Historical1866
ASPCA Founded
Henry Bergh established the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in New York City, the first animal welfare organization in North America. The founding was inspired by the humane movement in England and Bergh's observations abroad.
Why It Matters
The ASPCA's founding reflected the broader reform impulse of the post-Civil War era, in which Americans organized to extend protections to the vulnerable and build a more humane civic society.