1875
| File:Decade.png ( 1870s: ) 1875 link | |
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 Much calumniated by later historians, but essentially powerless, the Empress Dowager Cixi experiences the decades of collapse of Manchu China, as 4 year old Guangxu becomes emperor. |
Events
- January 1 – The Midland Railway of England abolishes the Second Class passenger category, leaving First Class and Third Class. Other British railway companies follow Midland's lead during the rest of the year (Third Class is renamed Second Class in 1956).
- January 12 – Guangxu becomes the 11th Qing Dynasty Emperor of China at the age of 4, in succession to his cousin.
- March 15 – Roman Catholic Archbishop of New York John McCloskey is named the first cardinal in the United States.
- May 7 – The Treaty of Saint Petersburg is signed between Japan and Russia.
- May 20 – The Metre Convention is signed in Paris, France.
- July 1 – The General Postal Union is established.
- September 1 – A murder conviction begins to break the power of the violent Irish-American anti-owner coal miners, the "Molly Maguires".
- September 7 – Battle of Agurdat: An Egyptian invasion of Ethiopia fails, when Emperor Yohannes IV defeats an army led by Werner Munzinger.
- October – The Ottoman state declares partial bankruptcy, and places its finances in the hands of European creditors.
- November 16 – Battle of Gundat: Ethiopian Emperor Yohannes IV defeats another Egyptian army.
- November 26 – The Times newspaper in London reveals that Isma'il Pasha has sold Egypt's 44% share in the Suez Canal to Britain, in a deal secured by Benjamin Disraeli, without the prior sanction of the British Parliament.
- December 4 – Notorious New York City politician Boss Tweed escapes from prison and flees to Cuba, then to Spain.
- December 20 – The ICRM is renamed the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).
- The Artisans' and Labourers' Dwellings Improvement Act 1875 is passed in the United Kingdom, to permit slum clearance.
- Widespread nationalist rebellion in the Ottoman Empire results in Turkish repression, Russian intervention and Great Power tensions.