1.
1860
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As of the start of 1860, the Gregorian calendar was 12 days ahead of the Julian calendar, which remained in localized use until 1923. January 10 – The Pemberton Mill in Lawrence, Massachusetts, United States, collapses, january 13 – Spanish victory at the Battle of Tétouan, Morocco. January 20 – Camillo Benso, Count of Cavour is recalled as Prime Minister of Piedmont-Sardinia, february 22 – Shoe-making workers of Lynn, Massachusetts, strike successfully for higher wages. The strike spreads throughout New England and eventually involves 20,000 workers, february 26 – White settlers massacre a band of Wiyot Indians on Indian Island near Eureka, California. At least 60 women, children and elders are killed, bret Harte, newspaper reporter in Arcata, reports the news to newspapers in San Francisco. February 28 – The Artists Rifles is established, as the 38th Middlesex Rifle Volunteer Corps, march 6 – While campaigning for the presidency, Abraham Lincoln makes a speech defending the right to strike. March 9 – The first Japanese embassy to the United States arrive in San Francisco, march 17 – The First Taranaki War begins at Waitara, New Zealand when Māori refuse to sell land to British settlers. March 22 – The Grand Duchy of Tuscany is annexed to the newly formed Kingdom of Italy, march–August – The second rout of the Jiangnan Daying destroys the Qing dynastys army of 180,000. April 2 – The first Italian Parliament meet at Turin, april 3 – The Pony Express begins its first run from St. Joseph, Missouri to Sacramento, California with riders carrying a small bible. April 4 – A new uprising erupts in Palermo, april 9 – French typesetter Édouard-Léon Scott de Martinville sings the French folk song Au clair de la lune to his phonautograph, producing the worlds earliest known sound recording. May 1 – A Chondrite-type meteorite falls to earth in Muskingum County, may 6 – Giuseppe Garibaldi and his troops depart from Quarto on the Expedition of the Thousand. Constitutional Union Party holds its convention and nominates John Bell for President of the United States, may 15 – Battle of Calatafimi, Troops under Giuseppe Garibaldi defeat the army of Naples in Sicily, during the Expedition of the Thousand. May 17 – The German association football club TSV1860 München is founded, may 18 – Abraham Lincoln is selected as the U. S. presidential candidate for the Republican Party. May 27 – Garibaldis forces take Palermo, the capital of Sicily, may 28 – One of the worst storms ever experienced in the region hits the east coast of England, sinking more than 100 ships and killing at least 40 people. 12 June 1860 – The State Bank of the Russian Empire is established, June 30 – The historic debate about evolution is held at the Oxford University Museum. July 2 – Vladivostok is founded in Russia, july 9 – The Nightingale Training School and Home for Nurses, the first nursing school based on the ideas of Florence Nightingale, is opened at St Thomas Hospital in London. July 11 – Mutsuhito becomes Crown Prince of Japan, july 20 – Battle of Milazzo, The forces of Giuseppe Garibaldi defeat royal Neapolitan forces near Messina, bringing nearly all of Sicily under Garibaldis control. August 22 – Assisted by the British navy, the troops of Giuseppe Garibaldi cross from Sicily to the Italian mainland, september 3–September 5 – The First International Chemistry Congress is held in Karlsruhe, Baden
2.
United States
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Forty-eight of the fifty states and the federal district are contiguous and located in North America between Canada and Mexico. The state of Alaska is in the northwest corner of North America, bordered by Canada to the east, the state of Hawaii is an archipelago in the mid-Pacific Ocean. The U. S. territories are scattered about the Pacific Ocean, the geography, climate and wildlife of the country are extremely diverse. At 3.8 million square miles and with over 324 million people, the United States is the worlds third- or fourth-largest country by area, third-largest by land area. It is one of the worlds most ethnically diverse and multicultural nations, paleo-Indians migrated from Asia to the North American mainland at least 15,000 years ago. European colonization began in the 16th century, the United States emerged from 13 British colonies along the East Coast. Numerous disputes between Great Britain and the following the Seven Years War led to the American Revolution. On July 4,1776, during the course of the American Revolutionary War, the war ended in 1783 with recognition of the independence of the United States by Great Britain, representing the first successful war of independence against a European power. The current constitution was adopted in 1788, after the Articles of Confederation, the first ten amendments, collectively named the Bill of Rights, were ratified in 1791 and designed to guarantee many fundamental civil liberties. During the second half of the 19th century, the American Civil War led to the end of slavery in the country. By the end of century, the United States extended into the Pacific Ocean. The Spanish–American War and World War I confirmed the status as a global military power. The end of the Cold War and the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991 left the United States as the sole superpower. The U. S. is a member of the United Nations, World Bank, International Monetary Fund, Organization of American States. The United States is a developed country, with the worlds largest economy by nominal GDP. It ranks highly in several measures of performance, including average wage, human development, per capita GDP. While the U. S. economy is considered post-industrial, characterized by the dominance of services and knowledge economy, the United States is a prominent political and cultural force internationally, and a leader in scientific research and technological innovations. In 1507, the German cartographer Martin Waldseemüller produced a map on which he named the lands of the Western Hemisphere America after the Italian explorer and cartographer Amerigo Vespucci
3.
1858 in the United States
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Events from the year 1858 in the United States. President, James Buchanan Vice President, John C, April 19 – The United States and the Yankton Sioux Tribe sign a treaty. May 11 – Minnesota is admitted as the 32nd U. S. state, may 19 – The Marais des Cygnes massacre is perpetrated by pro-slavery forces in Bleeding Kansas. June 16 – Abraham Lincoln makes his House Divided Speech at the State Capitol in Springfield, Illinois, july – Forty-Niners stream into the Rocky Mountains of the western United States during the Pikes Peak Gold Rush. July 8 – The Paulist Fathers, a Roman Catholic society of apostolic life for men, is founded in New York City by Isaac Hecker, july 29 – Treaty of Amity and Commerce signed on the deck of USS Powhatan in Edo Bay. August 16 – U. S. President James Buchanan inaugurates the new telegraph cable by exchanging greetings with Queen Victoria. However, a weak signal forces a shutdown of the service in a few weeks, August 21 – The first of the seven Lincoln–Douglas debates is held. September 14 – Fordyce Beals patents his six shooter revolver which will be produced by E. Remington & Sons of Ilion, November 17 – Denver is founded. Senator from Louisiana from 1913 to 1931 October 12 – John L. S, senator from Illinois from 1913 to 1921 November 21 – Charles A. Towne, U. S. Senator from Indiana from 1917 to 1923 January 10 – Hezekiah Augur, sculptor and inventor March 4 – Commodore Matthew Calbraith Perry, naval officer April 10 – Thomas Hart Benton, senator from Missouri from 1821 to 1851 August 23 – Calvin Willey, U. S. Senator from Connecticut from 1825 to 1831 September 17 – Dred Scott, slave September 21 – Arthur P. Bagby, senator from Alabama from 1837 to 1841 November 16 – Robert Hanna, U. S. Senator from Indiana from 1831 to 1832 December 14 – Michael Woolston Ash, representative from Pennsylvania from 1835 to 1837 December 18 – Thomas Holley Chivers, poet and physician Media related to 1858 in the United States at Wikimedia Commons
4.
1859 in the United States
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Events from the year 1859 in the United States. President, James Buchanan Vice President, John C, taney Speaker of the House of Representatives, James Lawrence Orr Congress, 35th, 36th January 28 – The city of Olympia is incorporated in the Territory of Washington in the United States of America. February 14 – Oregon is admitted as the 33rd U. S. state, congressman Daniel Sickles shoots Philip Barton Key for having an affair with his wife. June 8 – The discovery of the Comstock Lode in the western Utah Territory sets off a rush of prospectors to the area. June 15 – The so-called Pig War border dispute between the Americans and the British on the San Juan Islands begins by the death of the namesake pig, july – Pikes Peak Gold Rush begins in the Colorado Territory. July 1 – The first intercollegiate baseball game is played, between Amherst and Williams Colleges, august 27 – Edwin Drake drills the first oil well in the United States, near Titusville, Pennsylvania, starting the Pennsylvanian oil rush. September – Joshua Abraham Norton proclaims himself Emperor of the United States in San Francisco, October 18 – Troops under Colonel Robert E. Lee overpower John Brown at the Federal arsenal. November 1 – The current Cape Lookout, North Carolina, lighthouse is lighted for the first time, December 2 – John Brown is hanged for his October 16 raid on Harpers Ferry, West Virginia. The Rancho Rincon de Los Esteros Land Grant is confirmed to Rafael Alvisa, the University of Michigan Law School is founded. Approximate date – The song Dixie is written, probably by Dan Emmett, bleeding Kansas January 6 – Duncan U. March 19 – Oliver H. Smith, United States Senator from Indiana from 1837 to 1843, april 14 – George M. Bibb, United States Senator from Kentucky from 1811 till 1814. Broderick, United States Senator from California from 1857 till 1859, november 28 – Washington Irving, author December 2 – John Brown, abolitionist Media related to 1859 in the United States at Wikimedia Commons
5.
1861 in the United States
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Events from the year 1861 in the United States. This year marked the beginning of the American Civil War, President, James Buchanan, Abraham Lincoln Vice President, John C. Breckinridge, Hannibal Hamlin Chief Justice, Roger B, taney Speaker of the House of Representatives, William Pennington, Galusha A. Grow Congress, 36th, 37th January 3 – American Civil War, January 9 – Mississippi becomes the second state to secede from the Union, preceding the American Civil War. January 10 – American Civil War, Florida secedes from the Union, January 11 – American Civil War, Alabama secedes from the Union. January 12 – Major Robert Anderson sends dispatches to Washington, January 18 – American Civil War, Georgia secedes from the Union. January 21 – American Civil War, Jefferson Davis resigns from the United States Senate, January 26 – American Civil War, Louisiana secedes from the Union. January 29 – Kansas is admitted as the 34th U. S. state, february 1 – American Civil War, Texas secedes from the Union. February 4 – American Civil War, Delegates from six seceded states meet at the Montgomery Convention in Montgomery, february 8 – American Civil War, The Confederate States of America adopts the Provisional Confederate States Constitution. February 9 – American Civil War, Jefferson Davis is elected the Provisional President of the Confederate States of America by the Weed Convention at Montgomery, february 11 – American Civil War, The U. S. House unanimously passes a resolution guaranteeing non-interference with slavery in any state. February 18 – American Civil War, In Montgomery, Alabama, february 23 – President-elect Abraham Lincoln arrives secretly in Washington, D. C. after an assassination attempt in Baltimore. February 28 – Colorado Territory is organized, march 2 – Nevada Territory and Dakota Territory are organized. March 4 President Abraham Lincoln takes office, succeeding James Buchanan, American Civil War, The Stars and Bars is adopted as the flag of the Confederate States of America. March 11 – American Civil War, The Confederate States Constitution is adopted, april 12 – Battle of Fort Sumter, The American Civil War begins at Fort Sumter, South Carolina. April 14 – Battle of Fort Sumter, Fort Sumter surrenders to Confederate forces, april 17 – The state of Virginia secedes from the Union. April 20 – American Civil War, Robert E. Lee resigns his commission in the United States Army in order to command the forces of the state of Virginia, april 25 – American Civil War, The Union Army arrives in Washington, D. C. April 27 – American Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln suspends the writ of habeas corpus in the United States, may 6 – American Civil War, Arkansas secedes from the Union. May 7 – American Civil War, Tennessee secedes from the Union, may 8 – American Civil War, Richmond, Virginia is named the capital of the Confederate States of America
6.
1862 in the United States
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Events from the year 1862 in the United States. President, Abraham Lincoln Vice President, Hannibal Hamlin Chief Justice, taney Speaker of the House of Representatives, Galusha A. Grow Congress, 37th January 10 – John Gately Downey, 7th Governor of California, is succeeded by Amasa Leland Stanford, January 30 – The first US ironclad warship, the USS Monitor, is launched. January 31 – Alvan Graham Clark makes the first observation of Sirius B, february 1 – Julia Ward Howes Battle Hymn of the Republic is published for the first time in the Atlantic Monthly. February 6 – American Civil War General Ulysses S. Grant gives the United States its first major victory of the war, by capturing Fort Henry, february 15 – American Civil War, General Ulysses S. Grant attacks Fort Donelson, Tennessee and captures it the next day. February 21 – American Civil War, Battle of Valverde fought near Fort Craig in New Mexico Territory, february 22 – American Civil War, Jefferson Davis is officially inaugurated in Richmond, Virginia, to a 6-year term as president of the Confederate States of America. March 7 – American Civil War – The Battle of Pea Ridge, march 8 – American Civil War, The iron-clad CSS Virginia is launched at Hampton Roads, Virginia. March 8–9 – American Civil War – Battle of Hampton Roads, march 28 – American Civil War – Battle of Glorieta Pass, In New Mexico, Union forces succeed in stopping the Confederate invasion of New Mexico territory. April 5 – American Civil War – Battle of Yorktown, The battle begins when Union forces under General George B. McClellan close in on the Confederate capital Richmond, april 6 – American Civil War, In Tennessee, the Battle of Shiloh begins. April 7 – American Civil War – Battle of Shiloh, Union Army under General Ulysses S. Grant defeats the Confederates near Shiloh, april 12 – American Civil War – Andrews Raid Union volunteers steal a Confederate locomotive, setting off The Great Locomotive Chase. April 25 – American Civil War, Forces under Union Admiral David Farragut capture the Confederate city of New Orleans, april 26 – American Civil War, The besieged Confederate garrison at Fort Macon, North Carolina surrenders. April 26 The California Anti-Coolie Act, may 2 – The California State Normal School is created by an Act of the California Legislature. May 11 – American Civil War, The ironclad CSS Virginia is scuttled in the James River northwest of Norfolk, may 15 – U. S. President Abraham Lincoln signs a bill into law creating the United States Bureau of Agriculture. May 20 – U. S. President Abraham Lincoln signs the Homestead Act into law, june 1 American Civil War, Robert E. Lee takes command of the Army of Northern Virginia. American Civil War – Battle of Fair Oaks, Both sides claim victory, june 4 – American Civil War, Confederate troops evacuate Fort Pillow on the Mississippi River, leaving the way clear for Union troops to take Memphis, Tennessee. June 26 – American Civil War – Battle of Mechanicsville, Confederate General Robert E. Lee defeats Union General George McClellan in the first of the Seven Days Battles. July 1 United States President Abraham Lincoln signs into law the Pacific Railway Acts, the Bureau of Internal Revenue, forerunner of the Internal Revenue Service, is founded. July 2 – U. S. President Abraham Lincoln signs the Morrill Land Grant Act into law, July 16 – American Civil War, David G. Farragut becomes the first United States Navy rear admiral
7.
Flag of the United States
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The flag of the United States, often referred to as the American flag, is the national flag of the United States. S. Nicknames for the flag include The Stars and Stripes, Old Glory, the current design of the U. S. flag is its 27th, the design of the flag has been modified officially 26 times since 1777. The 48-star flag was in effect for 47 years until the 49-star version became official on July 4,1959, the 50-star flag was ordered by the then president Eisenhower on August 21,1959, and was adopted in July 1960. It is the version of the U. S. flag and has been in use for over 56 years. At the time of the Declaration of Independence in July 1776, the flag contemporaneously known as the Continental Colors has historically been referred to as the first national flag. The name Grand Union was first applied to the Continental Colors by George Preble in his 1872 history of the American flag, the flag closely resembles the British East India Company flag of the era, and Sir Charles Fawcett argued in 1937 that the company flag inspired the design. Both flags could have been constructed by adding white stripes to a British Red Ensign. However, an East India Company flag could have nine to 13 stripes. In any case, both the stripes and the stars have precedents in classical heraldry, Flag Day is now observed on June 14 of each year. While scholars still argue about this, tradition holds that the new flag was first hoisted in June 1777 by the Continental Army at the Middlebrook encampment. The first official U. S. flag flown during battle was on August 3,1777, Massachusetts reinforcements brought news of the adoption by Congress of the official flag to Fort Schuyler. A voucher is extant that Capt. Swartwout of Dutchess County was paid by Congress for his coat for the flag, the 1777 resolution was most probably meant to define a naval ensign. In the late 18th century, the notion of a flag did not yet exist. The flag resolution appears between other resolutions from the Marine Committee, on May 10,1779, Secretary of the Board of War Richard Peters expressed concern it is not yet settled what is the Standard of the United States. However, the term, Standard, referred to a standard for the Army of the United States. Each regiment was to carry the standard in addition to its regimental standard. The national standard was not a reference to the national or naval flag, the appearance was up to the maker of the flag. Some flag makers arranged the stars into one big star, in a circle or in rows, one arrangement features 13 five-pointed stars arranged in a circle, with the stars arranged pointing outwards from the circle, the so-called Betsy Ross flag
8.
Timeline of United States history
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This is a timeline of United States history, comprising important legal and territorial changes and political and economic events in the United States and its predecessor states. To read about the background to these events, see History of the United States, some dates before September 14,1752, when the British government adopted the Gregorian calendar, may be given in the Old Style
9.
Federal government of the United States
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The Federal Government of the United States is the national government of the United States, a republic in North America, composed of 50 states, one district, Washington, D. C. and several territories. The federal government is composed of three branches, legislative, executive, and judicial, whose powers are vested by the U. S. Constitution in the Congress, the President, and the courts, including the Supreme Court. The powers and duties of these branches are defined by acts of Congress. The full name of the republic is United States of America, no other name appears in the Constitution, and this is the name that appears on money, in treaties, and in legal cases to which it is a party. The terms Government of the United States of America or United States Government are often used in documents to represent the federal government as distinct from the states collectively. In casual conversation or writing, the term Federal Government is often used, the terms Federal and National in government agency or program names generally indicate affiliation with the federal government. Because the seat of government is in Washington, D. C, Washington is commonly used as a metonym for the federal government. The outline of the government of the United States is laid out in the Constitution, the government was formed in 1789, making the United States one of the worlds first, if not the first, modern national constitutional republics. The United States government is based on the principles of federalism and republicanism, some make the case for expansive federal powers while others argue for a more limited role for the central government in relation to individuals, the states or other recognized entities. For example, while the legislative has the power to create law, the President nominates judges to the nations highest judiciary authority, but those nominees must be approved by Congress. The Supreme Court, in its turn, has the power to invalidate as unconstitutional any law passed by the Congress and these and other examples are examined in more detail in the text below. The United States Congress is the branch of the federal government. It is bicameral, comprising the House of Representatives and the Senate, the House currently consists of 435 voting members, each of whom represents a congressional district. The number of each state has in the House is based on each states population as determined in the most recent United States Census. All 435 representatives serve a two-year term, each state receives a minimum of one representative in the House. There is no limit on the number of terms a representative may serve, in addition to the 435 voting members, there are six non-voting members, consisting of five delegates and one resident commissioner. In contrast, the Senate is made up of two senators from each state, regardless of population, there are currently 100 senators, who each serve six-year terms
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Media related to 1860 in the United States at Wikimedia Commons
