1887 was a year of significant developments across the globe, marked by advancements in science, technology, and culture, as well as shifts in the political landscape.
Politics and Law
Interstate Commerce Act (United States): A landmark piece of legislation passed by the United States Congress, this act aimed to regulate the railroad industry, particularly its monopolistic practices. It established the Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC) to oversee railroad rates and practices, marking a significant step in federal regulation of private enterprise. This event demonstrates the rise of progressivism in the US.
Dawes Act (United States): Officially known as the General Allotment Act, this law authorized the President of the United States to survey Native American tribal land and divide it into allotments for individual Native Americans. The aim was to assimilate Native Americans into mainstream society, but it resulted in the loss of vast amounts of tribal land and the disruption of traditional cultures. This Act is a controversial moment in American History.
Triple Alliance Renewed: The Triple Alliance between Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy was renewed, solidifying the major power blocs in Europe and contributing to the tensions that would ultimately lead to World War I. This represents an important part of European History.
Science and Technology
Michelson-Morley Experiment: Although conducted earlier, the results of the Michelson-Morley experiment became more widely accepted and debated this year. This experiment, designed to detect the existence of the luminiferous aether, yielded null results, casting doubt on the prevailing theory of light propagation and paving the way for Einstein's theory of relativity. This marks an important step in physics.
Heinrich Hertz's Radio Wave Experiments: While Hertz's first experiments were performed in 1886, 1887 saw him more clearly demonstrate the existence of electromagnetic waves, confirming James Clerk Maxwell's theories and laying the foundation for radio technology. This is an important even in the history of telecommunications.
Emile Berliner patents the gramophone: Berliner, a German-American inventor, patented the gramophone, an improved version of the phonograph that used flat, grooved discs to record and play back sound. This was a crucial step in the development of sound recording and the music industry.
Culture
Arthur Conan Doyle publishes "A Study in Scarlet": This marked the debut of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson, introducing the world to the iconic detective duo and popularizing the detective genre. The book launched a series of stories related to detectives.
First Esperanto Book: L.L. Zamenhof published Unua Libro, the first book describing the international language Esperanto, aiming to facilitate communication between people of different linguistic backgrounds. This book marks a step in the developent of linguistics.
Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee: The British Empire celebrated Queen Victoria's 50th year on the throne with celebrations throughout the empire, marking a high point of the Victorian era.
Other Notable Events
Annexation of Christmas Island by the UK: The British Empire formally annexed Christmas Island in the Indian Ocean, drawn by its phosphate deposits.