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Steam Engine
The steam engine was earlier created by Thomas Newcomen, but when he created it, it was unusable. Then James Watt used Newcomen's idea, but made it so the "peddle" would move forwards and around. This new system made it possible for him to invent the steam boat and the train. With these new products life became much easier.The importance: The importance of the steam engine is that it opened up a whole new industry and made travel and trade much, much easier. -
French Revolution
The French Revolution started on July 14, 1789 when the people of France stormed the Bastille. Soon then the King Louis XVI was forced to sign the Declaration of the Rights of Man. He was married to a selfish queen named Marie Antoinette. She was killed and a man name Robespierre took over starting the Reign of Terror. The importance: It was important because it violently transformed France from a monarchical state into a more modern nation in which power was able to be equally shared. -
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Haitian Revolution
The Haitan Revolution was a conflict in the French colony of Saint-Dominique. There were many things that led to the revolution. The main problem was tat the slaves wanted to be free. Also, France wanted to be an independent country and not deal with the Haitian problems. Toussaint L' ouverture led the revolution and is one of the only slave rebellion leaders to succeed. The importance was that it led to the elimination of slavery in Haiti and it made Haiti the first republic ruled by Africans. -
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Independence of Mexico
The cause of the war was that Spain had high taxes to all and didn’t let Mexico trade with other countries. Queretaro men led a rebellion because they wanted the Mexican creoles to rule. The rebels were good but the three leaders were betrayed and beheaded. Morelos took over and called for a constitution for Mexico, but he was killed. Iturbide took over; they won in 1821 but Iturbide wanted an empire. Republics declared independence. The importance was that Mexico was able to become independent. -
Congress of Vienna
The Congress of Vienna was called to restore the balance of power in Europe when Napoleon's empire fell. The four great powers Prussia, United Kingdom, Austria, and Russia redrew the boundaries of Europe. This helped France also grow into a more modern government. They used ideas of the Enlightenment to their shape their decisiions. It was important because it redrew Europe's map which restored monarchy to the terrioties that Napoleon captured. This gave congress a much needed balance of powers. -
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Opium War
The Opium War was between the U.K. and China. It started because of trade disputes. Opium was of huge demand in China, but it was a narcotic and they didn't use it often. But Britain was able to smuggle in 8 million lbs. of Opium in to China equalling about $18 million. And the U.K. was only buying about $17 million of Chinese goods; this was trade deficit. This started war. The importance was that Treaty of Nanjing was formed which gave British everything they wanted and China had to obey. -
Communist Manifesto
Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels first wrote this in German. It is a very controversial and inspiring book, and is still one of the best sellers. The book basically brings the conflicts of many classes to light and states the problems of a capitalism. The book shows opinions of the writers and how a communist government could be. The importance of this book is that it brought the ideas of a more equal society into the minds of others and the book is essentially the father of communism. -
Matt Perry Goes to Japan
Matt Perry was sent by the U.S. because Japan could be used a coaling base where steamships could stay and so that shipwrecked americans would be saved. Also, they could trade. The first time Perry stated his demands Japan rejected him and sent him back to the U.S. After many set backs on his second journey Japan finally agreed. The importance was that this made the Japanese sign the Treaty of Kanagawa. The treaty promised that theJapanese would do all that was asked with no problems and peace. -
Sepoy Mutiny
India’s frustration with Britain resulted in an uprising that is called the Sepoy Mutiny. The revolt started when Indians heard rumors that the guns the British were sending to them were greased with fat from cows and pigs. The pig is repugnant to Muslims and cows are sacred to Hindus. Sepoys captured Delhi and Kanpur. But on September 20, 1857 the British took Delhi and then recaptured Kanpur and Lucknow. The importance is that this shows how people believed and stuck up for their beliefs. -
Unification of Germany
Before the unification there were many different “states” in the central area in Europe. Soon though the Germans wanted a powerful, and united nation. The unification took place at the conclusion of the Franco-Prussian War. The princes of Germany told all the Germans of Versailles, France at the Hall of Mirrors. All the states formed the German Nation. The improtance of this event was that it started Germany as a nation and brought stability to the German people. -
Berlin Conference
The Berlin Conference was called to regulate the trade in Africa. The conference was the result of much interest in Afica. Africa had very valuable resources such as gold, spices, opium, tea, and most importantly slaves. This was the period when the triangle trade was the big industry in the world. The importance of this meeting was that it ended in the General Act of the Berlin Conference to be written. It fixed many of the issues that formed from the new trading and exploring in Africa. -
Russo-Japanese War
The Russo-Japanese War was a conflict that started because of rival ambirtions of Imperial Russia and Japan. When Japan attacked Port Arthur and Russia surrendered, Japan had then gotten the upper hand in the war. It resulted Japan bringing home a victory against Russia, which instituted Japan as a major power in the world. The importance was it established the Japanese Imperial Navy as a major naval power. And most importantly it led to Britain to lay the keel of HMS Dreadnaught in Oct. 1905. -
Zulu Uprising
Some causes of the uprising were taxes and after the Anglo-Boer War there was a shortage of workers in the gold mines. Most African people worked on the farms but the taxes forced them to move to the city and work in the mines. Bambatha and his followers refused to pay the tax, and they began destroying European products. The whites realized what was going on and sent the army. All Africans thought to be rebels were burned. The importance was that this was a time when Africans wanted equality. -
Dr. Sun Yat-sen takes over China
Dr. Sun Yat-sen was the leader of China's republican revolution. He took over after a 2000 year rule of the Ming Dynasty. Sun Yat-sen was apart of one of the many revolutionary groups but his was the most organized. He quickly became popular to Chinese people all around the world and got political support. After months of riots, he finally was elected President of the new Republic of China. The importance was that the Republic brought peace and unity to China and the people.
