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Montesquieu publishes book, On the Spirit of Laws
Montesquieu proposed the idea that seperation of powers would keep any individual or group from gaining total control of the government. He put these ideas in his book On The Spirit Of Laws. -
America Declares Independence
The colonists of North America were mad at the British because they began to mistreat them. Britian was in a big debt and expected the colonists to pay for it. Also, they restricted their area of where they can go/travel too, and made a law that the colonists couldn't trade with anyone else but Britian. All these restrictions plus other reasons angered the colonists and caused them to rebel. -
French Revolution
The French people, mainly the the third class, was upset because they felt they were being mistreated by the king. High taxes on bread were used, and they were inspired by the enlightenment ideas present by the philosophes. Asa result, they over through the king and looked to build a republic instead of a monarchy. -
Napoleon overthrows the Directory through a coup d’etat
Napolena resumed the position of first consul and assumed the powers of a dictator. A sudden seizure of power like Napolean's is known as a coup- from the french phrase coup d'etat. -
Haiti Wins Independance from France
African slaves in Saint Domingue wanted the same rights as the French People (freedom). Civil War broke out under the leadership of Toussaint L'ouveture. Toussaint however, was captured and died in a prison in the Alps. The slaves proved to be fierce fighters and still won their independance. -
Napoleon crowns himself emperor, begins to create a vast European Empire
in 1804, Napolean crowned himself emperor by taking the crown from the Pope and placing it on his head. This was a jesture showing that he was in complete power. Napolean wanted to reassert French power in the Amrericas, so envisioned a western empire including Louisiana, Florida, French Guiana, and the French west Indies. -
Padre Hidalgo calls for Mexican Independence
Hidalgo was a priest who rang the bells of his church to call for independance (grito de Dolores). He firmly believed in the enlightenment ideas, and the next day the people and him marched to Mexico City. -
Napoleon is defeated at the Battle of Waterloo
Napolean had just come back from exile, and many volunteers fill the ranks of his army. In response, the British Army, led by Duke Wellington, prepared for battle near the village of Waterloo. On June 18, 1815, Napolean attacked, but the British held their ground and Napolean lost his final battle.
