Major Events of the 19th Century

By Robert McNamara, About.com Guide to 19th Century History

The 19th century was a time of astounding historical events, from disasters that shocked the world to advances in transportation, science, and engineering.

1. Transportation Milestones in the 19th Century
2. Disasters of the 19th Century
3. American Political Events

Transportation Milestones in the 19th Century

In 1800, people traveled as they always had, on foot or on horseback, and ships crossed the oceans powered only by the wind. By 1900 steamships circled the globe, locomotives crossed continents, and bridges spanned great rivers.

• The Erie Canal
• The National Road
• Isambard Kingdom Brunel's Steamships
• The Brooklyn Bridge
• The Menai Suspension Bridge

Disasters of the 19th Century

The 19th century was a time of great progress, but it was also marked by disasters that could not be predicted and were often barely understood at the time.

• Sinking of the Steampship Arctic
• The Eruption of the Krakatoa Volcano
• The Johnstown Flood
• Ireland's Big Wind

American Political Events

Enormously important political events transformed America throughout the 19th century. The election of 1800 resulted in a Constitutional crisis, and other elections were hotly contested and widely considered fraudulent. Political conventions began, political parties came and went, and some great men were elected.

• The Deadlocked Election of 1800
• The Corrupt Bargain: The Election of 1824
• The Dirtiest Campaign: The Election of 1828
• The Log Cabin and Hard Cider Campaign of 1840

• Lincoln Goes to the White House: The Election of 1860
• The Great Stolen Election of 1876
• Scandals and Gaffes: The Election of 1884
• The First American Political Conventions