1850s

The 1850s was a decade marked by major social, political, and technological changes. In the United States, it was a time of expansion westward, fueled by the belief in Manifest Destiny, and increasing tensions over slavery, which contributed to the coming Civil War. Globally, advances like the Crimean War and innovations such as the invention of the stirrup iron and expanded telegraph networks shaped international affairs and communication. The decade also saw cultural developments, the rise of industrialization, and significant movements toward social reform, laying groundwork for future economic growth and conflict.