1870s

Centuries: 18th century - 19th century - 20th century

Decades: 1840s 1850s 1860s - 1870s - 1880s 1890s 1900s

Years: 1870 1871 1872 1873 1874 1875 1876 1877 1878 1879

Events and Trends

• Franco-Prussian War (1870-1871) results in the collapse of the Second French Empire and in the formation of both the French Third Republic and the German Empire.
• Invention of the telephone (1876) and phonograph (1877). See also the History of Science and Technology.
• Continuing expansion of the British Empire; beginning of the New Imperialism.

World Leaders

• Emperor Franz Josef (Austria-Hungary)
• Emperor Wilhelm I (Germany)
• Chancellor Otto von Bismarck (Germany)
• King Victor Emmanuel II (Italy)
• King Umberto I (Italy)
• Emperor Meiji (Japan)
• Pope Pius IX
• Pope Leo XIII
• Emperor Alexander II (Russia)
• Queen Victoria (United Kingdom)
• Prime Minister William Ewart Gladstone (United Kingdom)
• Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli (United Kingdom)
• President Ulysses S. Grant (United States)
• President Rutherford B. Hayes (United States)