1856

1856 was a leap year in the Gregorian calendar and saw several significant political and military developments across the world.

The Crimean War concluded with the signing of the Treaty of Paris on March 30, 1856. The treaty established the neutral status of the Black Sea, restricted Russian military presence on its shores, and redrew aspects of power in Eastern Europe, affecting the balance among the major European powers.

In Asia, the Second Opium War began in 1856 as tensions between Qing China and Western powers intensified following the Arrow Incident and related confrontations. The conflict would continue into the following years, leading to renewed Western influence in China and new concessions under subsequent agreements.

In the United States, the 1856 presidential election was held on November 4. Democrat James Buchanan won the presidency, defeating Republican John C. Frémont and American Party candidate Millard Fillmore. The year also saw continued violence in the Kansas Territory as part of the Bleeding Kansas conflicts, including the Pottawatomie massacre in May, which highlighted the explosive national debate over slavery.

Notable births in 1856 include Sigmund Freud, born May 6 in Freiberg, Moravia, Austrian Empire, who would become a foundational figure in psychology and psychoanalysis.