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The 10 Most Important Changes in European History
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Official Start of U.S. Revolution
Although the U.S. revolution didn't take place in Europe, it sure did impact it. With Britian fighing against the U.S., taxes increased due to the cost of war and the millions that were spent fighting. France was also in economic trouble because they helped the U.S. rebels in the fight against the British. Once the war was over France had spent millions of dollars and was nearly bankrupt. This enevitibly led to the start of the French Revolution just 8 years later. -
James Watt Creates Steam Engine.
Although he didn't create the steam engine, he created the first one that had a continuous rotative motion. In 1781, Watt patented his steam engine. Watt's ten-horsepower engines enabled a wide range of manufacturing machinery to be powered. The engines could be used anywhere that had access to water and coal that could be obtained. -
The Creation of the Locomotive
Shortly after the creation of the steam engine, the locomotive was created. Locomotives could transport people and goods in a fraction of the time that it took before. At the time, these trains were powered by combustible fuels like coal or wood. Before its creation from an Irish engineer, horses pulled carts along the train tracks. With the creation of these trains, things like poeple, ideas, and supplies could be transported and delivered faster than ever. -
The French Revolution
The French Revolution was a period of civil war and political reforms. The goals of the French Revolution were fairly simple. Take out the kings and monarchies and replace them with democratic and nationalistic institutions. The fighting last for 10 years up until 1799. After the Revolution, around 40,000 people had been killed. Almost all of them executions; and of those most were by the guillotine. The guillotine represented a "Reign of Terror" by opponents. -
Napoleon Bonaparte is put into Office
Napoleon was a French military and political leader who rosw to power dueing the last phases of the French revolution. He brings along liberal reforms like religious tolerence and a stop to fuedalism. His military stratigies were also some of the greatest the world had seen. He won nearly every battle he fought in and through his conquests he managed to take over nearly all of continental europe. -
Karl Marx is Born
Karl Marx was one of the worlds greatest and most achieving political and economic writers. He ideas have laid the basis for the current understanding of labor and its relation to the economy. Many of his ideas are based on the fact that human societies through class struggles. But the conflicts of classes were and still are some of the most controversial political topics. Collectively his ideas are well known as Marxism. -
First Cartrige Casing for Bullets is Created
The creation of firearms and gunpowder brought with it the power to destroy anything with the pull of a trigger. But guns needed something to shoot. Roundballs were used but reloading these types of weapons took over 30 seconds. It wasn't until 1834 when the first bullet was crafted by a german scientist. Bullets held gunpowder inside of it. This meant that soldiers didn't have to spend 30 seconds reloading their weapon. Bullets allowed for the creation of better guns which led to deadlier wars. -
The Triple Allience
In 1882 Germany, Italy, and Austria-Hungary signed this historic treaty stating that if any of them were to go to war, they would back each other in their efforts. This treaty was also one of the key things that sparked world war one. -
The Berlin Conference
The Berlin Conference was a meeting between many of the european leaders about the fair and equal distrobution of the lands in Africa. This meant that the now Impearialistic nations around the world like Britian, Spain, and Portugal all rushed for land claims in what was known as the "Scramble for Africa" Europe now saw the divided lands of Africa as their own, almost never showing restraint to natives. This caused massacres, wars and relocations. Most of the battles were won by the Europeans. -
Karl Benz Invents the First Automobile
Karl Benz, a german engine designer, created the one of the first internal combustian engines in 1879. This innovation led to the eventual creation of the first automobile being produced under his company known as Mercedes-Benz. Some of the original designs for these automobiles were 3 wheeled buggies and even converted horse buggies.
