19th-20th Century Global Events Summary & Study Notes

🕰️ 1833 – Abolition of Slavery in Britain

Slavery Abolition Act ends slavery in most of the British Empire. Later milestones include France in 1848 and the United States in 1865, signaling a wider abolition movement.

🗺️ 1843 – Treaty of Nanjing ends Opium Wars

The Treaty of Nanjing ends the Opium Wars between China and Britain. It opens treaty ports, imposes indemnities, and cedes Hong Kong, marking a shift in Sino–foreign relations.

📝 1848 – Communist Manifesto and Seneca Falls Convention

In 1848, the Communist Manifesto by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels is published. In the same year, the Seneca Falls Convention launches the organized women’s suffrage movement in upstate New York.

🏛️ 1857 – Direct British rule begins in India

The Sepoy Rebellion leads to the collapse of the East India Company’s rule. The British Crown takes direct control, inaugurating the period known as the British Raj.

🇯🇵 1868 – Meiji Restoration in Japan

The Meiji Restoration restores imperial rule under Emperor Meiji. Japan begins rapid modernization, industrialization, and centralized governance.

🗺️ 1884-1885 – Berlin Conference and the division of Africa

European powers meet at the Berlin Conference to set rules for colonizing Africa. The era of “effective occupation” helps carve borders and establish colonial claims.

🏛️ 1911 – Guomindang overthrow of the Qing Dynasty

Nationalists (Guomindang) overthrow the Qing Dynasty in 1911. This paves the way for the Republic of China and a shift toward republican governance.

⚔️ 1914-1918 – World War I

A global conflict that redraws political borders and undermines empires. It culminates in postwar settlements, including the Treaty of Versailles in 1919.

🚩 1917 – The Russian Revolution

The Russian Revolution ends Tsarist rule and ushers in Bolshevik leadership. It leads to the creation of a Soviet state and profound global ideological shifts.