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Francis Bacon's death
The "father of empiricism," Sir Francis Bacon is renowned for his work and advocacy of scientific method and methodical scientific inquiry in investigating scientific anomalies. He encouraged a logical approach through his own example and philosophy. -
Rene Descartes' death
Descartes made a significant contribution to the philosophy of rationalism. Descartes’ Meditations was innovative because he was challenged certainties and sought to prove their validity through logic. Descartes also made important discoveries in analytical geometry, calculus and mathematics. -
Peter the Great is born
Peter the Great was born in Moscow, Russia on June 9, 1672. Peter the Great was a Russian czar in the late 17th century who is best known for his extensive reforms in an attempt to establish Russia as a great nation. When his brother Ivan died in 1696, Peter was officially declared Sovereign of Russia. Peter the Great often duplicated aspects of western culture. He modernized the Russian alphabet, introduced the Julian calendar, and established the first Russian newspaper. -
Isaac Newton's Principia Mathematica
Newton made studies in mathematics, optics, physics, and astronomy. He published Principia Mathematica in 1687, laying the foundations for classical mechanics, explaining law of gravity, and establishing the Laws of Motion. -
Essay Concerning Human Understanding
In 1689, John Locke publishes an Essay Concerning Human Understanding. Locke restates the importance of the experience of the senses over speculation. Locke presents the theory that the human mind is blank yet receptive at birth, and that experience imprints knowledge. -
Benjamin Franklin is born
Benjamin Franklin is one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. He was an author, politician, diplomat, scientist and statesman. Franklin was an early supporter of unity among the colonies within the United States. Franklin was a key figure in the American enlightenment, which saw major advances in science and developed ideas of political republicanism. -
The Spirit of Laws
Montesquieu, a French philoshoper, published "The Spirit of Laws." Montesquieu believed that executive power should be limited or restrained and. Montesquieu further proposed that government should be divided into three branches: the legislative, executive, and judicial. This concept would go on to be one of the basis of the United States' government. -
America's Independence
In response to British taxation without the colonist's representation, the American colonists began to rebel. France alliee with the colonists and helped them fight their war for independence. On July of 1776 Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence, a document that secured the colonists freedom from Britan and making America its own country. -
The Division of Races
Johann Friedrich Blumenbach wrote "Decas craniorum" in which he describes sixty human skulls. In 1779, he divides the human species into five races: Caucasian, Mongolian, Malayan, Ethiopian, and American -
Estates General
King Louis XVI convened the Estates General to levy a new tax to ease his monetary woes. Soon after the Estates General began to meet, the Third Estate declared itself a "National Assembly" that was representative of the people. The king attempted to shut down the National Assembly, but on June 20 its members declared that they would not disband until they had written a new constitution for France. This contributed to the the French Revolution. -
The Bastille is stormed
Leading up to the summer of 1789, France was pushed toward revolution. There were severe food shortages in France that year, Restentment for King Louis XVI was quickly turning to animosity and hatred. On July 14, a crowd of around one thousand, armed with muskets, swords, and other homemade weapons, gathered around the Bastille and the Bastille was stormed. The capture of the Bastille symbolized the end of the ancien regime and gave life to the French revolutionist's cause. -
Declaration of the Rights of Man
A Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen was passed by the National Assembly. Nobles proclaimed their support of liberty, equality, and fraternity. The nobles were forced to give up privileges bestowed upon them from the Old Regime. This statement of revolutionary ideals gave all people of France the promise of the protection of their natural rights. It also granted all men the right to equal justice, freedom of speech, and freedom of religion. -
Bread March on Versailles
The Bread March on Versailles, also known as The Bread March of Women, and The Women's March on Versailles, was an event during the French Revolution. The poor women of Paris still found that there was a considerable bread shortage and the prices were very high. On October 5, 1789, word spread in Paris that the aristocrats and royalty were hoarding all the grain. Becoming increasingly agitated and incited by revolutionaries, a hungry mob decided to march on the Palace of Versailles. -
Louis XVI Executed
A radical club known as the Jacobin Club. called for the execution of the Louis XVI They successfully convicted Louis SVI of treason before the National Convention, the government at that time. He was executed by guillotine. -
Coup D'etat
By 1799, the Directory, had no control over the political state of the country. The citizens confidence in this government was low. After Napoleon came back from Egypt, he assisted in removing many of the national legislatures. The remaining legislators voted to get rid of the Directory. They then created three consuls, the first of which was Napoleon. -
Haiti's Freedom
While French was having a revolution, Haiti determined to free themselves from France. Toussaint L'Ouveture arose as a leader for Haiti and got the citizens of Haiti close to independence. He was captured by the French and placed in a jail in the alps where he froze to death. After his death, Jean Jacques Dessalines took his place. Dessalines made the colony of Haiti its own country. -
Napoleon crowned Emperor
After a vote of the people of France to allow Napoleon write the Constitution of France, Napoleon told the people that the only way for the them to be safe was for him to be declared emperor. Napoleon made an agreement with Pope Pious that he would restore the power of the Church in France if the Pope crowned him emperor. Pope Pious agreed and Napoleon was crowned emperor. Napoleon would then begin to expand his empire. -
Mexican War of Independence
Padre Hidalgo rang the bells of the church to rally everybody in Mexico to fight for independence. The next day, Hidalgo's army marched towards Mexico City and Hidalgo was defeated by the Spanish. Jose Maria Morales took Hidalgo's place and led the revolution for four years, until Agustin de Iturbide defeated him. Agustin de Iturbide later declared Mexico's independence in 1821. -
Battle of Waterloo
After Napoleon returns to France after being exiled to Elba, he asks the French people for one more opportunity at leadership. The people of France allow him to lead once again. Napoleon, as before, goes to war with other countries, primarily the British. Napoleon is defeated in this final battle and is exiled to the island of St. Helena. -
Congress of Vienna
After defeating Napoleon, the fourt Great Powers invited the other countries of Europe to send plenipotentiaries to Vienna for a peace conference. The goal was to establish a balance of power in Europe which would prevent imperialism, create better conservative governments, and prevent further political revolutions. At the conclusion, the French returned territories that were seized by Napoleon, new territories were outlined, and peace was maintained for 40 years until the Crimean War.
