1897 marked a year of significant developments across the globe, spanning politics, science, culture, and technology. This entry outlines the key events of the year, with particular attention to those impacting the United States.
Politics and International Relations
February 4: The Greco-Turkish War begins, initially concerning the status of Crete. This conflict highlighted the declining power of the Ottoman Empire and the complex political landscape of the Balkans.
March 4: William McKinley is inaugurated as the 25th President of the United States. McKinley's presidency would be defined by economic recovery, the Spanish-American War, and an expansionist foreign policy.
May 10: Robert Gascoyne-Cecil, 3rd Marquess of Salisbury becomes Prime Minister of the United Kingdom for the third time.
July 7: Salomon August Andrée's Arctic balloon expedition launches from Spitsbergen, Norway. All three crew members perish, and the remains of the expedition are not discovered until 1930.
October 22: The Chilean Boundary Treaty of 1881 is ratified, settling a long-standing boundary dispute between Argentina and Chile. This treaty helped prevent potential conflicts between the two South American nations.
December: The Dreyfus Affair in France intensifies, deepening divisions within French society. The case involved the wrongful conviction of Alfred Dreyfus, a Jewish officer in the French army, on charges of treason. The Dreyfus Affair exposed antisemitism and political corruption within the French government.
Science and Technology
January 13: The electric tricycle is patented by Anthony Libeau. This invention contributed to the burgeoning development of electric vehicles.
April 30: J. J. Thomson announces the discovery of the electron at the Royal Institution in London. This groundbreaking discovery revolutionized our understanding of atomic structure and paved the way for advancements in electronics and physics.
August 20: Karl Ferdinand Braun invents the cathode ray tube oscilloscope. This invention has critical implications for electronic measurements, displays and became an integral part of many devices, including the first televisions.
September 19: The first Boston subway, called the Tremont Street Subway, opened in Boston, Massachusetts.
Culture
February 24: Giuseppe Verdi's opera Falstaff premieres at La Scala in Milan. This opera is considered one of Verdi's finest comedic works and a significant contribution to the operatic repertoire.
March 15:The Old Gentleman of the Black Stock by Thomas Nelson Page is published.
March 29: Johannes Brahms dies in Vienna. Brahms was a leading composer of the Romantic era, known for his symphonies, chamber music, and vocal works.
December 4:The Gadfly by Ethel Voynich is published.
The Klondike Gold Rush: Although gold had been discovered in the Klondike region of Canada in 1896, the news spread widely in 1897, triggering a massive influx of prospectors from the United States and other countries. The gold rush significantly impacted the economy of the Pacific Northwest and spurred development in Alaska and the Yukon.
Dingley Act: Passed by the U.S. Congress, this act raised tariffs to protect American industries. It was a significant piece of protectionist legislation and reflected the Republican Party's commitment to safeguarding domestic manufacturing.
Annexation of Hawaii: While the formal annexation wouldn't occur until 1898, the movement to annex Hawaii gained significant momentum in 1897. American business interests and strategic considerations fueled the push for annexation, setting the stage for the eventual incorporation of Hawaii as a U.S. territory.
Founding of the National PTA: Alice Birney and Phoebe Apperson Hearst co-founded the National Congress of Mothers, later known as the National Parent Teacher Association (PTA), in Washington, D.C. This organization played a crucial role in advocating for the education and well-being of children.
1897 was a pivotal year, marked by scientific breakthroughs, political shifts, and cultural milestones. The events of this year laid the groundwork for the 20th century and beyond, shaping the world as we know it today.