The year 1876 was marked by significant developments across the globe in politics, science, culture, and technology. It was a year of intense political activity in the United States, with a highly contested presidential election, and saw advances in fields ranging from telephony to public health.
Politics and Government
March 2: The United States Congress authorizes funds to purchase a site for the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery.
March 10: Alexander Graham Bell transmits the first intelligible speech ("Mr. Watson, come here, I want to see you.") over a telephone. This marks a pivotal moment in telecommunications history and the practical demonstration of Bell's invention.
May 10: The Centennial Exposition opens in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, celebrating the 100th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence and showcasing American industrial and cultural achievements. It served as a major symbol of national unity and progress.
June 25-26: The Battle of the Little Bighorn takes place in Montana Territory. Lakota, Northern Cheyenne, and Arapaho tribes, led by Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse, defeat the 7th Cavalry Regiment of the United States Army, commanded by General George Armstrong Custer. This battle is a significant event in the American Indian Wars.
August 1: Colorado is admitted to the United States as the 38th state.
November 7: The United States presidential election occurs between Republican Rutherford B. Hayes and Democrat Samuel Tilden. The election results are highly disputed, with several states submitting conflicting returns. This leads to a major political crisis.
December 6: The Electoral College votes for Rutherford B. Hayes, however, due to the contested results, the outcome remained uncertain leading into 1877.
Science and Technology
January 15: William Crookes delivers a lecture on radiant matter, a form of matter that Crookes believed to exist in a state beyond gas, at the Royal Institution. This work was a precursor to the discovery of the electron.
February 14:Alexander Graham Bell and Elisha Gray independently file patent applications for the telephone on the same day. This leads to a long legal battle over who should be credited with the invention.
May 10 - November 10: The Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia displays numerous technological innovations, including the Corliss steam engine, which powered many of the exhibits, and Alexander Graham Bell's telephone.
October 29: The first practical telephone line is completed between Boston and Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Culture
February 14: The Johns Hopkins University, the first research university in the United States, is founded in Baltimore, Maryland. This marked a shift toward graduate education and research.
March 3: The first performance of Edvard Grieg's Peer Gynt Suite No. 1 takes place in Christiania (now Oslo).
April 18:Lohengrin, an opera by Richard Wagner, receives its United States premiere at the New York Academy of Music.
July 4: The Centennial Exposition serves as a focal point for national celebrations, featuring patriotic speeches, concerts, and exhibitions highlighting American history and culture.
December 6: Gilbert and Sullivan's one-act comic opera Trial by Jury opens at the Eagle Theatre, London, achieving great success and launching the famous duo's career.
Other Notable Events
June 18: The Montenegrin–Ottoman War (1876–78) begins.
July 1: Serbia declares war on the Ottoman Empire.
July 2: The Principality of Montenegro and the Principality of Serbia declared war on the Ottoman Empire, starting the Serbian–Ottoman War (1876–78) and the Montenegrin–Ottoman War (1876–78).
1876 was a year of significant transformations, particularly in the United States with its centennial celebration and tumultuous election, alongside global advancements in technology and cultural expression.