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Period: 1543 to
The Scientific Revolution
During the Scientific Revolution, people began to realize the importance of doing their own research, and applying new scientific knowledge to pre-existing beliefs, rather than simply replying on religion. People also began to challenge traditional authorities, and this threatened the authority of the church, because as people started searching for their own answers, and what they were finding proved certain religious beliefs incorrect, people began to question almost all traditional ideals. -
Galileo Galilei Supports the Heliocentric Theory
When Galileo announced his support for the heliocentric theory, the Church was enraged. People began to seek reason and wondered that if the church was wrong on this idea, what else were they wrong about? -
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The English Civil War
The English Civil War ended the monarchy in England and ended the concept of a divine right of kings. It paved the way for modern politics. Many Enlightenment thinkers looked towards English ideals as the foundation for their new beliefs, as not many could believe that England had done away with an age-old tradition. -
Hobbes's "Leviathan" is Published
When Galileo announced his support for the heliocentric theory, the Church was enraged. People began to seek reason and wondered that if the church was wrong on this idea, what else were they wrong about? -
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The Glorious Revolution
The Glorious Revolution permanently changed England’s government. Instead of an absolute monarchy, England became a constitutional monarchy with Parliament at the head. The Glorious Revolution impacted the thirteen colonies because it did away with religious persecution and granted more religious freedoms, as they were freed of strict, anti-Puritan laws. -
Locke's "Two Treatises of Government" is Published
Locke’s Two Treatises on Government argued against the divine right of king and for the state of nature and the creation of a social contract. Locke believed that laws are enforced in order to preserve the public good. His philosophical view on politics influenced the United States, as the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution took many ideas of civil, natural, and property rights and the job of the government (which is to protect the people). -
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The Enlightenment
The main Enlightenment ideals of a social contract, liberty, self-determination, popular sovereignty, and natural rights impacted the modern world as people began to search for a better life- instead of trusting that their life would be miserable but that the afterlife would be better, they fought for equal rights and for a better life. The Enlightenment inspired revolutionary ideas and were the foundation for many Revolutions. -
Diderot Publishes First Volumes of Encyclopedia
The Encyclopedia was a major weapon in the philosphers’ crusade against old French society, as many of its articles attacked religious superstition and supported religious toleration. Other articles called for social, legal, and political improvements that would lead to a society that was more tolerant and humane. -
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Louis XVI's Reign
King Louis XVI was not a strong ruler and when he sent French military support to America during their revolution, his decision left France Bankrupt- and even while knowing this, Louis XVI was building an extravagant palace at Versailles. He called a meeting of the Estates-General in the hopes of solving the budget crisis, but when he refused to give equal votes to all three estates, he sparked the French Revolution. His beheading in 1793 ended the monarchy in France. -
Battle at Lexington and Concord
The Battle at Lexington and Concord is remembered as the “shot heard ‘round the world” and was the starting gunshot of the American Revolution. During these two battles, many colonial minutemen were lost, and very few British men were lost. But even through these loses, this battle was considered a military win for the Americans because it showed Britain and King George III just what the Americans were fighting for. -
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The American Revolution
The American Revolution began in 1776 and ended in 1781 with the Battle of Yorktown. The American Revolutionary War was the first successful revolution in the world. This revolution impacted the rest of the world, especially France, because without America’s victory, they would otherwise have not attempted their own revolutions. France helped America in their Revolution, and then went back to France to start their own revolution. -
Declaration of Independence is Signed
The Declaration of Independence was signed in 1776 and was sent to Great Britain at the start of the American Revolution. It was a statement that declared the rights that America was hoping to achieve, but Britain denied the Americans these rights, and because of this refusal to accept these terms, the Americans decided on going to war with Great Britain. The Declaration of Independence was inspired by many Enlightenment ideals such as equality, a social contract, and a constitutional government -
The National Assembly is Formed in France
The National Assembly represented the common people of France (The Third Estate) and they called for demands that the king make economic reforms so that the people were not starving on the streets. The National Assembly created the Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen, which was the first constitutional document of the French Revolution. -
Tennis Court Oath
The Tennis Court Oath was an oath that the Third Estate took to stay in a tennis court until they finished writing their new constitution (The DOROMAC) and it was hugely significant because it symbolized the growing unrest and disillusionment that the third estate had with the rest of France. It laid the foundation for certain events of the French Revolution, such as the Storming of the Bastille. This oath was vital to the Third Estate as a protest against the rest of France. -
Declaration of the Rights of the Man and of the Citizen of 1789
The Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen was modeled after the United States’ own Constitution and included many Enlightenment ideals. The Declaration outlined what the new roles of the monarchy would be, and instead of an absolute monarchy, it would now be a constitutional monarchy, which gave the current King and Queen very little power. It gave social equality among citizens- doing away with the Estates system and made everyone entitled to the same laws and taxes. -
Bill of Rights is Signed
The Bill of Rights was added after the ratification of the Constitution because Anti-Federalists held out that it was necessary to safeguard the rights of the people, but the Federalists did not think that it needed to be included. The BIll of Rights limited actions of the federal government against the people, and the Founders included it so that citizens would be protected against state government by their home states’ constitution. -
Legislative Assembly is Formed in France
The Legislative Assembly was formed under the Constitution of 1791, which had created a constitutional monarchy with Louis XVI as the head of state, and replaced the National Assembly. The most significant detail of the Legislative Assembly was their decision to declare war against Austria in 1792. The Legislative Assembly was largely ineffective, though, as it struggled to pass reforms and had to deal with the struggling economy. It was replaced by the National Convention in September of 1791. -
Wollstonecraft's "A Vindication of the Rights of Women" is Published
In A Vindication of the Rights of Women, Wollstonecraft wants women and men to be educated equally. She wrote that if women were given the same advantages as men were, women would not only be exceptional wives and mothers, but also extremely capable workers. Her work significantly impacted women’s rights movements in the 19th century, and particularly during the Seneca Falls Convention in 1848 which produced a Declaration of Sentiments, which laid out the groundwork for aims of women’s suffrage. -
Execution of Louis XVI
King Louis XVI was put on trial for wanting France to lose its war against Austria so that he could have his power restored. His execution marked a point of no return for the revolutionary regime. Revolutionaries knew that with the death of Louis XVI, other powerful European monarchs would feel challenged. With the death of King Louis XVI, revolutionary ideas became more radical and aggressive and were spread quicker. -
Execution of Marie Antoinette
Marie Antoninette was a very vain queen, and she and her husband, King Louis XVI, always spent way too much money while her people were suffering, hungry in the streets. She was executed for treason, as she and her husband refused to address France’s financial problems. Her rule provoked popular unrest that led to the French Revolution and to the overthrow of the French monarchy. -
Napoleon's Coup
The Coup d’etat that overthrew the system of government under the directory in France that overthrew the system of government under the Directory in France and substituted the Consulate. This event is viewed as the official end to the French Revolution. This victory helped to cement Napoleon’s power as the first consul.