1885

1885 was a year of continuing imperial expansion and political organization. The Berlin Conference's General Act, signed in 1885, formalized European rules for the colonization of Africa and spurred further competition for territory and resources on the continent.

In Africa, the year also saw the Congo Free State established by Leopold II as his personal possession, following exploration and claims that would later reveal severe exploitation.

In Asia, the Sino-French War ended in 1885 with agreements recognizing French influence over northern Vietnam and the withdrawal of Chinese forces from the region, cementing a French protectorate in Indochina.

In North America, the Northwest Rebellion against Canadian authorities began around 1885; culminating in the Battle of Batoche in May 1885 and the execution of Louis Riel on November 16, 1885, in Regina.

In South Asia, the Indian National Congress was formed in Bombay on December 28-29, 1885, providing a forum for moderate political dialogue and marking a development in the organized Indian nationalist movement.

These developments, spanning continents, illustrate 1885 as a year of imperial consolidation, regional resistance, and emerging political organization that would shape global affairs in the ensuing decades.