The year 1867 was a pivotal year, witnessing significant political, scientific, cultural, and technological developments across the globe. This article highlights some of the most important events of that year.
Political Events
February 17: The Austro-Hungarian Compromise of 1867, also known as the Ausgleich, establishes the dual monarchy of Austria-Hungary. This agreement fundamentally reshaped the Habsburg Empire, granting Hungary substantial autonomy.
March 1: Nebraska is admitted as the 37th state of the United States.
March 2: The United States Congress passes the first of the Reconstruction Acts, dividing the South into military districts. This marked a significant step in the Reconstruction Era following the American Civil War.
March 30: The United States purchases Alaska from Russia for $7.2 million (approximately 2 cents per acre). This event, initially mocked as "Seward's Folly" or "Seward's Icebox," later proved strategically and economically significant due to Alaska's natural resources.
April 1: Singapore becomes a British crown colony.
May 15: Emperor Maximilian I of Mexico is executed by a firing squad in Querétaro, marking the end of the Second Mexican Empire and the restoration of the Republic under Benito Juárez.
July 1: The British North America Act comes into effect, creating the Dominion of Canada by uniting the provinces of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and the Province of Canada (which was divided into Ontario and Quebec). This is a landmark event in Canadian history and independence.
August 3: The Meiji Restoration begins in Japan, marking the start of a period of rapid modernization and westernization.
October 18: Formal transfer of Alaska from Russia to the United States occurs.
Scientific Events
October 27: The first edition of Alfred Nobel’s dynamite is patented. This invention would revolutionize construction and mining, but also lead to its use in warfare.
Joseph Lister publishes "On the Antiseptic Principle in the Practice of Surgery", laying the foundation for antiseptic surgery. This had a profound impact on reducing post-operative infections and improving patient outcomes.
Cultural Events
Johann Strauss II composes "The Blue Danube" waltz. This piece of music quickly becomes one of the most famous and beloved waltzes of all time.
Karl Marx publishes the first volume of Das Kapital. This seminal work of socialist theory critiques capitalism and lays out Marx's theory of historical materialism and class struggle.
Technological Events
Christopher Latham Sholes patents the QWERTY keyboard layout. While initially designed to prevent typewriters from jamming, the QWERTY layout became the standard for typewriters and later computers.
Werner von Siemens demonstrates an electrically driven lift (elevator). This invention had a significant impact on urban development and the construction of taller buildings.