Timeline of Modern History By poisonprincess Period: Jan 1, 1750 to Jan 1, 1918 Timeline of Modern History Jan 1, 1763 James Watt invents the steam engine and kick-starts the Industrial Revolution Jan 1, 1775 American War of Independence Jan 1, 1783 End of American War of Independence Jan 1, 1788 First Fleet Arrives to Colonise Sydney Jan 1, 1789 French Revolution The French Revolution lasted from 1789-92 Feb 7, 1794 Napoleonic Wars Lasted from 1794-1815 Jan 1, 1807 Britain abolishes slavery in the British Empire Jan 1, 1848 European Revolutions Jan 1, 1850 Karl Marx writes the ‘Communist Manifesto’ Jan 1, 1890 Australian Unionism & Strikes Jan 1, 1901 Australian Federation Jan 1, 1914 World War One Lasted from 1914-1918 Jan 1, 1917 Russian Revolution