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Charles Is Born
Charles John Huffam Dickens was born at Portsmouth, to John and Elizabeth Dickens. He was the second child of eight, and their first son. His father was a clerk in the Navy Pay Office at Portsea. This is significant because Charles Dickens would eventually become a world renowned author. He grew from a poor, young boy, into a rich man whom everybody knew of. Source: (Page 1) -
John Quincy Adams
John Quincy Adams was inaugurated as the 6th president of the United States of America on March 4, 1825. He also served as a diplomat, a senator, and a member of the house of representatives. This is significant because it signaled a change in power in the U.S. Quincy Adams played a key role in negotiating several treaties with other nations and peoples. Source: (About.com) -
Charles Darwin
Charles Darwin set sail from England on December 27, 1831 aboard the H.M.S. Beagle. He was heading to the Galapagos Islands. This is significant because Charles made a series of scientific discoveries and theories, including the Theory of Evolution, and the Theory of Natural Selection. These discoveries are still relevent in today's science world. Source: (About.com) -
Sketches by Boz
Charles had been working as a reporter for a newspaper company, when he decided to submit sketches to magazines under the pseudonym Boz. These sketches were published in a weekly edition starting on December 1, 1833. For three years, Charles continued to submit sketches, until all of them were published together, as a book. This is significant because Sketches by Boz was Charles's first work of fiction. It introduced him to the world, and began his rise to fame. Source: (Brown 6) -
The Battle of the Alamo
The Battle of the Alamo ended on March 6, 1836. It was an important battle in the Texas Revolution. Spanish troops from Mexico broke into a part of the Alamo, and were able to overpower the Texans. This is significant because even though this battle was lost with heavy casualties to both sides, the Texans eventually won the war. "Remember the Alamo" was also a battle cry used by Texans later in the war. Source: (About.com) -
The Pickwick Papers
Charles begins work on The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club in 1836. This work became so popular with the public that merchandise was created for the public to buy. It is significant because it got the attention of many readers. While Sketches by Boz initiated a great leap in fame for Charles, the Pickwick Papers assured his place among famous writers of his time period and let the public know that he would make a career out of writing. Source: (Brown 6) -
Oliver Twist
Oliver Twist Contrasted greatly with Charles' other early works. While Pickwick was about society's amusements, Oliver Twist was about the dregs of British life. These parts of life were known of, but never spoken about as explicitly as Charles had put it. It is significant because it was a change from Charles' other works. It kept him from being classified as one type of author, and made his readers look forward to his new works. Source: (Page 2) -
The American Tour
Charles embarked on his first American tour from January 22 to June 7. He travelled around the American country, reading some of his works to large audiences. He also gave lectures about his opinions and ideas. This is significant because it increased Charles' fame to a global standard. He was becoming recognized in countries other than his home, Great Britain. Source: (Biography.com) -
American Notes
American Notes for General Circulation is a travel log kept by Charles as he travelled around America on his first tour. It critisised American lifestyle and customs. It is significant because Charles' American audience was not so pleased with this work. They were quite insulted by it. To set things straight with the American public, Charles launched a second American tour in 1854. Source: (Biography.com) -
The Irish Potato Famine
The Irish Potato Famine, or the "Great Famine" was a starving time in Ireland, which began in the early summer of 1845. The poorer people of Ireland had become dependant on the potato as their main food source. Unfortunately, nearly all of the potato crops across Ireland contracted blight, leaving them inedible. It is significant because many people died from starvation. However, different farming techniques were discovered, to keep another famine from occuring. Source: (About.com) -
David Copperfield
David Copperfield was a strange novel for its time period beacuse it followed the main character through his everyday life. Charles' audience received it well when it was published in 1850, even though it seemed peculiar. It is significant because it was the first novel of its type. It introduced a new concept for writers to narrate -- everyday life. It was also Charles' favorite of his own works. Source: (Biography.com) -
Charles' Daughter and Father Die
During the 1850s, Charles lost a diughter and his father.
these two people had been close to Charles, and their deaths affected him tremendously. It is significant because Charles' works began to turn darker, reflecting his mood in his later years. Some of these more depressing works include Bleak House, Hard Times, and Little Dorrit. Source: (Biography.com) -
Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln was shot as he sat in Ford's Theater watching a play with his wife. He died the next morning from the fatal wound in his head. It is significant because Abraham Lincoln was very concerned about the abolishment of slavery in the United States. His death signaled a change in policy for slavery and segregation, leading to the addition of the 15th amendment to the Constitution. Source: (About.com) -
The Mystery of Edwin Drood
This novel was begun in 1870, but Charles died before he could finish it. It was published after his death in its unfinished state. It is significant because it was the first mystery novel of its kind. It was also interrupted by his death, and therefore created a lot of speculation about its end. Source: (Biography.com) -
The 15th Amendment
The 15th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution was added on February 3, 1870. It forbade the prohibition of a person to vote because of their race. This is significant because it gave all peoples the right to vote in America. This was a huge step towards the abolishment of black and white prejudice. Source: (About.com) -
Charles Dies
Charles suffered a heart attack on June 6th, and died the next day. He was buried on June 14th. Charles had wished for his funeral to be private, with only family and friends in attendance, but the public insisted on paying their respects. This is significant because the first my stery novel of its kind -- which Charles had been writing -- would remain unfinished. It also showed how popular he was with people from all around the world. Source: (Brown 18)
