1861

Statistically, this year is considered the end of the whale oil industry and (in replacement) the beginning of the petroleum oil industry. January 1 Benito Juárez captures Mexico City. The first steam-powered carousel is recorded, in Bolton, England. January 2 – Friedrich Wilhelm IV of Prussia dies, and is succeeded by Wilhelm I. January 3 – American Civil War: Delaware votes not to secede from the Union. January 9 – American Civil War: Mississippi becomes the second state to secede from the Union. January 10 – American Civil War: Florida secedes from the Union. January 11 – American Civil War: Alabama secedes from the Union. January 12 – American Civil War: Major Robert Anderson sends dispatches to Washington. January 19 – American Civil War: Georgia secedes from the Union. January 21 – American Civil War: Jefferson Davis resigns from the United States Senate. January 26 – American Civil War: Louisiana secedes from the Union. January 29 – Kansas is admitted as the 34th U.S. state, being admitted as a free state. February 1 – American Civil War: Texas secedes from the Union. February 4 – American Civil War: In Montgomery, Alabama, the Provisional Confederate States Congress is formed by representatives from the first seven break-away states. February 8 – American Civil War: The Confederate States of America are formed, comprising the first seven break-away States. February 9 – American Civil War: Jefferson Davis is elected Provisional President of the Confederate States of America, by the Weed Convention at Montgomery, Alabama. February 11 American Civil War: The U.S. House unanimously passes a resolution, guaranteeing non-interference with slavery in any state. About 850 convicts at Chatham Dockyard in England take over their prison in a riot. February 13 – Italian unification: The Siege of Gaeta, stronghold of the Neapolitan King Francis II, is ended by Piedmontese forces. Francis goes into exile. February 18 – American Civil War: In Montgomery, Alabama, Jefferson Davis is inaugurated as the provisional president of the Confederate States of America.