1826

1826 was a common year in the Gregorian calendar marked by continued political reform and regional conflicts around the world. In several places, independence-era governments sought to solidify authority through new constitutions and centralized administrations, while ongoing wars and disputes shaped borders and governance.

In the United States, the year is noted for the deaths of two of the nation’s founding figures. John Adams and Thomas Jefferson both died on July 4, 1826, within hours of each other, on the fiftieth anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. Their deaths were widely remarked as the passing of an era in American political life.

In the southern cone of South America, the United Provinces of the Río de la Plata (Argentina) pursued constitutional and political reforms. Bernardino Rivadavia became president and oversaw the adoption of the Constitution of 1826, which favored a centralized government during the ongoing Cisplatine War with Brazil. The conflict in the region would continue through 1828 and influence the political trajectory of the area.

In Europe and the broader Mediterranean world, the aftereffects of the Napoleonic era continued to shape governance, constitutional experiments, and nationalist movements. In the Greek War of Independence, fighting against the Ottoman Empire persisted, drawing international attention and involvement.

Overall, 1826 reflected a period of state-building, constitutional experimentation, and regional conflict that contributed to shaping political development in the years that followed.