1860s
Events and trends
Technology The First Transcontinental Railroad in the United States is built in the six year period between 1863 and 1869.
Science James Clerk Maxwell publishes his equations that quantify the relationship between electricity and magnetism, and shows that light is a form of electromagnetic radiation Gregor Mendel formulates Mendel's laws of inheritance, the basis for genetics Dmitri Mendeleev discovers the periodic table
War, peace and politicsItalian unification under King Victor Emmanuel II. Wars for expansion and national unity continue until the incorporation of the Papal States (March 17, 1861 - September 20, 1870). American Civil War fought between the remaining United States of America under President Abraham Lincoln and the self-declared Confederate States of America under President Jefferson Davis (April 12, 1861 - April 9, 1865). Beginning of the Reconstruction era under President Andrew Johnson (1865 - 1869). French occupation of Mexico (1863 - 1867). Replacement of President of Mexico Benito Juárez (1861 - 1863) at first with Juan Nepomuceno Almonte (1863 - 1864) and then by Emperor Maximilian of Mexico (1864 - 1867). Benito Juárez eventually manages to recover his position (1867 - 1872).Meiji Restoration in Japan (1866 - 1869). Tokugawa Yoshinobu, 15th and last of the Tokugawa shoguns loses control to the Meiji Emperor. A series of reforms follows. The samurai class fails to survive while the Daimyo turn to politics. Canada becomes an independent nation U.S. president Abraham Lincoln is assassinated, April 15, 1865.
Culture and religion In Catholicism, reaction against higher criticism and the liberal movement in Europe The Football Association is formed in the United Kingdom, paving the way for Association football to become the world's predominant spectator sport
Other
World leaders Emperor Franz Josef (Austria-Hungary) Prime Minister Sir John A. Macdonald (Canada) Emperor Napoleon III (France) King Victor Emmanuel II (Italy) Pope Pius IX Emperor Alexander II (Russia) Queen Victoria (United Kingdom) Prime Minister Lord Palmerston (United Kingdom) Prime Minister Lord Derby (United Kingdom) Prime Minister William Ewart Gladstone (United Kingdom) President James Buchanan (United States) President Abraham Lincoln (United States) President Andrew Johnson (United States)
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