The year 1864 was a pivotal one across the globe, marked by significant events in political, scientific, cultural, and technological spheres. It was a year particularly dominated by the American Civil War, which had a profound impact on the United States and the course of its future.
Politics and Military Affairs
January 1 – Emancipation Proclamation Fully in Effect (United States): While issued in 1863, 1864 saw the Emancipation Proclamation's full implementation, declaring the freedom of slaves in Confederate territories still in rebellion against the United States. This significantly altered the war's objectives and laid the groundwork for the 13th Amendment.
March 9 – Ulysses S. Grant Appointed General-in-Chief (United States):Ulysses S. Grant was appointed General-in-Chief of the Union Army, consolidating military command and marking a turning point in the American Civil War. His strategy of relentless attrition would eventually lead to Confederate defeat.
May 5–7 – Battle of the Wilderness (United States): A bloody and inconclusive battle in Virginia, marking the beginning of Grant's Overland Campaign. It resulted in heavy casualties on both sides, but Grant pressed onward towards Richmond, demonstrating his determination.
May 8–21 – Battle of Spotsylvania Court House (United States): Another major engagement in the Overland Campaign. The intense fighting resulted in significant losses and demonstrated the brutal nature of the ongoing American Civil War.
May 15 – Battle of New Market (United States): Confederate victory in the Shenandoah Valley.
May 26 – Montana Territory Established (United States): The United States Congress created the Montana Territory, further expanding the nation's reach westward despite the ongoing conflict.
June 3 – Battle of Cold Harbor (United States): A particularly devastating Union defeat during Grant's Overland Campaign, resulting in thousands of casualties in a very short period.
June 15–18 – Second Battle of Petersburg (United States): Marked the beginning of the Siege of Petersburg, a critical turning point that would cripple the Confederacy's supply lines and eventually lead to the fall of Richmond.
June 19 – CSS Alabama Sunk (Off the Coast of France): The Confederate raider CSS Alabama, which had preyed upon Union shipping for years, was sunk by the USS Kearsarge in a naval battle off the coast of Cherbourg, France.
July 20 – Battle of Peachtree Creek (United States): Confederate attack against Union forces outside of Atlanta, ultimately ending in a Union victory.
July 22 – Battle of Atlanta (United States): Union victory in the American Civil War.
September 2 – Fall of Atlanta (United States): The Union Army, under General William Tecumseh Sherman, captured Atlanta, a critical Confederate rail hub. This victory boosted Union morale and aided President Lincoln's re-election prospects.
October 19 – Battle of Cedar Creek (United States): Union victory in the Shenandoah Valley.
October 31 – Nevada Admitted to the Union (United States): Nevada became the 36th state in the United States.
November 8 – Abraham Lincoln Re-elected (United States):Abraham Lincoln won re-election as President of the United States, defeating George B. McClellan. This victory was seen as a mandate to continue the American Civil War and solidify the Union.
November 16 – Sherman's March to the Sea Begins (United States): General William Tecumseh Sherman began his devastating march from Atlanta to Savannah, Georgia, employing a "scorched earth" policy to cripple the Confederacy's ability to wage war.
November 29 – Sand Creek Massacre (United States): The United States Army, under Colonel John Chivington, attacked and massacred a peaceful Cheyenne and Arapaho village in southeastern Colorado Territory. This was a dark episode in the history of relations between the United States government and Native American tribes.
December 21 – Sherman Captures Savannah (United States): The end of Sherman's March to the Sea, marking a significant blow to the Confederacy.
Science and Technology
August Kekulé's Benzene Structure:August Kekulé proposed the cyclic structure of benzene, a major breakthrough in organic chemistry.
Culture
Completion of The Marble Faun by Nathaniel Hawthorne: The novel, also known as Transformation, was published, exploring themes of art, sin, and innocence against the backdrop of Italy.
Publication of Journey to the Center of the Earth by Jules Verne: This landmark science fiction novel established many of the tropes of the genre and captured the public's imagination.
Other Notable Events
Second Schleswig War Ends: The war between Denmark and Prussia/Austria concludes with Denmark ceding Schleswig and Holstein, leading to future conflicts.
1864 was a year of intense conflict and important advancements, particularly shaping the future of the United States through the American Civil War. The political and military events of this year significantly impacted the social fabric, political landscape, and economic future of the nation.