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Thirty Year’s War
The thirty year war started for religious reasons but over time it evolved into a fight over who will govern Europe. The war lasted thirty years and is known as one of the most gruesome and brutal wars in human history. The thirty year war is important because it reduced the amount of influence that the church had in politics. -
English Bill of Rights
The English bill of rights was an act signed by William III and Mary II that gave parliament power over the monarchy. It was also a huge influence on the U.S bill of rights. The English bill of rights is important because it created "separation of powers, limited the powers of the king and queen, enhanced the democratic election and bolstered freedom of speech." -
War of the Austrian Succession
The war of the Austrian succession included multiple wars and involved much of Europe's greatest powers. The war started in 1740 due to the fact that Maria Theresa couldn't succeed to her fathers lands since she was a women. The war of the Austrian succession ended with the treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle. -
Stamp Act
The stamp act was "the first internal tax levied directly on American colonists by the British Parliament." It occurred in 1765 at a time when Britain was in deep dept due to the seven year war. This act put taxes on all paper documents. The colonists did not like this tax at all calling it unconstitutional and resorted to mobs and intimidation as a result. The stamp act was important because it was one of the reasons the colonists finally rebelled against Britain. -
American Revolution
The American revolution began in 1775 between Britain’s 13 American colonies and the colonial government. In 1778 France joined the war on the colonists side and eventually helped force the British surrender in Yorktown, Virginia. The American revolution was important because it gave us our independents from the British. -
Treaty of Paris
The treaty of Paris showed that Britain acknowledged Americans independence and "ceded most of its territory east of the Mississippi River to the United States, doubling the size of the new nation and paving the way for westward expansion." This treaty was negotiated by Benjamin Franklin, John Jay and John Adams. It was extremely important because it ended the american revolutionary war. -
Storming of the Bastille
The Bastille was "a royal fortress and prison that had come to symbolize the tyranny of the Bourbon monarchs." The storming of this fortress in 1789 became known as the start of the french revolution. This revolution lasted ten long years and ended with the execution of not only the king but his wife as well. On July 4, 1789 an armed force gathered around Bastille and eventually forced the surrender of the compound. -
French Revolution
The french revolution started in 1789 and lasted about ten years. In this revolution the french citizens completely threw away the political landscape including the feudal system and absolute monarchy and created a whole new one. This revolution was partly caused by king Louis XVI's less than perfect economic policies. The revolution was not completely successful however it was important because it played a huge roll in shaping other nations around it. -
Tennis Court Oath
The tennis court oath was made in 1789 by deputes of the third estate in France. The oath was in defiance of the current king and stated that they would not "disband until a new French constitution had been adopted." This oath was important because it showed the belief that political authority should come from the people. -
Reign of Terror
The reign of terror was a period of time during the french revolution where multiple public executions and massacres occurred. These tragedies took place as a protest to "revolutionary fervor, anti-clerical sentiment, and spurious accusations of treason". As tragic as the reign of terror was it was also important as it dealt with foreign invaders and enemies.
