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On the Spirit of Laws
Baron de Montesquieu published a book, On the Spirit of Laws. It said that if power was separated, each group (or branch) would keep the other groups from gaining all the power. "Power should be a check to power." -
Independence At Last
The war between Britain and France left Britain in debt. Since the war benefitted the American colonies, Britain thought it right for the colonies to pay for it. The American colonies were outraged that they had to pay taxes on stamps. After a war with Britain, America declared independence. -
French Revolution
The third estate was unsatisfied by the way they did not have the privileges the first and second estates did. Their delegates named themselves the National Assembly. Rumors began to spread that nobles were hiring outlaws to terrorize peasants. People rioted and broke into the palace demanding the king and queen return to Paris. They left Versailles which signaled a change in power. -
No More Directory
The Directory was loosing control of the French political situation and the people's confidence. Napoleon was encouraged to seize power. He surrounded the national legislature and chased its members out. -
Emperor Napoleon
Napoleon crowned himself emperor, which has never been done before. He already had the Austrian Netherlands, parts of Italy, and the government in Switzerland, but he was ambitious and was looking to expand further. -
Saint Domingue becomes Haiti
After Toussaint L'Ouverture lead the slaves of Saint Domingue in a rebellion, he made a deal with the French. The deal was: Toussaint would stop the revolution if the French stopped slavery. The French went back on their deal and sent Toussaint to a prison in the Alps, but his lieutendant, Jean-Jacques Dessalines declated Saint Domingue independent and renamed it Haiti meaning "mountainous land". -
Another Independence...
Padre Hidalgo, a preist in Dolores, rang the church bell to gather all the peasants. Once they were all present, he called for a rebellion. -
Napoleon is defeated
After three disastrous mistakes, Napoleon lost most of his Grand Army. He surrendered and was banished to Elba. His brother took the throne but was widely unpopular. Napoleon heard of this and returned to France and became emperor once again. The European allies gathered their armies to fight near Waterloo, Belgium. Napoleon was defeated and was exiled to St. Helena and died there of stomach cancer.