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Enlightenment Thinkers
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Estates-General Meets
Nobility were enraged by the taxes and forced King Louis XVI to call a meeting of the Estates General. The first Estate were religious leaders. The second Estate were Nobility. Finally the 3rd Estate were everyone else. The 1st and 2nd Estates Estates represented 1-2% of population and paid 2% of taxes while the 3rd Estate made up 98% of the population and paid 98% of the taxes. The 3rd estate was always outvoted by one and two so never won. -
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French Revolution
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Tennis Court Oath Taken
King Louis XVI and the 1st and 2nd estates locked the 3rd estate from the meeting hall. Member of the 3rd estate broke into an abandoned tennis court and pledged not to leave until they had developed a new constitution for France. This was know as The Tennis Court Oath. -
Storming of the Bastille
King Louis XVI, concerned for his own safety, he hired a group of soldiers called the "Swiss Guard". People of Paris believed these soldiers were out to kill them and, on July 14, 1789, stormed an old prison called the Bastille, looking for gun powder and supplies to protect themselves. Over the rest of the summer peasants across France killed members of the 2nd estate, resulting in what became known as "The Great Fear". -
Publication of the Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen
The Declaration of The Rights of Man and Citizen was modeled after the Declaration of Independence of the United States. Which included thoughts of Enlightenment Thinkers, this government exists to protect the rights of citizens. Ended with long-lasting slogan of the revolution: LIBERTE, EGALITE, FRATERNITE:
Freedom, Equality, Brotherhood. King Louis XVI was not interested in any part of this, Nobles continued to throw large parties while peasants starved. -
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Haitian Revolution
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Slaves rise up on northern plantations of St. Domingue
500,000 ex-slaves, runaway slaves, or free blacks in St. Domingue when Declaration of Rights of Man and Citizen was published, but struggled on how to take advantage of it. Slaves had no problem and began to revolt. In August 1791, Dutty Boukman organized a slave rebellion. Whites were terrified they would be victims and killed hundreds of slaves to stop the rebellion form spreading. -
King Louis XVI Executed By Guillotine
In January, 1793, King Louis XVI was executed, with Marie Antoinette meeting the same fate later. The Committee of Public Safety formed to deal with problems inside and outside of France. The threat from other European countries grew. -
Slavery is outlawed in the French colonies, including St. Domingue
There were around 700,000 Africans brought to St. Domingue as slaves. 5-10% of the population died from a disease or mistreatment, so there was a constant need for slaves to be brought to this island. -
The Directory Takes Control of France
There was a new constitution drafted. Created five man group called the Directory. Overcame challenges to restore the order of France, set up elite schools, helped France's economy recover, made peace with Spain and Prussia, while continuing war with Austria and England. When chaos erupted, they turned to Napoleon Bonaparte to achieve their own goals, but he had goals of his own. -
War of Knives begins for control of St. Domingue
By 1799, L'Ouverture and Rigaud were fighting for control of their island. L'Ouverture and his poor former slaves fought against Rigaud and his wealthy and well-educated former slaves and free blacks. War Knives lasted for over a year. L'Ouverture, with help from the English, defeated Rigaud, who fled into exile. -
New constitution in France put up for a vote, declares revolution over
Constitution of 1791, French constitution created by the National Assembly during the French Revolution. It retained the monarchy, but sovereignty effectively resided in the Legislative Assembly, which was elected by a system of indirect voting. The franchise was restricted to “active” citizens who paid a minimal sum in taxes; about two-thirds of adult men had the right to vote for electors and to choose certain local officials directly. -
Dessalines proclaims Haiti’s independence
In Gonaives, Dessalines proclaims Haiti’s independence, signaling the formation of the world’s first black republic. He publishes a Declaration of Independence, signed by himself and Christophe, and the colony St.Domingue is abolished forever. The original Taino name of Haiti is officially restored. -
cToussaint L’Ouverture proclaims a new constitution in St. Domingue and is declared Governor for Life
This day in Caribbean history, June 8, 1801, Toussaint Louverture proclaimed the new constitution in Saint-Domingue and is declared Governor General for life. The constitution attempts to establish Saint-Domingue as equal to France, asserting the colony's autonomy while still trying to receive benefits from France -
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The Revolutions of Latin and South America
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Mexico declares independence from Spain
On September 16, 1810, Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, a Catholic priest, launched the Mexican War of Independence with the issuing of his Griot de Dolores, or “Cry of Dolores” (Dolores referring to the town of Dolores, Mexico). -
Simon Bolivar arrives at Merida, Venezuela
On May 24, 1813, South American independence leader Simón Bolívar entered the city of Santiago de los Caballeros de Mérida, leading the invasion of Venezuela, and is proclaimed El Libertador or The Liberator. -
Peru declares independence
Peruvian independence was declared on July 28, 1821, Spanish power was broken and Peru's independence ensured. -
Gran Columbia formed
While the U.S. expanded across the North American continent, Gran Colombia formed in South America in 1819. Led by Venezuelan military Libertador Simón Bolívar, Gran Colombia fought to unite regions covering present-day Colombia, Venezuela, Panama, Ecuador, and parts of Peru and Brazil.
