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The Steam Engine
James Watt invented a working movable steam engine based on the steam engine of Thomas Newcomen. This steam engine powered the Industrial Revolution because it was used to make products, in factories, and to improve transportation like trains and boats. -
French Revolution
While bread prices were as high as a month's wage, the poor were being heavily taxed, and France was facing one of its harshest winters ever, the King and Queen were living lavishly. The people got angry and revolted. This led to monarchy falling in France and democracy replacing it. Eventually, Napolean Bonaparte came to power when the new government was failing, greatly expanding French land claims in Europe. -
Haitian Revolution
Fed up with the suffering of slaves, freed slave Toussant L'Ouverture led a slave revolt in what was then the French island St. Domingue. After 13 years of fighting, Haiti declared itself a country indepentdent from France. This was the only successfull slave revolt in history. It made American slave owners weary to the idea of their own slaves revolting, and actually did inspire several slave revolts. -
Independence of Mexico
On Sep. 16, 1810, Father Miguel Hidalgo ordered the arrest of all the Spaniards in Dolores. Father Hidalgo recruited an army of Mexicans to revolt against Spain, but was later executed. After 10 years of war, Spain sent colonel Agustín de Iturbide to put down the revolution. Iturbide switched sides, helping Mexico officially achieve independence on Sep. 27, 1821. -
Congress of Vienna
The Congress of Vienna ran from Nov. 1, 1814 to June 8, 1815 and was a European conference to deal with land boundaries and such after Napolean was defeated. This conference established a lasting European peace until World War I. -
Opium War
Britain wanted to trade with China but China wasn't interested, so they got the Chinese addicted to their opium so they would trade. Many Chinese didn't like what was happening and a war happened between Britain and China. This ended at the Treaty of Nanking on August 29 1842. Britain had defeated China's much larger army very easily, and this led to the world viewing China as a weakening power. -
The Communist Manifesto
Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels wrote a small book on the ideas of the Communist Party. The ideas in this book inspired Communist Revolutions in countries such as China and Russia. -
Matt Perry goes to Japan
American Commodore Matthew Perry travelled to Japan in hopes to start trade with Japan. He opened Japan to foreign trade and influence, leading to Japan westernizing and becoming a major power. -
Sepoy Mutiny
In 1857, the Indian soldiers serving the East India Co., or Sepoys, were angry with the way they were being treated by the British. On May 10th, a group of Sepoys revolted against their British officers. Sepoys started a widespread revolt, which was forcefully put down by the British in September. The Sepoy Mutiny led to direct British rule in India and more tensions between India and England. These tensions eventually led to Indians revolting and gaining independence from Britain. -
Unification of Germany
Germany was in several small states after several wars and the dissolving of the Holy Roman Empire. Otto Van Bismarck led the effort and Germany officially became united in the Hall of Mirrors in Versailles. The United Germany became a major power and disputes and wars would eventually lead to both World Wars. -
Berlin Conference
King Leopold II had a conference held in Berlin from Nov. 15, 1884 to Nov. 26, 1885 that regulated trade and colonization of European countries in Africa. Africa had no representation and this later led to many civil wars and revolutions, some of which are still going on today. -
Russo-Japanese War
Japan went to war with Russia over power of Manchuria and Korea. Japan brutally defeated Russia and the war ended at the Treaty of Portsmouth. Japan gained contol of both Manchuria and Korea, and became the first Eastern country to defeat a Western country. This led to Japan being recognized as a major world power, and the Russian people were becoming more upset with the Tsarist Government, leading to the Communist Revolution in Russia. -
Zulu Uprising
In South Africa, the Zulu people, led by Bambatha kaMancinza, were being forced to pay a tax trying to encourage them to start labor jobs for the British in order to pay the tax off. The Zulus refused, and Bambatha led his people to several successfull attacks on the British colonists. The Zulus' rebellion was crushed by the British colonists' guns at the battle of Mome Gorge. The rebellion led to racist European gov't policies, such as Apartheid, in South Africa. -
Dr. Sun Yat-sen takes over China
Dr. Sun Yat-sen founded the nationalist and democratic nation of the Republic of China. His major legacy was coming up with the Three Principles of the People, a political philosophy that Chiang Kai-Shek and the Nationalists used.
