1890s

The 1890s refers to the decade spanning 1890 through 1899. It was a period of rapid modernization driven by the Second Industrial Revolution, with expanding rail networks, urban growth, and the spread of electricity, telegraphs, and telephones. Mass production and new consumer goods reshaped daily life, while international trade and imperial competition intensified.

In science and technology, the decade produced several foundational discoveries: Wilhelm Röntgen's X-rays in 1895; J. J. Thomson's identification of the electron in 1897; and radioactivity identified by Becquerel in 1896, with further work by the Curies in 1898. These advances helped redefine physics and medicine and spurred interest in wireless communication and engineering.

Geopolitically, imperial expansion and regional conflict marked the era. The United States emerged as a global power after the Spanish–American War of 1898, acquiring territories such as Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines. In Asia, the First Sino-Japanese War (1894–1895) shifted regional power toward Japan, while the Boxer Rebellion began in 1899. The decade also featured the Scramble for Africa and the onset of the Second Boer War in 1899.

Economically, the Panic of 1893 triggered a deep downturn with lasting effects on labor and politics. Culturally, fin-de-siècle currents fostered Symbolism and Art Nouveau, and exhibitions like Chicago’s 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition reflected a fascination with technology and progress. The 1890s thus set many of the political, scientific, and cultural trajectories of the 20th century.