1857 in the United States

1857 in the United States
Decades:	1830s 1840s – 1850s – 1860s 1870s
Years:	1854 1855 1856 – 1857 – 1858 1859 1860
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31 stars (1851 – 1858)
Timeline of United States history History of the United States (1849–1865)

Events from the year 1857 in the United States.

Incumbents

• President: Franklin Pierce (Democratic) (until March 4), James Buchanan (Democratic) (starting March 4)
• Vice President: vacant (until March 4), John C. Breckinridge (Democratic) (starting March 4)
• Chief Justice: Roger B. Taney
• Speaker of the House of Representatives: Nathaniel P. Banks (American-Massachusetts) (until March 4), James Lawrence Orr (D-South Carolina) (starting December 7)
• Congress: 34th (until March 4), 35th (starting March 4)

Events

March 4: James Buchanan becomes President

• January 9 – An earthquake with an estimated magnitude of 7.9 strikes near Parkfield, California (see Fort Tejon earthquake).
• February 3 – The National Deaf Mute College (later renamed Gallaudet University) is established in Washington, DC, becoming the first school for the advanced education of the deaf.
• March 4 – James Buchanan succeeds Franklin Pierce as President of the United States.
• March 6 – Dred Scott v. Sanford: The Supreme Court of the United States rules that Blacks are not citizens and slaves can not sue for freedom, driving the country further towards the American Civil War (the ruling is not overturned until the 14th Amendment in 1868).
• March 12 – Elizabeth Blackwell opens a hospital, the New York Infirmary for Indigent Women and Children.
• March 23 – Elisha Otis' first elevator is installed (at 488 Broadway, New York City).
• March 27 – Waterbury Clock Company is legally incorporated in Waterbury, Connecticut, predecessor to the current day Timex Group USA and the iconic Timex brand.
• July 18 – The Utah Expedition leaves Fort Leavenworth, effectively beginning the Utah War.
• September 11 – Mountain Meadows massacre in Utah.
• September 12 – The S.S. Central America sinks off the coast of North Carolina, killing 425 people.
• October 13 – New York banks close following a major financial panic and do not reopen until December 12.

Undated

• Speculation in U.S. railway shares causes financial crisis in Europe.
• The Mormons abandon Las Vegas, Nevada.
• Hollywood is founded.
• American politician William Daniel proposes the Local Option for prohibition.
• Panic of 1857

Ongoing

• Third Seminole War (1855–1858)
• Utah War (1857–1858)

Births

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Deaths

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External links

• Media related to 1857 in the United States at Wikimedia Commons