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Montesquieu publishes 'On The Spirit Of Laws'
In 1748 Baron de Montesquieu wrote the book 'On The Spirit of Laws'. In the book, Montesquieu proposed that the branches of government should have checks and balances so that one branch cannot take total control. The American's used Montesquieu's ideas when cunstructing their new governemnt. -
America Declares Independence
In 1776, the second continental congress met and Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence, stating America's Independence. The Colonies had become angry that the British were taxing them and taking away their rights, and the colonists declared independence. -
French Revolution
In the French Revolution, the members of the Third Estate became angry with the king and revolted against him. The citizens stormed the Bastille, a prison in France and stripped Louis XVI of his position as king. This led to the Reign of Terror where about 40,000 people were brutally executed by the Guillotine. -
Napoleon Overthrows the Directory Through a Coup D'etat
Napoleon Bonaparte, A French General from Corsica seized power in France in 1799. The French people were upset with the way the Directory had handled the political situatuion in France. To replace the system, a group of three consuls took over, and Napoleon soon became the head consul by seizing power. -
Napoleon Crowns Himself Emporer
In 1804, Napoleon decide to make himself the emporer. Napoleon then made a deal with the pope, and on the day where Napoleon recieved the crown from the pope, he took it and placed it on his own head signaling that he was more powerful than the pope. -
Haiti Gains Independence From Europe
In the late 1800's the englightenment ideas spread to the French colony of Saint Domingue. Toussaint L'Ouverture rose as the leader of the Saint Domingue slaves. He made a deal with the French to stop the revolution if they ended savery but the French soon sent him to jail in the French alps. in 1804, Jean-Jacques Dessalines took over and declared the country independent, and naming it Haiti -
Padre Hidalgo Calls For Mexican Independence
In 1810, a priest from the town of Dolores Mexico named Mguel Hidalgo rang the church bells and gathered all the peasants of Dolores and told them to rebel againts Spanish Forces. This became known as the Cry of Dolores. He had an army of 80,000 men but was killed in 1811. -
Napoleon is Defeated in the Battle of Waterloo
After Napoleon escaped from Elba, he became the leader of France again for 100 days. In this time, he fought the Battle of Waterloo versus England and the Duke of Wellington. France was defeated and Napoleon was exiled to Jamestown, Saint Helena; the place where he lived for a few more years before he died.
