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Montesquieu publishes book, On the Spirit of Laws
Baron de Montesquieu was an influential Enlightenment thnker. He was a French writer who devoted himself to the study of political liberty. He believed in the separation of powers and checks and balances; important ideas seen in our government today. -
America declares independence
On July 4, 1776, the 13 American colonies of Great Britain declared their independence from England and their soverign. Rebels, specifically Thomas Jefferson, wrote the Delcaration of Independence. This document was essentialy an argument for why the King wasn't fit to rule the colonies anymore and tried to convince the colonists to come together to rebel. -
French Revolution
This was a period during French history where the citizens rose up against their rulers, King Louis and Queen Marie Antoinette. The rebels were inspired by the success of the American Revolution and began to question the long-stadning notions about the structure of society and government. They then demanded equality, liberty, and democracy. -
Napoleon overthrows the Directory through a coup d'etat
Napoleon Bonaparte, one of the five members of the Directory, with troops under his command, surrounded the national legislature and drove out most of its members. The lawmakers who remained then voted to dissolve the Directory and establish a group of three consuls, one of whom was Napoleon. Napoleon then took the title of 1st consol through a coup d'etat, or sudden seizure of political power. -
Haiti wins freedom from France
Toussaint L'Ouverture, the former leader of the Haitian revolution, was seized by French troops and sent to a prison in the French Alps. His lieutenant, General Jean-Jacques Dessalines then took up the fight for freedom and delcared the colony and independent nation. -
Napoleon crowns himself emperor, begins to create a vast European Empire
Napoleon decided to make himself emperor and French voters supported him. In the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, the emperor took pope's corwn and placed it on his own head, signally that he was more powerful then the church. Not being content with being the master of France, Napoloen wanted to control the rest of Europe and shorty after began creating his empire. -
Padre Hidalgo calls for Mexican Independence
Padre Miguel Hisalgo, a priest in the small village of Dolores, took the first step toward Mexican independence. He was a poor but well-educated man who firmly believed in Enlightenment ideals. He rang the bells of a village church and when the people gathered, issued a call of rebellion against the Spanish. This event is known as the "grito de Dolores." -
Napoleon is defeated at the Battle of Waterloo
Napoleon, a man with hubris, finally met his match. He met the Duke of Wellington (British) on a field in Waterloo, a British town. The field was very wet, and Naploeon, who had mostly horses, decided to wait until the sun came out. Wellington then took advantage of Napoleon's hesitation to fight and defeated him.
