Which came first? · Counterintuitive
Which came first: the American Civil War or Scientific American?
Scientific American came first, in 1845 (founded). The American Civil War followed 16 years later, in 1861 (begins).
- Second1861
The American Civil War
event · beginsThe American Civil War began in April 1861 with shots fired at Fort Sumter, South Carolina.
- First1845
Scientific American
magazine · foundedScientific American, from 1845, is often called the oldest magazine still published in the US.
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All which-came-first pairs · About Older Than You Think · Quiz games
Years from Wikidata, each checked against the item’s English Wikipedia article on 2026-10-18. A year stands for what its label says: a founding, a first patent, a premiere.