1865

1865 was a year marked by significant political, military, and cultural developments across several regions. It is best known for the end of the American Civil War and the ensuing transition toward Reconstruction, including moves to abolish slavery and redefine national governance.

In the United States, major events included the surrender of the Confederate Army at Appomattox Court House on April 9, effectively ending the Civil War; the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln on April 14–15, after which Vice President Andrew Johnson became president; and the ratification of the Thirteenth Amendment abolishing slavery on December 6. The Freedmen's Bureau was established in March to aid freed people and refugees in the former Confederacy. The Ku Klux Klan was founded in Tennessee in 1865, Jefferson Davis was captured in May, and the Battle of Palmito Ranch in Texas in May was among the last actions of the conflict.

Beyond the United States, notable events included the first ascent of the Matterhorn in the Alps on July 14, 1865; the Morant Bay Rebellion in Jamaica beginning in October; and the publication of Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland later in the year. The year thus encompassed decisive military change, constitutional developments, and enduring cultural milestones.