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Period: 1500 to
Revolution and Absolutism
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Thirty Years War
The Thirty Years War was a series of multiple wars between different countries in Europe. The war began as a religious civil war between Protestants and Roman Catholics in Germany. The war developed into a fight for a balance of power in Europe. At the end of the war in 1948, the powers in Europe had shifted. Germany suffered and lost over half its population. France was the main power in Western Europe and Spain lost its dominance. This shift in power effected the structure of Europe today. -
English Bill of Rights
The English Bill of Rights is a document that limits the powers of the king and queen, enhances democratic elections, and the right to freedom of speech. It was passed on 12/16/1689. The document gave certain rights to the public and took away certain power from the crown. Making a fair and just government. -
War of Austrian Succession
After Charles VI death in 1740, his daughter, Maria Theresa, was to rule Hapsburg. However, Fredrick II invaded Silesia, the richest Hapsburg province, starting the war. Maria Theresa got help from Britain and Russia, but was eventually defeated. -
American Revolution
The American Revolution was when the American colonies rebelled and fought for their independence against Great Britain. Before the Revolutionary War, there were many colonial protests against the British governments new laws and taxes. In 1776, the Continental Congress declared independence from Great Britain. This angered Britain and led to the Revolutionary War. The American colonies, with the help of France, defeated Britain and signed the Treaty of Paris to be recognized independent. -
Stamp Act
The Stamp Act was an act where the Parliament of Great Britain imposed taxes on the British colonies in America. They taxed things like pamphlets and newspapers. Colonists protested saw these taxes as an attack on their rights. The colonists declared that since they had no representatives in Parliament, they had no right to tax them. The Parliament repealed this act, but that didn't stop them from imposing new taxes. This event was one of the factors that eventually led to the Revolutionary War. -
Treaty of Paris
The Treaty of Paris was a document that officially ended the Revolutionary War and declared Britain officially recognized America as an independent nation and that they had to claim on the land or government. The treaty was a negotiation between the nations and it took over 5 weeks for Britain to sign. -
French Revolution
During the French Revolution, the people wanted to overthrow the monarchy and take control of the government. The third assembly in France demanded took control of the country up until the Reign of Terror, when a new government called the Directory was formed. The Directory ruled until Napoleon took over. The Revolution put an end to monarchy and took power from the Catholic church. It brought new ideas to Europe and gave more freedom to the commoners, like more rights for women. -
Tennis Court Oath
The Tennis Court Oath was the first step on the Third Estate of France forming organized protests leading up to the French revolution. The third estate didn't have the right to vote, so they didn't have any say in the governments decisions. They secretly met at an indoor tennis court and made the Tennis Court Oath and vowed to work together to change the government. The third estate grew more power and became the National Assembly. This led to the beheading of the King Louis and the Revolution. -
Storming of the Bastille
Storming of the Bastille signaled the beginning of the French Revolution. A bastille is a medieval fortress used as a prison. During the National Assembly in Versailles, there were rumors about royal troops occupying the capital. The public demanded the weapons and gunpowder from the Bastille, but the commander refused and opened fire on the crowd. Many were killed and a mob broke out and killed the commander. When the prisoners were released from the bastille, but there were no weapons found. -
Reign of Terror
A period of the French Revolution where the government ruled the people by terror. People had to be careful of everything they said or did or they would be executed or taken to prison by the French government. Sometimes victims were falsely accused by their neighbors or mistakenly identified. Many innocent lives were taken during this time and caused people to live their lives in fear.
