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Montesquieu publishes book
In 1748, an influential French writer named Baron de Montesquieu wrote a book titled On the Spirit of Laws. In this book, he described his ideal government, in which no person or branch had absolute power, and other brances could keep them all in 'check' with a system of 'checks and balances'. This idea of separation of powers became the basis for the United States Constitution. -
America declares independence
In the month of July, 1776, the Second Continental Congress of the United States declared independence towards Britain. They wrote out an important document, known as the Declaration of Indepence in which they spelled out their previous king's mistakes and explained why they had the rights to break away. This newfound want for independence calls on a war between Britain and the Americans, but ultimately, the British lose, and the Americans, and French allies, come out successful. -
French Revolution
A lot happened in the 1789, France. A national assembly was created in the Estates General meeting. This also brought out a rumor that King Louis VII was going to attack the new government, with war and blood, so the people of Paris prepared for war. On July 14, Bastille Day, the French citizens took over a French prison controlled by their old king. Around August 4, a document called the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen was published, proving their strive for indepence. -
Napoleon overthrows Directory
In 1799, Napoleon Bonaparte returned from a successful battle in Egypt and his friends convinced him to take political power, so he overthrew the weak old Directory and established a group of three consuls, him being the main one. He began focusing his energies on 'restoring order to France'. -
Haiti gains freedom from France
On January 1, General Jean-Jaques Dessalines declared independence for his colony, Haiti. He followed in the footsteps of people such as Toussaint L'Ouverture and more. This indepence was the first "black colony" to free itself from European control. Dessalines named the colony Haiti, after the words "mountainous land" in the Arawak language. -
Napoleon crowns self emperor
With the people of France behind him, Napoleon Bonaparte wanted to become emperor of France. On December 2, the Pope waited for the ruler of France, to bestow the crown upon him. But, Napoleon chose to simply pick up the crown and place it on his own head, by himself. This got the message around that he was more powerfulthan the Church, a major change in France daily life. -
Padre Hidalgo calls for Mexican Independence
Padre Hidalgo, a priest in the small town of Dolores, took the first step towards Mexican Indepence. With ideas from the Enlightenment times, he conducted church ceremonies about freedom. And on September 16, he called his village together and 'issued a call for rebellion' against the Spanish controllers. This call for rebellion is known now as the Grito, or cry, of Dolores. -
Napoleon loses Battle of Waterloo
After being banished from France, to the small island of Elba, Napoleon Bonaparte found a way back to France and once again ruled as emperor. For fear of an attack against the Britsh, the Duke of Wellington prepared for battle in Waterloo, Belgium. On June 18, the Battle of Waterloo began. But, with the British teaming up with the Prussians, the French finally had to give way, and they lost. From that time on, Napoleon's power diminished drastically, until it was finally gone.
