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The French and Indian War
The French and Indian War was the beginning of tensions between the colonies and the central authority of Great Britain. Though many colonists volunteered to serve the British and help them overcome the French with their own militaries, George II was initially skeptical, and many colonists were often denied access to volunteer in the British effort. Such events would lead the colonists to question their relation to the British. The British would later impose taxes to pay for expenses of war. -
Proclamation of 1763
The proclamation of 1763 effectively barred all colonists and settlers to taking the newly conquered territory to their west, for fears of native american retaliation. Due to having their prize snatched away from them despite all the efforts they and the British military went to acquire such land in the first place, many colonists began to feel resentment to the British government, which would eventually peak in open rebellion. -
Stamp Act Congress
Stamp Act Congress meets to petition Britain concerning the Stamp Act Ratified earlier, on March 22, in a series of new taxes intended to pay off war. They continued to do so until the 25th. Such action is an example of the growing autonomy of colonial governments, and how the majority of teh colonies began to oppose the British Rule -
Boston Massacre
Angered over the increasing presence of British troops in Boston, the Boston Masssacre occurred when citizens began rioting against British enforcers, prompting the redcoats to fire into the crowd, killing three outright and wounding 8 others, 2 of whom would succumb to their wounds later. This would lead to the evacuation of many British troops from Boston, as well as signaling other colonies towards open opposition. -
Boston Tea Party
Boston Tea Party Occurs, ignited over the passing of the Tea Act in May 10, which gave the British East India Company a monopoly over tea. The British respond by shutting down the Port of Boston the following year, on March 31st, in a series of “Intolerable Acts”. Such showed the growing tension between the colonies, and the discontent that would lead into open revolution. -
First Continental Congress
The First Continental Congress meets in Philadelphia between September 5th and October 26th and issues Declaration and Resolves, which consisted of several issues the Continental Congress saw with British Rule. They attempted to argue for the rights of the colonists, only to be soundly rejected by the British. Such signalled the end to a peaceful resolution to the conflict. -
Battle at Lexington and Concord
Warned of British advances by Paul Revere and Samuel Dawes, Minutemen clash with British Redcoats at Lexington and Concord, elevating the conflicts to all-out war. -
Battle of Bunker Hill
The Battle of Bunker Hill occurs at Boston, with the new Continental Army, with a recently appointed Leader George Washington, clash with British forces. Such would lead to British withdrawl from Boston, as well as the full recongition of the British as the Continental Army's presence as a unified fighting force. -
Thomas Paine’s “Common Sense” is published
Thomas Paine’s “Common Sense” is published on this date, providing inspiration to patriots and signifying the association between Enlightenment thinkers and the Revolution -
The Declaration of Independence
After 4 days of debating and revising, the Declaration of Independence is adopted and signed by the Second Continental Congress and sent to the printer. It is read publicly 4 days later. This directly signified America's breakaway from Britain. -
French Alliance Signed
America and France sign the French Alliance, giving America much-needed support in the fight against Britian. Ironically, French involvement in the war would lead to the need of reformed economic policies to pay for the war, resulting in the French Revolution. -
Cornwallis's Surrender
Cornwallis Surrenders at Yorktown, after being surrounded by American and French forces. This effectively ended the American Revolution on all military fronts, though the conflict will not officially be over until the Treaty of Paris two years later. -
US Constitution Signed
The US Constitution is signed by the Second Constitutional Convention. Despite this, it is officially adopted about 1 year later, replacing the Articles of Confederation adopted in 1781. Such is the ultimate expression of successful implementation of enlightenment ideals into government. Other new governments following revloutions, such as the French and numerous Latin American countries, would use the Constitution as a model for their own policies, albiet unsuccessfully. -
Declaration of the Rights of Man
Economic reforms needed to be instituted after France's costly assistance in the American Revolution. The Estates general, consisting of representatives from each of France's social classes, was convened to discuss such reforms and recovery. However, the weaker Third Estate broke away and formed the National Assembly, being ignored by the other estates. Three days after being declared, the National Assembly signs the Tennis Court Oath after being shut out by the 1st and 2nd Estates. -
Storming of the Bastille
Spurred by the Tennis Court oath, which expressed an obligation to give glory to a new, reformed French Government, citizens began a series of uprisings, Ultimately seen in the storming of the prison Bastille. The storming of the Bastille was rather symbolic more than just an attack. The Bastille was a former prison. However, such allowed the first two estates to recognize the destructive potential of the revolutionaries. -
Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen
Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen was signed, based on the Declaration of Independence. In this, the revolutionaries outlined many rights and priviledges they intended to distribute to the masses, showing a large focus on Enlightenment ideals with the revolution. -
War on Austria
On this day, France declared war on Austria. This is an example of how the new, democratic French government was opposed greatly by other powerful rulers, such as Charles William Ferdinand, who led the Autrian and Prussian forces against the unorganized French in support of Louis XVI. The French retaliated by suspending the king and appointing new officers to lead the counterattack against their enemies. -
Louis XVI sentenced to the guillotine.
Louis XVI sentenced to the guillotine under the charge of treason. With the suspension of the King and the National Assembly in place, France was "officially" a republic, and therefore a king was very inconvenient, so they beheaded him -
National Draft
A National Draft was issued calling for all able-bodied men to enlist in the army, a testimony to the brutal opposition to the French revolution that necessitated such a measure. -
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Reign of Terror
The Reign of Terror court sentenced 20,000 to 40,000 people to death, piercing the veil of the soveriengity of the new rule. This would lead many Enlightenment thinkers and writers, initially supportive of the French Revolution, to withdraw all association with the event. -
Robespierre Beheaded
Robespierre was arrested by conservative members of the National Convention, and executed by the guillotine - ironically the same instrument he used to wreak havoc on the French population for so long. This ended the Reign of Terror. -
New Constitution
A new Constitution was adopted, attempting to show a repreive from the inital radical policies that denoted the reign of terror. However, the new Executive authority, the Directory, was unable to end foreign conflicts or solve the conomic problems that plagued the French. The new government was now based of coercive tactics, rather than the original goal of a republic that the Revolution attempted to bring about. -
Fall of the Directory
The fall of the Directory heralds the end of the French Revolution, having power being seized by the militaristic Napoleon Bonaparte, who embodied the modern oppsite of a democratic republic - popular authoritarianism. -
Napoleon's Coronation
Napoleon crowned himself Emporer of France, and then proceeded to march the country into full-scale war with much of Europe. Having practically destroyed the original goal of the French Revolution, his subsequent military actions would scarr much of Europe and France for many years to come.
