The 19th century spanned from January 1, 1801, to December 31, 1900. It was a period marked by significant social upheaval and transformation globally
. Key characteristics and events during the 19th century include:
- The abolition of slavery in much of Europe and the Americas, culminating in legal bans such as the Slavery Abolition Act 1833 in the British Empire and the Lei Áurea in Brazil in 1888
- The expansion of the First Industrial Revolution beyond Britain, leading to profound economic and social changes in regions like the Low Countries, France, Northern Italy, and the Northeastern United States
- The American Civil War (1861–1865), which was largely fought over slavery, ended with the abolition of slavery in the United States through the Thirteenth Amendment in 1865
- Major geopolitical and social events such as the independence movements in Latin America, the establishment of Singapore by the British East India Company in 1819, and the discovery of Antarctica in 1820
- The rise of modern institutions, including the founding of the Metropolitan Police Service in 1829 and the International Red Cross in 1863
- Cultural and scientific milestones like the Great Exhibition in London (1851), the opening of the Suez Canal (1869), and the inauguration of the Eiffel Tower (1889)
Overall, the 19th century was a transformative era that reshaped societies through industrialization, political revolutions, abolition of slavery, and cultural advancements
