Category Archives: 1860s

President Andrew Johnson’s impeachment trial begins 150 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Mar 5 1868)

1860s, U.S. Presidents


Videos: 'Andrew Johnson battle the Radical Republicans'/Impeachment of Andrew Johnson'

(Thursday, March 5, 1868, 1:00 p.m. local time) — The impeachment trial of President Andrew Johnson, accused of committing “high crimes and misdemeanors” by attempting to fire Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton in violation of the Tenure of Office Act, began today in the U.S. Senate with Chief Justice Salmon P. Chase presiding. Continue reading President Andrew Johnson’s impeachment trial begins 150 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Mar 5 1868) →

President Andrew Johnson impeached 150 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 24 1868)

1860s, U.S. Presidents


Videos: 'Andrew Johnson battle the Radical Republicans'/Impeachment of Andrew Johnson

(Monday, February 24, 1868, 4:58 p.m. local time) — The U.S. House of Representatives voted 126 to 47 today in favor of a resolution to impeach President Andrew Johnson for high crimes and misdemeanors, three days following his attempt to dismiss of Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton. Continue reading President Andrew Johnson impeached 150 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 24 1868) →

Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks founded 150 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 16 1868)

1860s


Video: 'Elks 150th Timeline'

(Sunday, February 16, 1868) — The Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, an American fraternal order, was founded today as a private club to elude New York City laws governing the opening hours of public taverns. Continue reading Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks founded 150 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 16 1868) →

Canada becomes self-governing dominion of Great Britain 150 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Jul 1 1867)

1860s


Video: 'British North America Act creates the Dominion of Canada'

(Monday, July 1, 1867) — Canada became a self-governing dominion of Great Britain today as the British North America Act of 1867 took effect; Sir John A. Macdonald was sworn in as the first Prime Minister of Canada. Continue reading Canada becomes self-governing dominion of Great Britain 150 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Jul 1 1867) →

U.S. reaches agreement to purchase Alaska from Russia 150 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Mar 30 1867)

1860s


Video: 'Alaska: "Seward's Folly" - Decades TV Network'

(Saturday, March 30, 1867, 4:00 a.m. local time) — U.S. Secretary of State William H. Seward reached agreement with Russia early today in Washington to purchase the territory of Alaska for $7.2 million ($125 million today), a deal ridiculed by critics as “Seward’s Folly.” Continue reading U.S. reaches agreement to purchase Alaska from Russia 150 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Mar 30 1867) →

British North America Act creates the Dominion of Canada 150 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Mar 29 1867)

1860s


Video: 'British North America Act creates the Dominion of Canada'

(Friday, March 29, 1867) — Britain’s Parliament passed, and Queen Victoria signed, the British North America Act today, creating the Dominion of Canada, which came into being July 1, 1867. Continue reading British North America Act creates the Dominion of Canada 150 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Mar 29 1867) →

Nebraska becomes 37th state 150 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Mar 1 1867)

1860s, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'Nebraska 150 Sesquicentennial'

(Friday, March 1, 1867) — Nebraska, which lies in both the Great Plains and the Midwestern United States, became the 37th state today as President Andrew Johnson reluctantly signed a proclamation. Continue reading Nebraska becomes 37th state 150 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Mar 1 1867) →

African-American men granted the right to vote in District of Columbia 150 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Jan 8 1867)

1860s

(Tuesday, January 8, 1867; during the Reconstruction Era) — The U.S. House of Representatives joined the Senate today in overriding President Andrew Johnson’s veto of the District of Columbia Suffrage Bill, giving African-American men in the nation’s capital the right to vote.

It was the first law in U.S. history that extended the ballot to African-American men.

Lincoln, Grant, Sherman and Porter confer at City Point, Virginia 150 years ago this evening (Mar 27 1865)

1860s, American Civil War


Video: 'Ken Burns - The Civil War: Episode 8 - War Is All Hell (1865) | Ken Burns Documentary' (Mar. 27, 1865, 33:50)

(Monday, March 27, 1865, evening; during the American Civil War) — U.S. President Abraham Lincoln met with union generals Ulysses S. Grant and William T. Sherman and Admiral David D. Porter onboard the passenger steamboat River Queen tonight at City Point, Virginia, to plot the final stages of the Civil War. The four met again the next day, Mar. 28, 1865.

Confederates attack Federals at Fort Stedman but forced to withdraw 150 years ago this hour (Mar 25 1865)

1860s, American Civil War


Video: 'Ken Burns - The Civil War: Episode 8 - War Is All Hell (1865) | Ken Burns Documentary' (Mar. 25, 1865, 36:26)

(Saturday, March 25, 1865, 4:15 a.m. local time; during the American Civil War) — The Battle of Fort Stedman was fought today as the Union Army fortification in the siege lines around Petersburg, Virginia, was attacked in a pre-dawn Confederate assault by troops led by Maj. Gen. John B. Gordon.

The attack was the last serious attempt by Confederate troops to break the Siege of Petersburg. After an initial success, Gordon’s men were driven back by Union troops of the IX Corps commanded by Maj. Gen. John G. Parke.