1820s

Centuries: 18th century - 19th century - 20th century
Decades: 1790s 1800s 1810s - 1820s - 1830s 1840s 1850s
Years: 1820 1821 1822 1823 1824 1825 1826 1827 1828 1829

Events and Trends

Nationalistic independence movements helped reshape the world during this decade:
- Greece gains independence from the Ottoman Empire in the Greek War of Independence (1821-1827).
- Several countries declared their independence from Spain and Portugal:
  - The Republic of Gran Colombia under President Simón Bolívar (1819 - 1828) expands over South America
  - Mexico (1821)
  - Brazil (1822)
The United Provinces of Central America were formed in 1823.
United States (1825) The Erie Canal opens - passage from Albany, New York to Lake Erie.
Temperance movement emerges in U.S.
Americo-Liberians begin to settle in the Colony of Liberia with the support of the American Colonization Society