In England, the system of purchasing commissions and promotions in the army is abolished, and also the requirements of religious tests in the universities of Oxford and Cambridge. Russia gives notice that she will no longer be held by the treaty made after the Crimean War, under which she abrogated naval rights in the Black Sea; England and other powers acquiesce. Death of Sir John Herschel, astronomer, and of George Grote, historian and philosopher.
In France, the siege of Paris is ended by capitulation and armistice, pending formation of a government to negotiate peace with the victorious Germans. A National Assembly, selected by popular vote, meets at Bordeaux and selects M. Thiers as “executive head” of the Republic with a coalition cabinet representing the several factions. M. Thiers negotiates peace by which Germany annexes Alsace, except the city of Belfort, and a part of Lorraine (Treaty of Frankfort); indemnity to Germany, one billion dollars; German troops to occupy France pending its final payment. M. Thiers now made President of the French Republic. Meantime, civil war breaks out in Paris, and the Commune is established with a reign of bloodshed, cruel reprisals, and wanton destruction of property; burning of the Tuileries, the Louvre, Hôtel de Ville, and leveling of the Vendôme Column; barbarous murder of the hostages, including Archbishop Darboy. Commune is finally quelled after bombardment, assault, and capture of city by French Government troops; leaders of Commune executed; lives lost during the conflict, fourteen thousand. The Mont Cenis tunnel is opened for traffic, thus piercing the barrier of the Alps between France and Italy. Death of Auber, French composer.
In Spain, Minister Serrano having resigned, King Amadeus first appoints Zorilla and then Sagasta in his place. The excellent qualities of King Amadeus fail to compensate for his being a foreigner, while his honesty of purpose alienates him from all political factions. Meantime, the Alfonsists and Carlists organize their hostility and raise standard of war. In Germany, William I triumphantly returns to Berlin, after having been proclaimed Emperor of Germany in the palace of Versailles (see France). The first Reichstag of the new German Empire is formally opened. In Italy, the seat of government is transferred from Florence to Rome, the first Italian Government in Rome for many centuries. In Mexico, Juarez is again elected President, but by a small majority, owing to large following developed by General Diaz as a rival candidate. Diaz party in rebellion over result (see 1872). In Africa, Stanley, heading the New York Herald expedition, finds Livingstone and relieves his wants.
RULERS—United States, Ulysses S. Grant, President; Great Britain, Queen Victoria; France, L. Thiers, President; Spain, Amadeus; Germany, William I; Russia, Alexander II; Italy, Victor Emmanuel; Austria, Francis Joseph; Pope, Pius IX.
POPULATION—Washington, D. C., 109,199; New York (including boroughs now forming Greater New York), 1,469,045; New York (Manhattan), 942,292; Chicago, 298,977; London, 3,351,804; United States, 38,558,371; Great Britain and Ireland, 31,672,678. World population, estimated at 1,310,000,000.
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1872
In the United States, a general epidemic prevails among horses; business seriously crippled by it, and great financial loss. In Boston, a great fire destroys the business portion of the city; loss, seventy million dollars. General U. S. Grant, Republican, is reelected President; Henry Wilson, Vice-President; defeated candidate, Horace Greeley (Liberal Republican and Democratic parties). Congressional investigation of the Credit Mobilier corporation in connection with the building of the Pacific Railway; great scandal developed from the discovery that much of the Credit Mobilier stock is owned by members of Congress. The Geneva arbitrators award fifteen million five hundred thousand dollars damages to the United States for depredations committed during Civil War by Confederate cruisers built or equipped in England; and the Emperor of Germany arbitrates in favor of the United States in its contention with Great Britain for ownership of the San Juan Islands, between Washington Territory and Vancouver Island. Death of William H. Seward, American statesman; Horace Greeley, famous American journalist and editor; James Gordon Bennett, founder of the New York Herald; and Professor S. F. B. Morse, American inventor and father of the telegraph. Important inventions; the duplex telegraph perfected by Stearns; George Westinghouse, Jr., produces improved air-brake for trains (see 1869); Lyall Invents the “positive motion loom.” Immigration, 404,806; exports, $444,177,586.
In England, Stanley returns and publishes “How I Found Livingstone.” Deaths of Poole, English dramatist; Charles Lever, Irish novelist; Sir John Bowring, linguist and social politician. In France, the seat of government is transferred from Versailles to Paris. The government revokes the proscription of the Orleans and Bourbon princes. Death of Gautier, French novelist and essayist.
In Spain, Serrano again assumes ministry, but resigns because King Amadeus declines to encourage civil war by taking the aggressive against the Alfonsists and Carlists. Amadeus’s courage and coolness is exhibited strikingly amid conspiracies that surround him and warnings and attempts to assassinate him; but being surrounded by traitorous ministers and generals, with the army disorganized and rule in Spain under a constitution appearing to be impossible, the king at length decides to abdicate (see 1873). In Germany, the meeting in Berlin of the Emperors of Germany, Russia, and Austria establishes the “league of the three emperors” (Drelkaiserbund), thus assuring the peace of Europe and emphasizing the German capital as the pivot of European policy. Death of Feuerbach, German philosopher. In Mexico, a civil War is begun by General Diaz and his partisans, but it is ended by the sudden death of President Juarez from apoplexy. Lerdo de Tajada, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, assumes the Presidency; is subsequently elected, and tranquillity is restored.