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Industrialization in Britain
Britain was the first in industrializing textiles in the 1700's. This sparked a beginning of inventions of machines to do more jobs in other industries as well. The 1700's and early 1800's brought the steam engine which could drive machinery in factories, propel boats and power locomotives. This meant that more goods could be produced as well as a means of transportation to distribute goods. -
Opium Wars
European merchants found that they could sell largee quantities of opium to China. The Chinese doctors used it as a pain reliever. The British began smuggling opium into China for nonmedical use. By 1835, twelve million Chinese were addicted to the drug. In 1839, the Opium War broke out which ended with the British defeating China. The Chinese held much resentment towards foreigners. This shows that drug addiction was a problem then as it is now. -
Dominican Republic Independence
Santo Domingo was under Spanish Control until 1801 when Haiti invaded the colony. In 1808 Spain regained control. Then in 1821 the Haitians captured and occupied Santo Domingo for the next 22 years. Finally, in 1844, the Dominican Republic declared their independence from Haiti and maintained it since. -
Franco-Prussian War
In July, 1870, war on young Germany was declared by France. France did not want a Prussian-German to accept the Spanish Crown. A man named Bismark provoked France into declaring war by means of a doctored telegram. With France surrendering in February, 1871, it marked the beginning of Germany's military dominance in Europe. This was the war that led to the First World War. -
Social Reform - Unions
In the United States, by the 1800's, workers joined unions which would negotiate with employers for better working conditions and higher pay. It also gave workers the right to strike if their demands were not met. In 1886, several unions joined together to form the American Federation of Labor, also known as the AFL. All this helped to better the working class even to this day.
