1862 in History

Promises to manage Parliament & put through reforms in defiance of Parliament. Persuades William not to abdicate & ends the Constitutional Crisis

Federal land grants are authorized to support agricultural and mechanical colleges

Publishes an article reviewing political and military developments in the United States.

Lincoln sends his second annual message to Congress

Saves the King from the Liberals in the House of Deputies over army expansion

Says great issues of the day will be decided by "iron & blood". Asks the Landtag to increase the Army Budget

Revenue Act establishes the Bureau of Internal Revenue

The Companies Act consolidates registration and limited-liability rules for joint-stock companies.

Persuades William not to abdicate & ends the Constitutional Crisis

Sends a telegram to Bismarck to solve the Constitutional Crisis in Prussia

Lincoln signs legislation creating the United States Department of Agriculture

Elected to the United States House of Representatives

Preliminary proclamation makes abolition in Confederate controlled areas an official Union war objective

Publishes an article examining British press reaction to the Union capture of New Orleans.

Publishes a Tribune article examining English public opinion toward the United States.

Publishes an article linking misleading French reports with the economic consequences of war.

Promises to form a Government & put through reforms in defiance of Parliament

The Homestead Act offers public land to settlers who improve and occupy it.

Lincoln signs the Homestead Act opening western public land to settlers

Bismarck makes a famous speech to the Budget Committee of the Prussian Chamber of Deputies in which he expounds on the use of "iron and blood" to achieve Prussia's goals

A provisional government assumes authority after the overthrow of King Otto.

Congress authorises United States notes not immediately redeemable in specie.

Lincoln signs the Legal Tender Act authorizing United States notes

Publishes an account of a London workers' meeting concerning the American Civil War.

Northern governors meet at Altoona and support Lincoln and the Union war effort

Appointed Minister President of Prussia

Appointed Chief Minister President of Prussia

Lincoln signs legislation restricting bigamy in United States territories

Lincoln signs the Morrill Act supporting land grant colleges

Lincoln signs the Morrill Act supporting land grant colleges

Lincoln signs the Pacific Railway Act supporting a transcontinental railroad

Lincoln signs the Pacific Railway Act supporting construction of the first transcontinental railroad

The Pacific Railway Act supports construction of a transcontinental railroad with land and bonds.

Promises to manage Parliament & put through reforms in defiance of Parliament

Gladstone makes a speech in support of the independence of the Confederate States of America in the American Civil War, claiming that Jefferson Davis had "made a nation"

Lincoln announces that enslaved people in rebellious areas will be declared free on January 1 1863

Lincoln issues the preliminary Emancipation Proclamation after the Battle of Antietam

Lincoln makes emancipation a central Union war aim

Lincoln warns rebellious states that enslaved people will be declared free unless they return to the Union

Appointed President of Argentina after national reunification

Succeeds his father as president of Paraguay.

Begins a one-year term as President of the Swiss Confederation.

Publishes an article on a British public meeting expressing support for the United States.

The Landtag refuses to carry out reforms of the Army

Lincoln signs a broader Revenue Act expanding federal tax administration

Publishes an article on British supporters of secession and recognition of the Union blockade.

Publishes an article discussing a suppressed diplomatic dispatch associated with William Seward.

Sends a telegram to Bismarck to solve the Constitutional Crisis in Prussia

Publishes an article examining the British cotton crisis produced by disruption of American supplies.

Pacific Railway Act grants federal support for construction of the transcontinental railroad

Cuza forms a single government and parliament for the United Principalities.

Federal paper currency is authorized as legal tender

Louis Botha is born near Greytown in Natal.

Birth of Prince Heinrich of Prussia, brother of Emperor Wilhelm II of Germany

The future Boer general and South African prime minister is born.

Death of Bahadur Shah II, in exile

Dies after ruling Paraguay and expanding state power.

Death of James Clark Ross

Killed at the Battle of Chancellorsville by one of his own soldiers in the confusion

Unionist General at the Battle of Antietam

The Confederates lose 2,700 dead & 9,000 wounded. The Battle paves the way for Lincolns Proclamation of Emancipation. Robert Lees plan to convert Maryland to the Confederate cause is defeated. A tactical stalemate but strategically very important for the Unionists

Union forces halt Lees invasion of Maryland and give Lincoln the opportunity to issue emancipation policy

The Unionists lose 2,100 dead & 9,500 wounded. Blocks the Confederates under General Lee on Maryland & Washington DC

Robert Lees plan to convert Maryland to the Confederate cause is defeated

Unionist General at the Battle of Antietam

Killed at the Battle of Chancellorsville by one of his own soldiers in the confusion. Helps defeat Unionists under General Hooker

Leads the Northern army of 113,000 defended by Jackson with 75,000. Fails to capture Fredericksburg

Fredericksburg is defended by Jackson with a southern army of 75,000. Burnside leads a Northern army of 113,000 but fails to capture Fredericksburg

Supports Jackson at Fredericksburg

Union forces from Washington are stopped from reaching Richmond

Grant defeats Confederate troops led by Johnston who is killed

An indecisive battle

Ward is mortally wounded. The Chinese merchants army of liberation under Ward wins 11 victories in 4 months