• United States
1870
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Jan 2 – Construction of the Brooklyn Bridge begins.
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Jan 10 – John D Rockefeller incorporates Standard Oil of Ohio.
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Jan 15 – Democratic party first represented in cartoon as donkey, created by Thomas Nast in Harper’s Weekly.
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Jan 26 – Virginia rejoins the union.
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Feb 3 – 15th amendment to constitution approved by Congress, sent to states for ratification, provides blacks with full rights of citizen.
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Feb 9 – US Weather Bureau created by Congress.
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Feb 10 – YMCA first founded in New York City.
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Feb 17 – Mississippi readmitted to union.
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Feb 25 – Rev. Hiram R Revels, first negro seated as US Senator, from Mississippi.
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March 30 – Texas readmitted to union.
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June – Maryland jockey Club sponsored first Preakness race at Pimlico.
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June 22 – Congress creates Department of Justice.
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June 26 – Boardwalk in Atlantic City, N.J. opened for first time.
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July 15 – Georgia readmitted to union.
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Aug 14 – Admiral David G Farragut died.
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Sept – production of paper from pulp wood first began in New England.
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Sept – Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company (A&P) expanded nationally as George Huntington & George Gilman purchase imports in New York City to distribute across US.
• World
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March – German Federation states begin unification under Otto Von Bismarck.
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April 22 – Vladimar Lenin, first USSR leader born.
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May 12 – Canadian Province of Manitoba Est.
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June 9 – Charles Dickens, British author, died, 55.
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July 19 – Prussia and France declare War against each other.
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July 21 – Josef Strauss, Austrian composer died, 42.
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Aug – Vatican Council promulgates the dogma of Papal infallibility.
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Sept 2 – Prussia defeats French in battle of Sedan, Emperor Napoleon III and 100,000 troops captured.
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Oct – B.F. Goodrich begins manufacturing Fire hose in Akron, Ohio.
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Sept 4 – Napoleon III disposed, 3rd Republic declared in France.
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Oct 12 – Confederate General Robert E Lee died, 63.
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Sept 20 – Unification of Italy completed with addition of Papal states.
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Oct 25 – First US Post Cards issued by Post Office.
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Oct 2 – Rome annexed by Italy.
Dec 12 – First black seated in House of Representatives, Joseph Rainey of South Carolina.
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Nov 16 – Spanish Cortes Generales declares Amadeus I, King of Spain.
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