World History Timeline
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Year 1863

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Events this year

January 1, 1863★★★★★

Emancipation Proclamation

President Lincoln proclaims freedom for enslaved people in the Confederate states in rebellion.

Politics· United States
July 1, 1863 – July 3, 1863★★★★★

Battle of Gettysburg

Union forces defeat Robert E. Lee's army in Pennsylvania in the bloodiest battle of the Civil War, a turning point of the conflict.

War· United States
November 19, 1863★★★★★

Gettysburg Address

Abraham Lincoln delivers a brief speech dedicating the military cemetery at Gettysburg, affirming the ideals of liberty and equality.

Politics· United States

Ongoing

November 3, 1839 – 1876★★★★★

Tanzimat reforms begin

The Edict of Gülhane opens the Tanzimat, a series of reforms modernising Ottoman administration, law and the army.

Politics· Turkey
1845 – 1872★★★★★

The New Zealand Wars

A series of armed conflicts between the colonial government and Māori iwi, chiefly over land and sovereignty, which led to large confiscations of Māori land.

War· New Zealand, United Kingdom
1850 – 1864★★★★★

Taiping Rebellion

Hong Xiuquan's movement founds the 'Taiping Heavenly Kingdom'; the ensuing civil war causes tens of millions of deaths.

WarReligionRevolution· China
1858 – 1947★★★★★

Beginning of the British Raj

After the 1857 rebellion, the Government of India Act transfers rule from the East India Company to the British Crown; the Mughal Empire formally ends.

Politics· India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, United Kingdom
April 12, 1861 – 1865★★★★★

American Civil War

War between the Union and the seceding Confederate states, centred on slavery, ending in Union victory and the abolition of slavery.

War· United States