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Inoculation Against Smallpox
Smallpox was a disease that killed about 400,000 people in Europe every year. Inoculation against smallpox consists of inserting pus from an infected person into a non-infected person. That person will then get a mild case of smallpox, but be immune to the disease afterwards. Inoculation against smallpox became popular in England in the 1720's and contributed to the decreasing mortality rate of Europe in the 18th century, which led to a population increase. -
South Sea Bubble
The South Sea Bubble was the financial collapse of the South Sea Company in England. The South Sea Company supplied about 5000 slaves every year to Spanish America. The company eventually financially collapsed in 1720 due to people paying inflated prices for the stock. Due to the collapse, the British national economy was reduced. -
Disappearance of the Black Death
The Black Death was a main cause of the high mortality rate in Europe from the 14th century to the early 18th century. However, after the epidemic at Marseilles from 1720-1722, the Black Death disappeared from Western and Central Europe. It is unknown the full reason why the plague disappeared, though harsher quarantines may have assisted with it. The disappearance of the Black Death led to a much lower mortality rate in Europe, which in turn led to an increase in population across Europe. -
Invention of the Flying Shuttle
The flying shuttle was invented in 1733 by John Kay. It allowed for one person to weave cloth quicker than could be done by two people before. This invention assisted in the development of the cottage industry, allowing for the whole family to assist in the weaving process as it became easier due to the flying shuttle. The involvement of the whole family in the work greatly changed family life and family roles in the 18th century. -
Enforcing of Navigation Acts
The Navigation Acts in England, which were originally passed in the 17th century, restricted trade and created a monopoly on trade with the British Colonies. These Acts were not fully enforced until the 18th century, when England's government needed funds to pay back war debts. These Acts targeted the Dutch and their economy, in order to allow the English to catch up to them in shipping and trade. The Acts damaged the Dutch economy and commerce, while stimulating the British economy. -
Treaty of Paris
The Treaty of Paris in 1763 that ended the Seven Years War declared British victory, along with Prussia, over France and Spain. The British's great naval might and power helped lead them to this victory. Their naval power was so great due to the growth of their shipping industry after the Navigation Acts were passed and enforced. This victory marked the complete success of the British's monopolizing of their great empire, both in trade, economy, and colonization. -
Enclosure Act
The Enclosure Act of 1773 was one of the Enclosure Acts passed by Parliament in England. It allowed for the enclosure of lands and it removed the access that rural peasants had to those lands. These Enclosure Acts marked a movement away from the open-field system in England, which greatly impacted the lives of rural peasants. As rural peasants lost the land that they worked on, they were often forced to uproot their lives and move to more urban areas in search of work. -
Abolishment of French Guilds
Guilds were a group of artisans and merchants who oversaw the practice of their craft. With the development of the view of economic liberalism, which advocated for less government involvement in trade and industry, guilds came under criticism as they often set harsh rules and punishments for their members if they did not follow their rules. Guilds were completely abolished in France in 1776 as economic liberalism took root there. This marked a movement away from government control of industry. -
Public Movement for Abolition (~1783)
In England, the campaign for abolition grew into a movement of public opinion for abolition. This was the first movement of public opinion in British history. Women held a prominent role in this movement, and the movement backed supporters of slavery into a corner. This movement helped influence the abolition of the British slave trade in the early 19th century and proved that public opinion did matter. -
College of Mines Formed
The College of Mines was formed in New Spain in order to reform the study and teaching of mining and metallurgy in New Spain. This establishment of a school and educational reform reflected the ideas of the Atlantic Enlightenment. Enlightenment ideas thrived in colonies as well as in Europe during this time. The establishment of this school represents the continuity of ideas spreading from Europe to their colonies, in this example being Enlightenment ideas.