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Nov 1, 1300
Ottoman Empire Rises
The Ottoman Empire was an important politic topic because the Ottomans sought land and power. They caprtured many areas to which they ruled and they assumed power. -
Jun 7, 1494
The Treaty of Tordesillas
The treaty of Tordesillas was very political because Portugal and Spain were both seeking more land, or power. Spain wanted to expand, but Portugal had already "claimed" the area. Pope Alexander VI suggested that they divide the land. They signed a treaty oof agreement. -
Nov 23, 1513
Machiavelli writes The Prince
Niccolo Machiavelli was important to politcs because he was philosoher who wrote a famous political theory. He strengthened Europe with this. He lost power after a fallout with the Medicis. He regained his power after writing his famous book, The Prince. -
Nov 23, 1568
The Dutch Revolt
The Dutch Revolt, known as the Eighty Years War was political because the Netherlands won independance from Spain and Spanish rule. Spain was Catholic, while a majority of the Netherlands were Calvinists. The Dutch also had a propering middle class, while Spain's economy was slow. The Dutch fought Spain, and the northern provinces were free, while the southern provinces of the Netherlands were capturesd and stayed Catholic. -
Political Effects of the Reformation
The Catholic Church's power declined, so monarchs started their rule. They gained power and developed nation-states. The monarchs wanted more power for themselves through warfare, exansion, and exploration. They were greedy with power and would risk lives for it. -
East India Company
The British East India Company was a corporation owned by individual shareholders. The company was an influence to political history because it was created to compete with Dutch traders. They traded gold and silver, along with spices, coffee, and textiles. Eventually, the Company gained power and governed India with its army, called sepoys. The Company was able to rule India with little interferance from the government. -
The Thirty Years' War
European ruling families were fighting over territory and power. A war emerged and is known into two parts. The Hapsburg triumphs and the Hapsburg defeats. The Hapsburg triumphs was when Austria and Spain put down the Germans and the Czech. The Hapsburg defeats was when Sweden shifted the war and drove the Hapsburg armies out of Germany. Cardinal Richelieu and Cardinal Mazarin did not want European rulers to have as much power as the French king. They wanted power. -
Cromwell's Rule
Oliver Cromwell was political in the sense that he wanted power.
He gained this power with the help from his military. When he was a monarch, he shared political power with Parliament. -
John Locke and Thomas Hobbe's views on Government
John Locke and Thomas Hobbes demonstrated their views on government and human nature in the 1600s. Thomas Hobbes believed that all humans were selfish and wicked. He said that the people need an absolute monarchy to keep order, and a strong ruler to keep the people under control. John Locke also expressed political views, but in a more positive way. He believed that all people are born free and equal, and could learn from their mistakes. He also favored the idea of self-government. -
Frederick the Great
Frederick's father was a monarch and was worried that his son did not have enough military power. When he came to power, he had his father's military policies. He is most known for his policy involving the government. He wanted the government should soften their rule and be a father to the people. -
The French and Indian War
The French and Indian War was political because the French and the British were fighting over land. They wanted to be the supreme leader of Europe. The Brisih ended up winning the war and land from France. -
The Declaration of Independence
The Declaration of Independence is important to political history because it was a turining point for the colonies to seek independence from Britain. It was a formal statement to justfy the break with Great Britain. It also declared the nation's people the right to choose their own governemnt. After the document was signed on July 4th, it became an important landmark in the history of democracy. -
The National Assembly
The National Assembly marked an important change in the government. Eager for a change, the third estate delegates insisted that all three estates meet together, and for each delegate to have a vote. The representatives were desperate to gain power. When the National assembly came together, the delegates began to pass laws and reforms in the name of the French people. The assembly also set the stage for a representative government to begin. -
Legislative Assembly
The Legislative Assembly was important to political hstory because it was a French Congress that had the power to create laws and approve or reject declarations of war. The legislative body was created by the National Assembly in September of 1791, along with a new constitution. Even though the constitution decreased the amount of authority the King contained, he still was able to enforce laws under the Legislative Assembly. -
Robespierre Gains Power
Robespierre's rule was a significant change in political history because he was a strong Jacobin leader who desired great power. Robespierre and his followers believed to control the people by means of reason and terror. Thus, the period of time in which he ruled was called the Reign of Terror. During the Terror, Robespierre governed France as a dictator. Thousands of political figures as well as normal citizens of France were kiled. His death lead to the reign of Napoleon Bonapaparte. -
The Napoleonic Code
Napoleon was an extremely important political firgure. He is considered to be the most powerful ruler of France. To restore order in France, he improved the economy, ended corruption and inefficiency in the government, and signed a concordat to start a new relationship with the church and the state. However, his most greatest work was establishing the Napoleonic Code. It provided the country with a uniform set of laws, however it limited liberty and restricted rights like Freedom of Speech. -
Congress of Vienna
The Congress of Vienna left a strong legacy that influenced politics for the next 100 years. As the size and power of France decreased, the power of Britain and Prussia increased. Also, nationalism started to spread into Italy, Germany, and Greece, which would result in revolutions, then lead to new nations. Furthermore, as a result of the French Revolution, people began to see democracy as the best way to ensure equality and justice for all. -
The Third Republic
In 1848, the supporter of liberal reforms in France, Louis-Philippe, fell from popular favor. A Paris mob turned over the monarchy and formed a republic. However, the new republican government soon began to fall apart. The radicals split apart. One side wanted political reform, and the other side wanted social and economic reform. Bloody battles resulted in the disagreements. Later, a constitution was established saying that a parliament and a strong president were to be elected by the people. -
The Emancipation Proclamation
The Emancipation Proclamation was issued by Abraham Lincoln in 1863. His intention was to free slaves so the Confederacy could no longer use them as workers to support the army in the field. The Proclamation saved the union, and freed the slaves. It also allowed for African Americans to participate in the union's joined forces, which had a huge impact on the Civil War. The Proclmation also paved the way for the 13th ammendment, which on December 6, 1865, abolished slavery in the U.S. -
A New Period of Imperialism
The Europeans desired to gain more influence over the economic, political, and social lives of people. To establish colonies, Europeans had certain policies and goals. They also had many techniques to gain control of an area. To manage new nations, rulers had an influence on what type of government was chosen for that nation. They also used indirect control to handle the daily management of a colony, and direct control to handle the buisness of running a country.
