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Revocation of Edict of Nantes
The Edict of Nantes in France had granted the Protestant Huguenots freedom to practice their religion without harassment from the French state. However, when revoked under the rule of Louis XIV, who was very interested in establishing a unified state, the persecution resumed. The main result was a mass exodus of Protestants from France. -
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Industrial Revolution Years
The Industrial Revolution was a transformation of manufacturing throughout Europe and the US. As these societies transitioned away from their primarily agrarian economies, new methods of producing all kinds of goods emerged, turning the West into an industrial powerhouse. -
Watt Patents Steam Engine
Though the steam engine had been invented a few decades prior by Thomas Newcomen, the designs were rudimentary and inefficient, only being powered by the coal mines they were located next to. Watt, funded by Matthew Boulton, developed a more efficient engine that enabled the manufacturing of much of the Industrial Revolution, quite literally powering its expansion. -
Congress of Vienna
The Congress of Vienna was convened by the European powers following the Napoleonic Wars. Austria, Prussia, Russia, Britain, and begrudgingly France got together to stop the rise of another Napoleon, and the liberal ideas that spawned him. They claimed significant territory for themselves through the process. -
Battle of Waterloo
The Battle of Waterloo was fought between the armies of the Seventh Coalition and Napoleon's France. The decisive victory by the Duke of Wellington ended the Napoleonic Wars. Defeated, Napoleon abdicated and the coalition forces invaded Paris, culminating in his exile. -
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Reign of Louis XVIII
Louis XVIII was a ruler of France that wavered in and out of power. During the French Revolution, he was exiled, and after a return following Napoleon's exile, he was exiled again when Napoleon returned. After dying, he had no children as heirs, so the throne passed to his brother Charles X. -
Karlsbad Decrees
The Karlsbad Decrees were a conservative backlash to growing liberal sentiments in the German Confederation. Called by dominating conservative von Metternich, they cracked down on the civil liberties that'd allowed liberal ideas to flourish, such as free speech. This was largely made in response to calls for German unification. -
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Reign of Charles X
Charles X came to power after the death of his brother Louis XVIII. He was unpopular throughout his entire reign, such as when he imposed the death penalty for sacrilege. During the July Revolution, which imposed the "citizen's king," he was exiled and the line of the House of Bourbon ended. -
Stephenson’s Rocket
Stephenson's Rocket was an early steam locomotive. It wasn't the first, but it was the first one to advance to a point that it could carry passengers instead of just freight, and was sufficiently light. It was made for a contest, but its industrial applications were made obvious, carrying everything from coal to couches. -
France invades Algeria
After a disagreement with the Ottoman governor of Algiers, France invaded. Given their superior military power, they quickly overran the Ottoman forces and took control of the territory. Given the immense public support of the invasion, they began colonizing Algeria, where it remained under their control for decades. -
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Reign of Louis Phillippe
Louis Philippe came to power during the July Revolution, where his cousin Charles X was exiled. He was conservative, supporting the wealthy elites, and supported the French invasion of Algeria. However, as the economy declined and strife in France grew, his popularity waned. This culminated in the Revolution of 1848, where he was exiled. -
British Reform Bill
The British Reform Bills, most notably that of 1832, reformed the Parliamentary system. The most notable changes were those to the electorate in Great Britain, expanding and equalizing representation. The unfairly represented small towns were minimized in favor of larger cities, and voting rights were expanded to poorer populations. -
Great Famine Ireland
The Great Famine was a period of mass starvation in Ireland. Brought about by a blight afflicting potatoes, a staple crop in Ireland at the time, and amplified by the hands-off economic policies of the ruling British government, a million Irish died and another million left. This caused increased Irish nationalism and calls for independence. -
Great Exhibition in London
The Great Exhibition was held at the Crystal Palace in London, attended by monarchs and many prominent writers and thinkers. On display was everything from a large diamond to a large telescope, showcasing the modern wonders that defined the Victorian Age. -
Cholera Outbreak London
The Broad Street Pump, servicing a small population, ended up infecting a large portion of the London population with cholera. The extremely poor public sanitation was a large factor in allowing people to continually get infected. While conventional wisdom at the time suggested the cause was hazy, infecting air, John Snow discovered its waterborne origins. -
Darwin’s Origin of Species
The Origin of Species was a foundational text in evolution. Darwin, based on research on the HMS Beagle, had determined that species "evolve," or change over time based on their environment. Previously, people thought species had just been the same throughout all of history, especially based on God's creation in Genesis. However, today Darwin's ideas on natural selection are widely accepted in the scientific community.
