-
Period: to
English Civil War
The civil war was caused by tensions between the English monarchs that came to power after Elizabeth's death and the English Parliament, as well as religious conflicts. Parliament was victorious in the first stage of the war due to the effectiveness of the New Model Army, as well as the leadership of Oliver Cromwell. Following the defeat of the monarchy, the Rump Parliament declared England a republic. But after Cromwell's death the monarchy was reestablished. -
Period: to
The Glorious Revolution
The Glorious Revolution started when seven important nobles invited William of Orange to invade England. The monarchy was offered to William of Orange along with the English Bill of Rights, which was designed to make the monarch accountable to parliament. This event influenced both Hobbes and Locke in their ideologies. -
Period: to
The Wars of Austrian Succession
The Wars of Austrian Succession were fought because of the Habsburg emperor Charles VI had been unable to produce a male heir. Charles wished his daughter, Maria Theresa, to be next in line to the throne. However, upon the death of Charles VI, Frederick II of Prussia sought to take advantage of the situation by taking Silesia from Maria Theresa's control. Austria allied with Britain to avoid being easily beaten by the French and the Wars of Austrian Succession had begun. -
Period: to
The Seven Years' War
A conflict that is viewed, by some historians, as the first world war because it involved conflict in Europe, India, and North America. The British, allies of Prussia, sought to defeat an alliance of Austria, Russia, and France in the Seven Years' War. -
Passage of Stamp Act of 1765
This act was authorized by King George III of Britain and caused heavy taxation of the American colony. This caused uproar in North America and was used as a catalyst in the struggle for independence. -
Period: to
American Revolutionary War
This war was fought between the British and their colonists in North America. It began with an uproar that was caused by British taxation and escalated to a full scale war that resulted in American independence and the formation of the United States of America. Many of the ideals of the United States were based on the ideologies of Enlightenment thinkers. -
Boston Massacre
This was one of the earliest violent skirmishes between colonist and royalist forces. Was a key event leading up to the signing of the declaration of independence. -
Declaration of Independence
The Second Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence and declared freedom from British rule. -
Treaty of Paris
The American Revolution officially ended with the signing of the Treaty of Paris, in which the British accepted defeat and recognized American Independence. -
Period: to
French Revolution
The French Revolution broke out when the lower class of France revolted. Many of the factors that contributed to the French Revolution were the ideas of the philosophers, the financial crisis caused by war and royal extravagance, as well as the lack of reforms put into place by the French parliament. Key events of the French Revolution include the tennis court oath, the storming of the Bastille, the women's march, the reign of terror and the Declaration of the rights of Man and the Citizen. -
Tennis Court Oath
This was the oath that was agreed upon by the newly proclaimed National Assembly at a tennis court because the Third Estate had been barred from the Estates-General building. The oath was sworn to ensure that the National Assembly would not dissolve until a French Constitution had been created. -
Storming of the Bastille
The Bastille fortress was stormed by Parisian crowds in search of weapons. The attempt to take the fortress was successful and this was one of the earliest events in the French Revolution. -
Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen
This document was created by the French revolutionaries. It was largely based around the ideas of the Enlightenment and was also influenced by the American Declaration of Independence. Basic elements of the declaration included the affirmation of mans' natural rights to "liberty, property, security, and resistance from oppression. -
Women's March to Versailles
The women of France protested by marching to Versailles and demanding bread from King Louis XVI. Many of these women were armed and they were successful in forcing the royal family to return to Paris. -
Period: to
Haitian Revolution
The Haitian Revolution was lead by a black Haitian named Toussaint Louverture who led the Haitians to victory against the French and established the independent nation of Haiti. -
Period: to
Reign of Terror
The Reign of Terror was a brief period of great onslaught in France by the use of the guillotine. One of the leading figures that made great use of the guillotine was a man named Maximilian Robespierre. His group of radicals sought to rid France of the upper class and establish rights for the working and lower class through violence and terror.