the American Civil War, the Reconstruction era sought to secure rights for the newly freed population amid Southern Black Codes and resistance. Congress passed the 14th Amendment in June 1866 to define citizenship, guarantee due process and equal protection, and limit former Confederates' political participation. Ratification required approval by three-fourths of the states. After contentious debates and some rejections, enough states—including Louisiana and South Carolina on July 9, 1868—provided the necessary votes. Secretary of State William Seward certified the amendment's adoption shortly thereafter, making it part of the Constitution.

Event DetailAmerica 250 Atlas
1868

Law19th CenturyNorth America

14th Amendment Enters into Force in US

Following the American Civil War, Congress proposed the 14th Amendment in 1866 to address the legal status of formerly enslaved people and to protect civil rights against state infringement. Ratified by the required number of states amid Reconstruction-era tensions, the amendment was officially certified on July 28, 1868, by Secretary of State William Seward. It granted citizenship to all persons born or naturalized in the United States, guaranteed due process and equal protection under the law, and barred former Confederates from certain offices unless Congress granted amnesty. The measure fundamentally altered the balance between federal and state power regarding individual rights.

Event DetailAmerica 250 Atlas
1868

Science19th CenturyEurope

Astronomer Discovers Helium During Solar Eclipse

In the mid-19th century, astronomers sought new ways to study the Sun's atmosphere beyond the brief moments of total solar eclipses. French scientist Pierre Janssen traveled to Guntur in British India to observe the eclipse of August 18, 1868. Using a spectroscope, he examined the bright lines in the solar prominences and chromosphere, confirming their gaseous nature. Among the spectral lines was a prominent yellow one at approximately 587.49 nanometers, distinct from known elements like sodium. Janssen quickly realized this indicated a previously unknown element. Independently, English astronomer Joseph Norman Lockyer made similar observations shortly afterward, leading to the naming of helium after the Greek word for the Sun.

Event DetailDaily Earth View
1868

Military19th CenturyNorth America

Custer Attacks Cheyenne Village at Washita River

Following the Civil War, U.S. expansion into the Great Plains intensified conflicts with Native American tribes resisting encroachment on traditional lands. In November 1868, Lieutenant Colonel George Armstrong Custer led the 7th Cavalry in a winter campaign against Southern Cheyenne and Arapaho groups. On November 27, without prior reconnaissance to identify the specific village or its peaceful nature, Custer launched a surprise dawn attack on Chief Black Kettle's encampment along the Washita River in present-day Oklahoma. The assault resulted in heavy casualties among the Cheyenne, including the death of Black Kettle, and the destruction of the village and its resources. Custer claimed victory and captured prisoners, though the action drew later criticism for targeting a band under U.S. protection.

Event DetailUS Military Atlas