What happened in 1870
10 entries recorded for 1870, listed by date. That was 156 years ago.
1870 at a glance
- Years ago
- 156 (as of 2026)
- Century
- 19th century
- Decade
- 1870s
- Generation born
- Before the named generations
- Entries here
- 10
- Breakdown
- 10 historical events
January
- January 23
American Indian Wars
American Indian Wars: In the Marias Massacre, the United States Army killed about 200 Piegan Blackfeet, mostly women, children, and the elderly.
February
- February 3
Reconstruction era
Reconstruction era: The Fifteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution was ratified, formally prohibiting race-based disenfranchisement in the United States.
- February 25
United States Senate
Mississippi senator Hiram Rhodes Revels became the first African American to be seated in the U.S. Congress.
- February 27
Flag of Japan
The current flag of Japan was first adopted as a civil ensign for Japanese merchant ships.
March
- March 1
Paraguayan War
Paraguayan War: Marshal Francisco Solano López died at the Battle of Cerro Corá.
July
- July 15
Rupert's Land
Following the transfer of Rupert's Land from the Hudson's Bay Company, Manitoba was established as a province of Canada.
August
- August 2
Tower Subway
One of the world's earliest underground tube railways opened in the Tower Subway (interior depicted), a tunnel beneath the River Thames in London.
September
- September 2
Franco-Prussian War
Franco-Prussian War: Prussian forces captured Napoleon III at the Battle of Sedan, which led to the collapse of the Second French Empire within days.
- September 18
Nathaniel P. Langford
Nathaniel P. Langford of the Washburn–Langford–Doane Expedition first observed a geyser in the Wyoming Territory erupting at regular intervals, naming it Old Faithful (video featured).
- September 20
Bersaglieri
The Bersaglieri entered Rome through the Porta Pia, ending the temporal power of the Pope and completing the unification of Italy.
Questions about 1870
What happened in 1870?
This site records 10 entries for 1870, including American Indian Wars on January 23. They are listed below by date.
How long ago was 1870?
156 years ago, counting from 2026. Anyone born in 1870 turns 156 this year.
Which century is 1870 in?
1870 falls in the 19th century, in the 1870s.
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