Scientific Revolution - American Revolution

Nicolaus Copernicus shares his heliocentric theory

Mar 22, 1543

This theory opposes the previous geocentric theory. It states that the sun is in the center of the universe and that Earth, other planets, and the stars revolve around the sun.

Galileo demonstrates the property of gravity

Mar 22, 1591

He went to the top of the leaning tower of Pisa and shows that a 1-pound weight will fall at the same moment as a 100-pound weight. This opposes the previous Aristotelian theory that the fall rate of an object depends on its weight.

Galileo made his first telescope

Mar 22, 1609

Galileo Galilei created the first telescope where he meant to observe the Heavens and stars, until his observations supported Copernicus's theory.

Kepler publishes the Astronomia Nova

Mar 22, 1609

This is Kepler's two laws based on his 10-year-long study on the motion of Mars. He observed that planets moved in elliptical orbits around the sun, which is the Law of Ellipses, and the Law of Equal Areas.

Messenger of the Heavens is published

Mar 22, 1610

Galileo publishes his observations he made from his telescope. These observations included that the sun has dark spots, the moon has a rough surface, and Jupiter has several moons. This made the Church uneasy.

Kepler's third law of planetary motion

Mar 22, 1618

Kepler publishes his last law, known as the Law of Harmonies. This shows the relation between a planet's orbital period and the radius of orbit of the planet to those of other planets.

Dialogue on the Two Chief Systems of the World

Mar 22, 1632

Galileo publishes the Dialogue on the Two Chief Systems of the World. This is a book of his laws of physics that oppose the geocentric theory and heavily support the heliocentric theory.

The Inquisition vs. Galileo

Mar 22, 1633

The Inquisition interrogated Galileo and forced him to refute his theories. He was then put in house arrest until his death.

Hobbes publishes Leviathan

Mar 22, 1651

Thomas Hobbes publishes Leviathan where he shares his beliefs that it is in human nature to be selfish and wicked, and that a government is required to bring balance and prevent civil wars.

Philosophiae Naturalis Principia Mathematica

Jul 5, 1687

Isaac Newton publishes the Philosophiae Naturalis Principia Mathermatica which is the basis of modern day physics and astronomy.

Two Treatises on Government

Mar 22, 1689

John Locke publishes the Two Treatises on Government, where he opposes Hobbes and states that human natural is able to learn from experience and have the ability to govern themselves. It was first published anonymously in 1689.

The Spirit of the Laws

Mar 22, 1748

Montesquieu publishes the Spirit of the Laws which explains his view of liberty and the separation of powers. His description of the English government is what American Democracy is heavily based on.

Beginning of French and Indian War

Mar 22, 1754

This was a war fought between France and Britain

The Social Contract

Mar 22, 1762

Rousseau publishes the Social Contract, which is an agreement regarding free individuals to create a society and a government. He believes that a government comes from the consent of the governed.

Proclamation of 1763

Mar 22, 1763

This marked the end of the French and Indian war. A peace conference was held in 1763, where the British gained Canada from France and Florida from Spain, and France was able to keep its West Indian sugar islands and gave Louisiana to Spain.

Boston Massacre

Mar 5, 1770

Shots were fired by British soldiers on the streets of Boston. This sparked the American Revolution.

The Tea Act

May 10, 1773

This was one of the many taxes that was imposed on the colonies by the British government to make up for the bankruptcy.

Boston Tea Party

Dec 16, 1773

This was a protest of the colonies against the recent taxes imposed on them by the British government.

Intolerable Acts

Mar 22, 1774

As a result of the Boston Tea Party, Parliament created the five Coercive Acts of 1774. The five were the Boston Port Act, Massachusetts Government Act, Administration of Justice Act, Quartering Act, and Quebec Act.

George Washington as Commander-in-Chief

Jun 6, 1775

Continental Congress puts George Washington in the position of Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army.

Declaration of Independence

Jul 4, 1776

Continental Congress issues the Declaration of Independence, which states the people's natural rights that they are born with. The people that signed the Declaration of Independence are John Hancock, Samuel Adams, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, and many more.