1893

1893 was a year marked by major political, economic, and cultural developments across the United States and around the world. In the United States, the Panic of 1893 triggered a severe economic depression, following railroad overbuilding and a stock market collapse. Bank failures, rising unemployment, and widespread financial hardship affected urban and rural communities and had lasting political and social effects into the late 1890s.

An iconic cultural milestone occurred in Chicago with the World's Columbian Exposition, held May through October 1893 to celebrate the 400th anniversary of Columbus’s voyage. Visitors encountered new technologies and monumental architecture associated with the so-called White City. The fair also featured the first Ferris wheel, designed by George Washington Gale Ferris Jr., highlighting American engineering and industrial achievement.

In Hawaii, the overthrow of the Kingdom and the establishment of a provisional government occurred in January 1893, paving the way for eventual annexation by the United States in 1898. This event reflected broader imperial and geopolitical tensions of the era in the Pacific.

In New Zealand, the Electoral Act 1893 granted women the right to vote in parliamentary elections, making New Zealand the first self-governing country to grant universal suffrage. The year also saw the World Parliament of Religions convened as part of the Chicago fair, a notable moment in the emergence of interfaith dialogue and global cultural exchange.

Overall, 1893 had a lasting impact on economic policy, social reform, and cultural perceptions of technology and urban planning.