Russia abolished serfdom in 1861 and the USA slavery in 1865; Brazil was the last country in the Americas to abolish slavery, only in 1888.
The events
- Emancipation of the serfs in Russia1861 · Saint Petersburg. On 19 February (3 March) 1861 Alexander II signed the manifesto freeing the serfs. More than 20 million privately owned peasants gained personal freedom but had to pay redemption for their land. The reform opened Russia's era of Great Reforms.
- Golden Law abolishes slavery in Brazil1888 · Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. On 13 May 1888 Princess Regent Isabel signed a law of two short articles abolishing slavery with no compensation. By various estimates around 700,000 people were freed. Over three centuries Brazil had received more enslaved Africans than any other country in the Americas. Resentful planters turned against the monarchy, which was overthrown a year and a half later.
More amazing facts
- 1859 · 1869 Darwin's On the Origin of Species (1859) and Mendeleev's periodic law (1869) are just ten years apart.
- 1861 Alexander II signed the manifesto freeing the serfs on 3 March 1861 (19 February Old Style); the very next day Lincoln became US president.
- 1861 1861: Russia abolished serfdom, and a united Kingdom of Italy was proclaimed in Turin.
- 1868 · 1905 Only 37 years after the Meiji Restoration, when Japan was just leaving its samurai order behind, it defeated Russia in the war of 1904–1905.
- 1868 · 1964 In 1868 Japan was still ruled by a shogun and samurai carried swords.
- 1869 1869: in March Mendeleev presented his periodic table, and in November the Suez Canal opened.