The 1850s: Major Historical Developments


Figure 1.--

Historical treaties often give less attention to the mid 19th century than the more dramatic events at the beginninf and end of the decade. In addition, events in Europe had settled down after te dramatic events of 1848-49. In many ways, however, it was in the 1850s that the foundation or our modern age took place. The Industrial Revolution had placed enormous power in the hands of Britain and other European powers. But in many ways the lives of people in the major non-Western centers (China, India, Japan, and the Ottoman Empire) had not yet significantly impacted by the rise of the West. It was in the 1850s that a series of major events dramatically changed this. The fact that so many comparable events took place within a single decade is not a fubction of historical change. It reflects both the rising power of the West and the reaction of traditional societies impacted by Western expansion. In China, the Taiping Rebellion (1850-64) threatened, but did not end the Imperial system. It did have deep seated cultural impacts that mortally wounded the Imperial system which had dominated China for milenia. In India, the Seapoy Mutiny (1857-58) resulted in the end of already weakened the Mogul Empire and the beginning of the British Raj. In Japan, Admiral Perry forced Japan to open its ports (1854). The result within a decade was the fall of the Tokugawa Shoganate which had dominated Japan for two centuries. To save the Ottoman Empire, European Allies fought the Crimean War (1853-56). The impact of these major 1850s events are pervasive, affecting virtually every aspect of life around the world. This can be visually observed in clothing. Children in non-Western socities during the 1850s with few exceptions wore traditional clothing. After the 1850s we begin to see children wearing Western dress. At first this was relatively rare, often the children of the elite most in contact with Westerners, but gradually we see more and more children wearing Western clothes.

Overview

Historical treaties often give less attention to the mid 19th century than the more dramatic events at the beginninf and end of the decade. In addition, events in Europe had settled down after the dramatic events of 1848-49. While this was the case in Europe, it was not the case of the situation in the non-Western socities where Western contacts were having profound impacts.

Rising Western Power

In many ways, however, it was in the 1850s that the foundation or our modern age took place. The Industrial Revolution had placed enormous power in the hands of Britain and other European powers. But in many ways the lives of people in the major non-Western centers (China, India, Japan, and the Ottoman Empire) had not yet significantly impacted by the rise of the West. It was in the 1850s that a series of major events dramatically changed this. The fact that so many comparable events took place within a single decade is not a fubction of historical change. It reflects both the rising power of the West and the reaction of traditional societies impacted by Western expansion.

Major Events

Four events are partivcularly notable. In China, the Taiping Rebellion (1850-64) threatened, but did not end the Imperial system. It did have deep seated cultural impacts that mortally wounded the Imperial system which had dominated Chin for milenia. In India, the Seapoy Mutiny (1857-58) resulted in the end of already weakened the Mogul Empire and the beginning of the British Raj. In Japan, Admiral Perry forced Japan to open its ports (1854). The result within a decade was the fall of the Tokugawa Shoganate which had dominated Japan for two centuries. To save the Ottoman Empire, European Allies fought the Crimean War (1853-56). [McNeill, p.726-27.]

China: The Taiping Rebellion (1850-64)

In China, the Taiping Rebellion (1850-64) threatened, but did not end the Imperial system. It did have deep seated cultural impacts that mortally wounded the Imperial system which had dominated China for milenia.

India: The Seapoy Mutiny (1857-58)

In India, the Seapoy Mutiny (1857-58) resulted in the end of already weakened the Mogul Empire and the beginning of the British Raj.

Japan: Opening to the West (1854)

In Japan, Admiral Perry forced Japan to open its ports (1854). The result within a decade was the fall of the Tokugawa Shoganate which had dominated Japan for two centuries.

Ottoman Empire: Crimean War (1853-56)

To save the Ottoman Empire, European Allies fought the Crimean War (1853-56). The War is today only a footnote in history. Most have, however, heard of the Charge of the Light Brigade, Florence Nightingale, and perhaps even the Fall of Sebastopol. The Crimean War was started by the Russian Empire attempting to conquer the "sick man" of Europe, the Ottoman Empire, in 1853. England, France, and later Austria and Sardinia, came to defend the Ottomans because they wanted to protect their interests in the mediterranean sea, and because they feared the Russian Empire would grow to be too powerful if it controlled that area of the mediterranean. The War was notable for the incompetence of those in command and the endurance of the ordinary soldier. The War, as is the case of many conflicts, also had some lasting influence on fashion. The war was fought in the Russian Crimean Peninsula. While the Crimea is located in southern Russia, the winters were still quite brutal. Three garments emerged from the War, all wollen cold weather garments: cardigan and raglan sweaters (named after two English earls participating in the war) and balaclavas (named after a Russian city).

Impact

The impact of these major 1850s events are pervasive, affecting virtually every aspect of life around the world. This can be visually observed in clothing. Children in non-Western socities during the 1850s with few exceptions wore traditional clothing. After the 1850s we begin to see children wearing Western dress. At first this was relatively rare, often the children of the elite most in contact with Westerners, but gradually we see more and more children wearing Western clothes.

Sources

McNeill, William H. The Rise of the West: A History of the Human Community (The University of Chicago Press: Chicago, 1990), 828p.








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Creaed: September 26, 2002
Last updated: September 26, 2002