1845 - Florida and Texas admitted to the United States; beginning of
President Folk's Administration.
- Sir John Franklin sails on his last search for the Northwest
Passage.
- England and France war on the Argentine Confederation.
1846 - War between the United States and Mexico; General Taylor
captures Monterey; California and New Mexico occupied by United
States troops. See "THE ACQUISITION OF CALIFORNIA."
- Treaty with England arranges the Oregon boundary.
- Elias Howe patents the sewing-machine.
- "THE DISCOVERY OF NEPTUNE."
- Great Famine begins in Ireland. Corn-Law agitation at its
height in England, "REPEAL OF THE ENGLISH CORN LAWS."
- Unsuccessful uprising of the Poles. Cracow annexed to Austria.
Election of Pope Pius IX; his reforms. See "THE REFORMS OF Pius
IX."
1847 - General Taylor conquers Northern Mexico; Battle of Buena Vista.
General Scott captures Vera Cruz, marches on the city of
Mexico, wins repeated battles, and enters the capital in
triumph, September 14th. See "THE MEXICAN WAR."
- "FAMINE IN IRELAND."
- Tumult occasioned in Italy by the papal reforms; civil war of
the _Sonderbund_ in Switzerland; France finally subjugates
Morocco. See "THE FALL OF ABD-EL-KADER."
1848 - Peace signed between Mexico and the United States; cession of
large territory by Mexico.
- "DISCOVERY OF GOLD IN CALIFORNIA."
- The Mormons settle in Utah. See "MIGRATIONS OF THE MORMONS."
- Italian uprisings in Milan and Sicily; Sardinia grants a
constitution to its subjects. See "THE REVOLUTION OF FEBRUARY
IN FRANCE." Gathering of a workingmen's convention in Paris.
- Outbreak of revolution in Vienna (March 13th) and in Berlin
(March 18th). See "REVOLUTIONARY MOVEMENTS IN GERMANY."
- Meeting of the German Parliament at Frankfort.
- Venice declares itself a republic. Sardinia begins war for the
"liberation of Italy"; Battle of Custozza. Bloody outbreak of
communists in Paris. Unsuccessful revolts in Poland and
Bohemia.
- "THE REVOLT OF HUNGARY."
- Storming of Vienna by government troops. Flight of Pius IX from
Rome. Louis Napoleon elected President of France.
- The English crowd back the Boers in Southern Africa; the Boers
migrate and form the Transvaal Republic.
1849 - Zachary Taylor inaugurated as President of the United States.
- Rome declared a republic. The Sardinian troops defeated by the
Austrians at Novara, and the Sardinian King resigns his throne
to his son, Victor Emmanuel II. Austria again dominant in
Italy. Rome stormed by French troops. See "RISE AND FALL OF THE
ROMAN REPUBLIC."
- Venice surrenders to the Austrians after nearly a year of
siege. Hungary declared a republic; her forces crushed by the
- Russians in aid of Austria.
- Denmark and Schleswig-Holstein at war. A German confederation
established.
- "LIVINGSTONE'S AFRICAN DISCOVERIES."
- The Punjab annexed to British India.
1850 - Death of President Taylor.
- Congress passes the Clay compromise measures admitting
California as a free State, but compelling the return of
fugitive slaves by the North.
- Tai-ping rebellion begins in China.
1851 - First great world's fair in the Crystal Palace, London.
- "DISCOVERY OF GOLD IN AUSTRALIA."
- "THE COUP D'ÉTAT OF LOUIS NAPOLEON." Napoleon dismisses the
Assembly, and is elected President of France for ten years.
1852 - Napoleon III proclaimed Emperor of France.
1853 - Franklin Pierce inaugurated as President of the United States.
- The Gadsden Purchase made from Mexico, including Southern
Arizona and New Mexico. Surveys begin for a transcontinental
railroad.
- Dr. Kane sets out on his arctic explorations.
- Russia quarrels with Turkey, claims a protectorate over all
Christians in Turkish dominions; war begun, a Turkish fleet
destroyed at Sinope. England and France interfere.
- Great successes of the Tai-pings in China.
1854 - Passage of the Kansas-Nebraska Bill intensifies the slavery
agitation in the United States; formation of the Republican
party. See "THE RISE OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY."
- France and England declare war against Russia; bombardment of
Bomarsund; the allies land in the Crimea; battles of the Alma,
of Balaklava, of Inkerman, siege of Sebastopol.
- "THE OPENING OF JAPAN."