Increasing numbers of Russian and Ukrainian settlers move into the northern part of present-day Kyrgyzstan in the last decades of the nineteenth century.

Russian specialists begin large-scale housing, mining, and road construction projects and the construction of schools.

The invention of roll paper transforms photography.

The invention of the light bulb and the installation of electrical distribution systems makes it possible to illuminate theaters, factories, and city blocks.

Armed conflicts in this era tend to be localized and small in scale.

The invention of the gasoline-powered ‘horseless carriage’ heralds the ascendancy of the automobile.

The invention of the steam turbine revolutionizes transportation and naval warfare.

The United States and Canada conclude their wars with the native peoples.

North Polynesia (1876–1887 CE)

Economic Growth and the Kalākaua Era

Following the succession crisis and brief reign of King Lunalilo, King David Kalākaua (reigned 1874–1891), the first monarch of the House of Kalākaua, significantly reshaped Hawaii's political, economic, and cultural landscape during this era.

Kalākaua, often called the "Merrie Monarch" for his love of music, dance, and traditional Hawaiian culture, actively promoted Hawaiian identity. He sought to strengthen the monarchy, revive native cultural practices, and pursue modernization through international diplomacy and economic partnerships.

Reciprocity Treaty and Economic Expansion

One of Kalākaua's most significant achievements was the Reciprocity Treaty of 1875 with the United States, allowing Hawaiian sugar and rice to enter the U.S. duty-free, significantly boosting Hawaii's sugar industry. In exchange, Hawai'i ceded Pearl Harbor, including Ford Island (Moku'ume'ume), to the U.S. This treaty marked a pivotal economic turning point, greatly expanding agricultural production, attracting foreign investment, and significantly increasing immigration to meet labor demands.

The high water requirements for growing sugarcane resulted in extensive water works projects on all major islands, diverting streams from wet windward slopes to dry lowlands.

Cultural Renaissance and Global Presence

Under Kalākaua, a cultural revival featured traditional hula performances, chant, and indigenous practices previously suppressed under missionary influence. The king's cultural patronage extended to significant landmarks, notably ʻIolani Palace, completed in 1882, which symbolized the kingdom's modern aspirations and national pride.

In 1881, Kalākaua embarked on a notable global diplomatic tour, becoming the first monarch to circumnavigate the globe. His journey strengthened diplomatic ties, encouraged immigration, and secured international recognition for Hawaii's sovereignty. During this tour, Kalākaua met with leaders including Emperor Meiji of Japan, Queen Victoria, and U.S. President Chester A. Arthur.

Kalākaua also commissioned the Kamehameha Statue in 1883, honoring the kingdom's first monarch, Kamehameha I. Initially lost at sea, the original statue was later recovered and erected alongside its replacement.

Immigration and Labor Dynamics

The rapid growth of the sugar industry necessitated significant labor imports. Thousands of contract laborers arrived from China, Japan, Portugal, and later Korea, dramatically altering Hawaii's demographics and culture. The first significant wave of Portuguese immigrants arrived aboard the ship Priscilla in 1878 from Madeira, shaping Hawaii’s social and cultural fabric significantly.

Political Tensions and the Bayonet Constitution

Despite Kalākaua's popularity, political tensions escalated, particularly with the influential Missionary Party, comprised predominantly of descendants of American missionaries and businessmen. They opposed Kalākaua’s attempts to reinforce monarchical power and favored a government with power primarily vested in the legislature.

In 1886, Kalākaua's ambitions to establish a Polynesian confederation, particularly with Sāmoa under Malietoa Laupepa, alarmed opponents. Additionally, an opium bribery scandal damaged his standing.

These tensions culminated in the forced adoption of the 1887 Bayonet Constitution, imposed by the armed Hawaiian League, primarily foreign residents and wealthy Hawaiian-born individuals of foreign descent. The constitution severely limited royal authority, shifted power toward the legislature, and disenfranchised many native Hawaiians and Asian immigrants by instituting restrictive property and income requirements for voting. It also enabled the U.S. to establish a naval base at Pearl Harbor in November 1887.

Infrastructure and Urban Development

Honolulu continued to modernize under Kalākaua's rule. Notable infrastructure projects included road expansions, harbor improvements, and electrification. Kalākaua notably arranged for ʻIolani Palace to receive electric lighting in 1886, predating even the White House.

Additionally, the Hawaiian Hotel, opened in 1872, served increasing numbers of international visitors and officials, reflecting Hawaii's growing prominence.

Conclusion of the Era

Between 1876 and 1887, North Polynesia, particularly Hawaii, experienced significant growth and transformation. Economic prosperity driven by sugar cultivation, cultural revitalization, and notable demographic shifts characterized the period. However, these developments coincided with heightened political instability, leading to diminished monarchical authority and increased foreign influence, setting the stage for dramatic shifts in subsequent decades.

German influence in Samoa expands during the second half of the nineteenth century, with large scale plantation operations being introduced for coconut, cacao and hevea rubber cultivation, especially on the island of 'Upolu where German firms have monopolized copra and cocoa bean processing.

Samoan contact with Europeans had begun in the early eighteenth century but did not intensify until the arrival of the British.

In 1722, Dutchman Jacob Roggeveen had become the first European to sight the islands.

This visit had been followed by the French explorer Louis-Antoine de Bougainville (1729–1811), the man who named them the Navigator Islands in 1768.

Early Western contact had included a battle in the eighteenth century between French explorers and islanders in Tutuila, for which the Samoans were blamed in the West, giving them a reputation for ferocity.

The site of this battle is called Massacre Bay.

The United States Exploring Expedition (1838–42) under Charles Wilkes had reached Samoa in 1839 and appointed of Englishman John C. Williams as acting U.S. consul.

However, this appointment is never confirmed by the U.S. State Department; John C. Williams had merely been merely recognized as "Commercial Agent of the United States".

A British consul was already residing at Apia.

Missionaries and traders had arrived in the 1830s.

In 1855, J.C. Godeffroy & Sohn had expanded its trading business into the Samoan Islands, which were then known as the Navigator Islands.

Niue's King Fataaiki, fearing the consequences of annexation by a less benevolent colonial power, writes to Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom in 1887, requesting that Niue be placed under British protection, but his request is turned down.

The offer will not be accepted until 1900.

Christian missionaries from the London Missionary Society had converted most of the population of Niue circa 1846.