1862

1862 was a pivotal year in the mid-19th century, dominated by the American Civil War and major legislation in the United States. The conflict expanded across multiple theaters, while the federal government enacted reforms intended to foster settlement, education, and infrastructure.

Key Civil War campaigns and battles in 1862 included the Union’s captures of Fort Henry (February 6) and Fort Donelson (February 16) in Tennessee, and the capture of New Orleans (April 25). The Battle of Shiloh occurred April 6–7, and the ironclad duel between CSS Virginia and USS Monitor took place March 9 at Hampton Roads. In the eastern theater, the Second Battle of Bull Run (August 28–30) and Antietam (September 17) followed, while Fredericksburg (December 11–15) and Stones River (December 31–January 2) closed the year. In the Southwest, the Battle of Glorieta Pass occurred August 28–29, securing Union control in New Mexico.

Legislation enacted in 1862 included the Homestead Act (May 20), the Morrill Act establishing land‑grant colleges (July 2), and the Pacific Railway Acts (July 1–2), all aimed at expanding settlement, education, and national infrastructure. On September 22, President Abraham Lincoln issued the Preliminary Emancipation Proclamation, which declared enslaved people in Confederate areas to be free as the war progressed; the proclamation would take effect on January 1, 1863.

In Mexico, French forces were repulsed at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, delaying a French attempt to establish a monarchy. The year thus featured a mix of military upheaval and transformative domestic policies that shaped the trajectory of the era.