The Romantic Period By PBonasia Period: 1756 to 1763 Seven Years' War The Seven Years' War is widely considered to be the first global conflict in history, and was a struggle for world supremacy between Great Britain and France. 1776 Declaration of Independence The United States Declaration of Independence[a] is the pronouncement adopted by the Second Continental Congress meeting in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Enacted during the American Revolution, the Declaration explains why the Thirteen Colonies at war with the Kingdom of Great Britain regarded themselves as thirteen independent sovereign states, no longer under British rule 1783 Treaty of Versailles At the end of the War of the American Revolution, a network of treaties had to be negotiated between the four countries involved: the United States, France, Spain and Great Britain. Only one of these treaties had a direct bearing on Newfoundland — the Treaty of Versailles between Britain and France. 1789 French Revolution breaks out The French Revolution was a period of radical political and societal change in France that began with the Estates-General of 1789 and ended with the formation of the French Consulate in November 1799. 1794 Habeas Corpus is suspended for eight years The Habeas Corpus Suspension Act 1794 was an Act passed by the British Parliament. The Act's long title was An act to empower his Majesty to secure and detain such persons as his Majesty shall suspect are conspiring against his person and government. 1805 Battle of Trafalgar The Battle of Trafalgar was a naval engagement between the British Royal Navy and the combined fleets of the French and Spanish Navies during the War of the Third Coalition of the Napoleonic Wars. As part of Napoleon's plans to invade England, the French and Spanish fleets combined to take control of the English Channel and provide the Grande Armée safe passage. 1815 Napoleon defeated at Waterloo The Battle of Waterloo was fought near Waterloo in the United Kingdom of the Netherlands, now in Belgium. A French army under the command of Napoleon Bonaparte was defeated by two of the armies of the Seventh Coalition. 1819 Peterloo Massacre The Peterloo Massacre took place at St Peter's Field, Manchester, Lancashire, England. Fifteen people died when cavalry charged into a crowd of around 60,000 people who had gathered to demand the reform of parliamentary representation. Period: 1820 to 1830 King George IV's reign George IV was King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and King of Hanover from the death of his father, King George III, on 29 January 1820 until his own death ten years later. He had already been serving as Prince Regent since 5 February 1811, during his father's final mental illness. Period: 1830 to 1837 King William IV's reign William IV was King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and King of Hanover from 26 June 1830 until his death in 1837. The third son of George III, William succeeded his elder brother George IV, becoming the last king and penultimate monarch of Britain's House of Hanover. 1832 Reform Bill The Representation of the People Act 1832 was an Act of Parliament of the United Kingdom that introduced major changes to the electoral system of England and Wales. It abolished tiny districts, gave representation to cities, gave the vote to small landowners, tenant farmers, shopkeepers, householders who paid a yearly rental of £10 or more, and some lodgers. Only qualifying men were able to vote 1833 Factory Act In 1833 the Government passed a Factory Act to improve conditions for children working in factories. Young children were working very long hours in workplaces where conditions were often terrible. 1834 Poor Law The new Poor Law ensured that the poor were housed in workhouses, clothed and fed. Children who entered the workhouse would receive some schooling. In return for this care, all workhouse paupers would have to work for several hours each day.
