The year 1874 saw significant events unfold across the globe in politics, science, culture, and technology. This article summarizes some of the most notable occurrences of that year.
Politics and Law
January 1: The Second Spanish Republic Spain is established through a military coup led by General Manuel Pavía.
January 9: Levi P. Morton takes office as the United States Representative for New York.
January 25: The Republic of Salo is established.
March 1: The United States Congress passes the Civil Rights Act of 1875 (although it is enacted the following year). This landmark legislation aimed to guarantee equal rights in public accommodations and transportation, regardless of race, color, or previous condition of servitude. However, it later faced significant legal challenges and was eventually weakened by the Supreme Court.
May 10: France France recognizes the Third Republic.
December 8: General elections are held in the United Kingdom, resulting in a Conservative victory led by Benjamin Disraeli.
Science and Technology
January 20: The "Great Hinckley Fire" in Hinckley, Illinois, destroys the town. It leads to improvements in fire safety and prevention methods in United States.
June 25: The SS Great Britain returns to the same drydock in Bristol from which it was launched in 1843.
November 24: Michelson measures the speed of light in air in his first experiment, a foundational moment for modern physics.
Culture
April 15: The first impressionist exhibition, organized by artists including Claude Monet, Edgar Degas, and Pierre-Auguste Renoir, opens in Paris. This event is considered a turning point in the history of art, marking a departure from traditional academic styles.
November 14: The opera Amica by Pietro Mascagni premieres in Monte Carlo.
Literature: Thomas Hardy publishes Far from the Madding Crowd, establishing him as a major novelist.
Music: Johann Strauss II composes the operetta Die Fledermaus, which becomes one of his most popular and enduring works.
Other Notable Events
Foundation of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union (WCTU): Founded in Cleveland, Ohio in the United States, the WCTU became a major force in the temperance movement, advocating for the prohibition of alcohol.
May 20: Levi Strauss & Co. is granted a patent for copper rivets on men’s work pants, cementing the company’s position as a leading manufacturer of what would become known as jeans. The United States plays a major role in the manufacturing and development of these jeans.