PRE FAC E. 



No recent period of time has witnessed events of so much importance to 

 mankind generally as those which occurred in Europe during the year 1870, 

 of which this volume of the ANNUAL CYCLOPAEDIA treats. The overwhelming 

 march of the combined German forces into the heart of France, and the rapid 

 capture of her fortified cities and surrender of her vast armies, thereby casting 

 her down from her preeminent position, to the feet of the conqueror ; the 

 occupation of Rome by the Italian Government, and the overthrow of the 

 temporal sovereignty of the Pope, by which liberalism and authority have been 

 brought to a final issue before the world, are some of the chief events. The 

 great public questions of Europe, such as the Baltic and the Eastern, the rela- 

 tions of the various nationalities, such as those of race, population, military 

 strength, financial ability, or national resources, and the new forms which 

 public interests have begun to assume on that Continent, are herein stated and 

 explained more fully and completely than is to be found elsewhere in any 

 single volume. 



Nor were the affairs of the United States of less interest or importance 

 than in previous years. The census of 1870, completed during the year, for 

 the States, counties, and principal cities of the Union, shows the rapid growth 

 and spread of the population, and is herein contained. The new departure of 

 the Federal Government under its National aspect has made rapid advances. 

 All the States were restored to the Union, under constitutions approved by 

 Congress, and the conduct of their affairs transferred to civil officers elected 

 by the citizens. The ballot has been cast at all elections by every citizen, 

 without distinction of race, color, or previous condition, who was exempt from 

 the restraints imposed upon those active in the late hostilities. The progress 

 of all the States, and especially the Southern, under the joint rule of the white 

 and the colored man, as a citizen, a legislator, and a judicial officer, the strug- 

 gles of factions, the local disturbances of citizens, with the rapid improvement 

 of the people in general, socially and financially, are herein presented, and 

 also the measures adopted by Congress under the altered condition of affairs, 



