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Start of the French Revolution
Unhappy with their very small say in government and unfair treatment, members of France's Third Estate stormed the Bastille to achieve gun powder for their weapons. They needed to prepare for their revolution against the French government. -
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Toussaint L'Ouverture leads slave revolt
Toussaint L’Ouverture, a former slave and excellent general, inspired the slaves on the island of Haiti to fight for their independence. After France and Britain's failed attempt to stop the revolution, Napoleon sent French troops back to the island. L’Ouverture urged the people to fight once again, leading to the island's independence in 1804. -
Haiti wins independence
After years of fighting against France for their freedom, the people of Saint Dominigue finally overpowered the French troops by giving them diseases. The island was declared as an independent nation and renamed Haiti. -
Napoleon becomes emperor of France
As a strong military general, Napoleon Bonaparte led multiple successful battles. His ambition and public approval allowed him to increase in power, eventually making him emperor of France. -
Colombia gains independence
On this date, Colombian nationalists encouraged the population of Bogotá to protest against Spanish rule. Under pressure, the Viceroy of Spain was forced to agree to give Colombia a limited independence, which later became permanent with Simon Bolivar's help. -
Father Miguel Hidalgo inspires revolution in Mexico
Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, a Roman Catholic priest, rang the bell of his church in Delores and gave a speech known as the "Cry of Delores". This speech encouraged others to revolt against Spain, triggering the Mexican War of Independence. -
Venezuela gains independence
The Venezuelan colonists were unhappy about high taxes and a lack of self-rule, causing them the to revolt against Spain. With Simon Bolivar leading the way, Venezuela became the first of the South American Republics to formally break away from Spain. -
Argentina gains independence
San Martin and several other Argentine nationalists went through several long years of fighting before the Spanish royalists were defeated. However, in the end, Argentina was victorious and their independence was declared by the Congress of Tucumán. -
Chile gains independence
San Martin and his skillful army defeated the Chilean royalists on the hill of Chacabuco in February 1817, which gave them access to Santiago. Chile's independence was then declared a year later. -
Peru gains independence
By freeing Chile in 1818, San Martin could launch a seaborne attack on Peru. He captured Lima when the viceroy withdrew his forces into the interior, liberating Peru from Spanish control. -
Mexico gains independence
The Treaty of Córdoba, signed on August 24, 1821, officially recognized Mexico as an independent country at the end of the Mexican War of Independence. Spain no longer had control over Mexico. -
Ecuador gains independence
Simon Bolivar wanted to make all of Latin America one unified country as "Gran Colombia", and needed Ecuador to do this. Bolivar and his strong forces defeated the Quito's colonial powers at the Battle of Pichincha. This caused the Department of Quito to set aside Spanish control and join the Gran Colombia in a greater effort for South American independence. -
Bolivia gains independence
Simon Bolivar's army helped Bolivia in a fight against Spain. The people of Bolivia were fed up about how the Spanish government ruled their country, and wanted to revolt. After 16 years of war, Bolivia gained its independence in 1825. Bolivia was named after Simon Bolivar for his fights for an independent Latin America. -
Guisseppi Mazzini creates "Young Italy"
"Young Italy" was a secret organization that worked towards the goal of a unified Italy. Mazzini's writings about a united Republican Italy inspired a whole generation of Italians, making "Young Italy" an important role in Italian unification. -
Zollverein
This customs union dissolved tariff barriers between Prussia and the smaller German states, creating a free-trade area throughout much of Germany. The Zollverein played a major role in bringing Germany closer to unification. -
Camillo Cavour becomes Prime Minister
Victor Emmanuel II, Sardinia's king, appointed Camillo Cavour as prime minister in 1852. Cavour believed in Realpolitik and wanted to make Sardinia one of the leading nations of Europe. His efforts to achieve this goal played a major role in the unification of Northern Italy. -
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Italian role in the Crimean War
Sardinia allied with France and Britain in the Crimean War against Russia. They weren't much help and their efforts weren't needed, but taking part in the war resulted in a voice for Sardinia at the peace conference. Camillo Cavour used this to his advantage and made a secret deal with Napoleon in 1858; Napoleon would help Cavour if a war broke out with Austria. -
Garibaldi's Red Shirts capture Sicily
In order to unify Southern Italy, Giuseppe Garibaldi led more than 1,000 men to Sicily to conquer the island. Him and his "Red Shirts" moved towards Palermo, where many Sicilians joined them to help overthrow their rulers. Garibaldi captured Palermo and, with the Battle of Milazzo, won control of all Sicily except Messina. -
Victor Emmanuel II is crowned King of unified Italy
Giuseppe Garibaldi and his "Red Shirts" swept to many victories defeating Naples and Sicily. Garibaldi hands these territories over to the Kingdom of Sardinia. A united Italy was created, with Victor Emmanuel II as the King of unified Italy. -
Bismarck becomes Prime Minister
King Frederick Wilhelm IV appointed Bismarck as Prussian representative to the German Confederation in 1851. Bismarck then served as Prussian ambassador in Russia and France. Therefore, he had 11 years of experience in foreign affairs before he became prime minister of Prussia in September 1862. Bismarck was determined to unite the German states into a single empire. -
Blood and Iron Speech
In order to unify Germany, Otto von Bismarck delivered his famous "Blood and Iron" speech when asking the Parliament for an increase in military spending. Bismarck believed that the only way Germany could become united was through warfare. -
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German-Danish War
With Denmark fighting against Prussia and Austria, the German-Danish War was fought for control over Schleswig and Holstein, the small German speaking states controlled by Denmark. Prussia and Austria came out victorious, and took over the two states; Prussia got Schleswig while Austria took Holstein. -
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Austro-Prussian War
In 1866, Otto von Bismarck realized that Austria was a big threat to the process of unifying Germany, and needed to get rid of them. Prussia attacked Austria and was victorious, taking Holstein and other North German states that Austria controlled. -
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Franco-Prussian War
Bismarck needed to handle France in order to unify Germany. He wanted to fight France, but didn't want to look like a bad person by starting it. In 1870, Bismarck used Napoleon’s invasion of France 60 years earlier to stir nationalist feelings. He altered a letter called the “Ems dispatch”, and made it look like Wilhelm I was insulting Napoleon III. France was furious and declared war against Prussia, but they were defeated. Prussia annexed Alsace-Lorraine, finally unifying Germany. -
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2nd Reich
The 2nd Reich was the time of the German Empire, made possible by the strong efforts of Otto von Bismarck. Wilhelm I was the first Kaiser of this unified Germany.
