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Period: to
France and It's Colonies in Revolution
The second French Revolution, the Haitian Revolution, and the rapid expansion of Napoleon's empire proves to be the beginning of the end for Napoleon. Whelan, Nathaniel. "The Most Important Revolutions That Shaped World History." WorldAtlas. July 16, 2020. https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/the-10-most-important-revolutions-of-all-time.html. -
"The Real Count of Monte Cristo"
General Thomas-Alexandre Dumas, the son of a white Frenchman and Marie-Cessette, a black slave woman, serves in Napoleon's Italian Campaign.
Reiss, Tom. The Black Count: Glory, Revolution, Betrayal and the
Real Count of Monte Christo. BDWY Broadway Books, 2013. -
General Dumas leads "The Black Calvary Brigade" during the Italian Campaign
General Dumas has a falling out with Napoleon and resigns from the army because of a wide variety of issues including the treatment of the Black Legion, ill-health, and the failing military campaign. Dumas, Alexandre, Umberto Eco, and Peter Washington. The Count of Monte Cristo. Alfred A. Knopf, 2009. pg.xxiv Reiss, Tom. The Black Count: Glory, Revolution, Betrayal and the
Real Count of Monte Christo. BDWY Broadway Books, 2013. -
Abolitionist Lydia Child
Lydia Child is born and would become a foremost author expounding the idea of an American abolitionist.
Lewis, Jone Johnson. "Biography of Lydia Maria Child, Activist and
Author." ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/lydia-maria-child-
biography-3528643. -
Europe Struggles with the Slavery Question
France under Napoleon's emperor-ship reinstates slavery nullifying an earlier emancipation law of 1794.
Dumas, Alexandre, Umberto Eco, and Peter Washington. The Count of
Monte Cristo. Alfred A. Knopf, 2009 pg xxv Photo: www.heritagehub.org.uk/ -
A Writer is Born
Alexandre Dumas, son of General Thomas-Alexandre Dumas a white native of France and Marie-Cessette Dumas a black slave woman, is born at Villers-Cotterets. Dumas, Alexandre, Umberto Eco, and Peter Washington. The Count
of Monte Cristo. Alfred A. Knopf, 2009. -
A Hard Start
Dumas' father dies leaving the four year old in poverty. Napoleon refuses Dumas' mother the customary pension awarded to French Army officer's widows. Dumas, Alexandre, Umberto Eco, and Peter Washington. The Count of Monte Cristo. Alfred A. Knopf, 2009. pg xxvi -
America Struggles with the Slavery Question
New Jersey passes legislation restricts the right to vote to free, white, male citizens, removing the vote from all African Americans and women, some of whom had voted before the change. Lewis, Jone Johnson. "Timeline 1800–1859: African American History and Women." ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/african-american-womens-history-timeline-1800-1829-352829 Photo: thehistoricaldiaries.wordpress.com -
Earthquake Changes Mid-America
"With an estimated magnitude of 7.4 to 8.3, the final New Madrid earthquake strikes near New Madrid, Missouri. This quake was the largest earthquake ever recorded in the continental United States, destroying one-half of the town of New Madrid. It was felt strongly for 50,000 square miles, created new lakes, caused numerous aftershocks, and reversed the course of the Mississippi River." U.S. Timeline 1800s - America's Best History. https://americasbesthistory.com/abhtimeline1800.html. -
The World Reacts to Napoleon
Battle of New Orleans is won by the American Army over Britain. War was declared against Britain in June of 1812 in response to British blockades of shipping from America during the Napoleonic Wars. "Battle of New Orleans Facts & Summary." American Battlefield Trust.
January 06, 2020. https://www.battlefields.org/learn/war-
1812/battles/new-orleans. Photo: History.com -
Mother Earth vs. Napoleon
Mt. Tambora and Indonesian volcano erupts, killing an estimated 80,000 people, and severely altering the earth's weather patterns up to 8,000 miles away in Northern Europe, including Belgium and the site of The Battle of Waterloo. Greshko, Michael. "201 Years Ago, This Volcano Caused a Climate
Catastrophe." National Geographic. April 08, 2016.
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/news/2016/04/160408-tambora- eruption-volcano-anniversary-indonesia-science/. -
A Cold Wet Summer
Violent summer storms drop uncharacteristic amounts of rain upon the battle field at Waterloo. 21st Century scientists now believe the eruption of Mt. Tambora may have contributed to Napoleon's defeat. Weisberger, Mindy. "Did a Volcano Defeat Napoleon at Waterloo?"
LiveScience. September 04, 2018.
https://www.livescience.com/63494-napoleon-defeat-waterloo-
volcano.html. Image: https://www.ssplprints.com/image/97565/howitzer-gun-stuck-in-the-mud-near-paschendaele-october-1917. -
Real Estate Deal of the Century
The Louisiana Purchase, officially announced to the American public on July 4 1804 was surveyed in the fall of 1815. The land was segmented into 40-acre squares from the Gulf Coast to Canada and from the Mississippi River to the Rocky Mountains. The 40-acre plots were a promise to War of 1812 veterans for their service. Few were able to take possession. -
Period: to
Colonial Expansion for Profit
Colonization of Indonesia by the Dutch, British, and other foreign powers exploits Indonesia sugar manufacturing. Slave-like labor used to enrich European countries. Knight, Roger. "Indonesia's Colonial Sugar Industry." Oxford
Research Encyclopedia of Asian History. March 28, 2018. https://oxfordre.com/asianhistory/view/10.1093/acrefore/9780190277727.001.0001/acrefore-9780190277727-e-44?__prclt=C6moKNFl#acrefore-9780190277727-e-44-div2-4. -
Dumas writes "Georges"
"Georges" is the story of a mixed race man who returns to Mauritius after being educated in Europe and having adventures all over the world. It was written after France reinstated slavery in its colonies. Clare, /. "Review: Georges." The Literary Omnivore. September 02, 2015. https://theliteraryomnivore.wordpress.com/2015/09/02/review-georges/.
Image: Cover Art, Dumas, Alexandre. Georges. Gallimard, 1974 -
The Count of Monte Cristo
Dumas publishes prolifically. 600 works including pro-royalty novels like The Three Musketeers, Le Reine Margot, and the The Count of Monte Cristo is begun. This leads to Dumas being accused of placing his name on the works of others. Dumas, Alexandre, Umberto Eco, and Peter Washington. The Count of Monte Cristo. Alfred A. Knopf, 2009. Introduction and Time Line -
Fictionalized History
Serialization of The Count of Monte Cristo is finished. The 13th Chapter of the novel describes in some detail the 100 days of Napoleon's restoration and the battle of Waterloo. This account placed within a fictional story predates Victor Hugo's account in Les Miserable by 19 years. Dumas, Alexandre, Umberto Eco, and Peter Washington. The Count
of Monte Cristo. Alfred A. Knopf, 2009. pg xxxvi -
History Changes Minds
Dumas, an avowed Royalist evidenced by his politics and writings, changes his views and supports the February Revolution in France, and votes for Napoleon's nephew, Louis Napoleon. Dumas, Alexandre, Umberto Eco, and Peter Washington. The Count of Monte Cristo. Alfred A. Knopf, 2009. pg xxxviii -
Death of a Writer
Alexandre Dumas dies of stroke. He was considered generous yet extravagant and spent most of the millions he had earned in his life. He published over 600 works. His body is eventually moved to the Pantheon in Paris. Dumas, Alexandre, Umberto Eco, and Peter Washington. The Count of Monte Cristo. Alfred A. Knopf, 2009. Introduction Image: Dumas' Tomb, Art and Architecture, UK, Artandarchitecture.org.uk
