What was happening in the U.S. or the world when football originated?

Answer 1

There are several debates over the actual year American football began in the United States but most historians do agree football began being played on Ivey League campuses in the 1860's. Having said that.... The United States was ending a very brutal and bloody Civil War. In April of 1865 President Lincoln became the first president to be assassinated. Andrew Johnson ascended the role and took the seat as the 17th President of the United States. Then in 1867, President Johnson became the first president to be impeached by Congress by dismissing the Secretary of War Stanton. This was interpreted by Congress as a "high crimes and misdemenors". And thus prompting Congress to declare that the president violated the Tenure Of Office Act. President Johnson servived removal of office by just one vote. Alaska was purchased around the time football began in the United States. Russia sold the land of Alaska to the United States in 1867 for $7.2 million. Residents were granted three years to decide in which to remain in Alaska as Americans or move to Russia to retain their Russian citizenship. The Thirteenth Amendment was ratified in 1865 declaring that, "Neither slavery nor involuntary sevitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall be duly convicted, shall exist in the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction." The first Transcontinetal Railroad was established 1863 and completed by 1869. France was occupying Mexico from 1863 to 1867. Florence Nightengale founded the School for nurses in 1866. The Football Association is formed in the United Kingdom paving the way for the Association of football to become the worlds's prodominate spectator sport. The London Fire Department was established in 1865 around the time football was making its way to American college campuses. Lewis Carroll publishes Alice in Wonderland in 1867. The United States was eager to put the brutal war behind and start a new generation as one whole nation. Football was the perfect sport at the perfect time to join the nations new students together for a competitive activity rather than war. And to this day, it continues to bring our country together every weekend in the fall. (S.Menzel)