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Montesquieu publishes book, "On the Spirit of Laws".
Montesquieu was a French Philosophe who lived during the Age of Enlightenment. He is known for believing in the seperation of powers along with Checks and Balances, where one branch of government makes sure the other(s) are doing what they are supposed to do. Montesquieu's ideas are incorparated into many countries' government systems today. -
America declares independence
By the 1770's, American Colonists had become fed up with the way they were being treated and taxed by the British. At the 2nd Continental Congress in 1776, after fights between the two sides had already begun, Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence. The documents expressed how the King of England had mistreated them and also expressed many ideas of the Enlightenment, such as those of Jean-Jacques Rousseau. -
French Revolution
After the American Revolution, the French middle and lower classess were fed up because of the upper class not having to pay any taxes. They started an uprising which ultimately led to the abolishment of the absolute monarchy and the execution of King Louis XVI. -
Napoleon overthrows the Directory through a Coup D'etat
After the French Revolution, a body called the Directory made up of five individuals governed France. However, the Directory had lost control of the political situation in France and the confidence of the French people. Napoleon Bonoparte, the son of two Corsican nobles, was a French general. After he returned from Egypt, his friends convinced him to overthrow the Directory, and instead starting a group of Consuls to govern France. -
Napoleon crowns himself emperor, begins to creat a vast European Empire.
In 1804, Napoleon decided to make himself the Emperor of France, much to the peoples' support. He then moved on to his goal of conquering Europe. By 1812, the only areas of Europe free from Napoleon's reign were Britain, Portugal, Sweden, and the Ottoman Empire. -
Haiti wins freedom from France
The French Colony of St. Domingue was the first Latin American Colony to break free of European rule. Slaves in this colony became fed up with they way that they were being treated by their owners. A revolution started, with Toussaint L'Ouverture emerging as the leader. By 1801, he had control of the island and freed all the slaves. After his imprisonment, Jean-Jacques Dessalines took over and completed the freeing of Saint Domingue, which is now called Haiti. -
Padre Hidalgo calls for Mexican Independence
After becoming inspired by other revolutions, the Mexicans felt it was their turn to break free of European Rule. In 1810, Padre Miguel Hidalgo rang the bells of his villiage church to call for an uprising. He subsequently led a march of 80000 men toward Mexico City, although he was killed by the Spanish Army. -
Napoleon is defeated at the Battle of Waterloo
After regaining his status as emperor in 1815, Napoleon prepared for a battle against the Duke of Wellington in the small Belgian villiage of Waterloo. Although confident as he always was, Napoleon and his army could not handle the combined British and Prussian forces. The defeat ended Napoleon's reign of power, and he was banished to the island of St. Helena, where he died of a stomach ailment.
