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American Declaration Of Independence
On this day, the American Declaration of Independence was signed. It was written due to the fact that colonists were tired of they way they had been treated by the British. They were being heavily taxed, and held no representation in Parliment. The Declaration itself had three purporses. It served as a theory of government, a list of grievences, and a declaration of war. -
British Surrender At Yorktown
On this day, the British surrendered at Yorktown, effectively ending the Revolutionary War. General Cornwallis brought 8,000 troops into the city, expecting British backup from New York. However, none came. With help from the French, George Washington and his troops surrounded and lay seige to the city, cutting off British supplies. Eventually, the British ran out of food and ammo, and were forced to surrender. -
Treaty of Paris is Signed
The Treaty of Paris of 1783 effectively ended the American Revolutionary War. Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, and John Jay negotiated the treaty beginning on September 27, 1782. Preliminary articles of the treaty were signed on November 30, 1782, which would only become effective once Britain and France signed a similar treaty, which they did on January 20, 1783. The formal document would then be signed on September 3rd, 1783. -
Storming of the Bastille
On this day, a group of craftsmen and salesmen went to the Invalides to steal weapons in response to a rumor that the King's army was going to attack. However, although they found the rifles that they needed, they lacked gunpowder. They then decided to attack the Bastille, which was representative of the King's power. The guards of the Bastille were killed. The governor of the Bastille was beheaded and his head carried around on a stick. -
Haitian Slave Revolt
The Haitian Revolution took place between 1781 and 1804. It was the only revolution where slave freedom was taken by force. It is the only successful slave revolt in modern times. A group of slaves, led by Toussaint L'Ouverture, unified Haiti, defeated Napoleon's army, and gained independence. -
The Reign of Terror Begins
The Reign of Terror was the period of the French Revolution from September 5, 1793, to July 27, 1794. The Revolutionary government , on September 5, 1793, decided to take harsh measures against those suspected of being enemies to the Revolution. During this time, the Committee of Public Safety exercised almost dictatorial control over France. -
The Directory's Rule
The Directory was the ruling system implemented after the Reign of Terror. It included a bicameral legislature known as the Corps Législatif. The lower house, or Council of Five Hundre, consisted of 500 delegates, 30 years of age or over, who proposed legislation; the Council of Ancients, consisted of 250 delegates, 40 years of age or over, who held the power to accept or veto the proposed legislation. The Ancients also picked the five Directors from lists drawn up by the Five Hundred. -
Napoleon Overthrows the Directory
On this day, Napoleon Bonarparte overthrew the failing French Directory. Napoleon had arrived unannounced from Egypt at Frejus. With the help of Sieyes and Roger-Ducos as well his brother Lucien he succeeded in ending the Directory and becoming first consul of France. -
Napoleon Crowned Emperor
On this day,Napoleon crowned himself Emperor Napoleon I at Notre Dame de Paris. According to legend, during the coronation he snatched the crown from the hands of Pope Pius VII and crowned himself, thus displaying his rejection of the authority of the Pontiff. -
Napoleon Defeated at Waterloo
On this day, the British, aided by the Prussians, defeated Napoleon for the last time. Their victory signaled the end of a more-than-ten- year period filled with battles largely instigated by Napoleon. The Dictator was then exiled to the island of St. Helena, where he lived out the rest of his days.
