thousands of immigrants to California and eliminating the United States' dependence on foreign gold. Civil rights Women's rights July 19, 1848 – Women's rights, 1848 – Seneca Falls Convention: The 2-day Women's Rights Convention opens in Seneca Falls, New York, and the "Bloomers" are introduced at the feminist convention. Popular culture Literature Charles Dickens publishes The Old Curiosity Shop, Barnaby Rudge, A Christmas Carol, Martin Chuzzlewit, Dombey and Son and David Copperfield. Nikolai Gogol's Dead Souls (Russian: Мёртвые души, Myortvyje dushi) is published in 1842. Søren Kierkegaard publishes his philosophical book Enten ‒ Eller (Either/Or) in 1843. Alexandre Dumas publishes Les Trois Mousquetaires (The Three Musketeers) in 1844 and Le Comte de Monte-Cristo (The Count of Monte Cristo) in 1844/45. William Makepeace Thackeray publishes Vanity Fair in 1848. July 17, 1841 – First edition of the humorous magazine Punch published in London. 1843 – Edgar Allan Poe's short story The Tell-Tale Heart is first published. Hans Christian Andersen publishes well-known fairy tales, such as The Ugly Duckling (1843) and The Snow Queen (1844). January 29, 1845 – "The Raven" by Edgar Allan Poe is published for the first time (New York Evening Mirror), earning him $10. 1845 – Elizabeth Barrett Browning writes her Sonnets from the Portuguese (1845–1846). 1845 – Heinrich Hoffmann publishes a book (Lustige Geschichten und drollige Bilder) introducing his character Struwwelpeter, in Germany. October 16, 1847 – Charlotte Brontë publishes Jane Eyre under the pen name of Currer Bell. December 14, 1847 – Emily Brontë and Anne Brontë publish Wuthering Heights and Agnes Grey, respectively, in a 3-volume set under the pen names of Ellis Bell and Acton Bell. 1848 – Elizabeth Gaskell publishes Mary Barton anonymously. Theatre February 6, 1843 – The Virginia Minstrels perform the first minstrel show, at the Bowery Amphitheatre in New York City. Music February 11, 1840 – Gaetano Donizetti's opera La fille du régiment premieres in Paris. June 28, 1841 – Ballet Giselle first presented by the Ballet du Théâtre de l'Académie Royale de Musique at the Salle Le Peletier in Paris, France. March 9, 1842 – Giuseppe Verdi's third opera Nabucco premieres in Milan; its success establishes Verdi as one of Italy's foremost opera writers. February 11, 1843 – Giuseppe Verdi's opera I Lombardi alla prima crociata premieres at La Scala in Milan. November 3, 1844 – Giuseppe Verdi's I due Foscari debuts at Teatro Argentina, Rome. March 13, 1845