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Signing of the Treaty of Paris
Ending the Seven Year’s War, also known as the French and Indian War in North America. France ceded all mainland North American territories, except New Orleans, in order to retain her Caribbean sugar islands. Britain gained all territory east of the Mississippi River; Spain kept territory west of the Mississippi, but exchanged East and West Florida for Cuba. The Treaty of Paris is important b/c it marked the end of the American Revolution. -
Boston Massacre
Angered by the presence of troops and Britain's colonial policy, a crowd began harassing a group of soldiers guarding the customs house; a soldier was knocked down by a snowball and discharged his musket, sparking a volley into the crowd which kills five civilians. This is important b/c this was one of the major factors that sparked the war. -
Bread Shortage
During this time there was a poor harvest in France which led to a shortage of bread all over France. Because of this shortage, bread was given to the privileged people, Nobles, first and then anyone else if there was any left. This caused a great upset in the third estate. This is important b/c it caused a great upset within the people of France. -
Revolutionist Mob takes King and family back to Paris by force
In October 1788, during the bread shortage, a mob marches from Paris to Versailles to force King Louis XVI, his wife, and son back to Paris to see that the King will provide them with bread. This is important because Louis XVI had hoped to gain support from the Estates to help improve the economy with reforms, but instead he was bowing to the demands of a Paris -
National Assembly begins on New Constitution
The National Assembly had begun devising a constitution as the people of Paris, or Third Estate, began taking a more radical course in the French Revolution. This showed that the people of Paris were starting to really take matters into their own hands and instead of reacting they were being extremely proactive in this French Revolution. -
Third Estate grows uneasy
As the National Assembly works toward a constitution, the Third Estate still faced inflation, unemployment, and the continuing food shortage, and on top of all that, reports spread that the King was focusing troops into Paris which only added to the unrest amongst the people. This was a very tense part in time because of everything that was going on, and out of fear or maybe anger, the revolutionists stormed Bastille as a result of all this tension. -
Bastille
Revolutionist mobs stormed the Bastille Castle and freed the 7 prisoners held captive within its walls, and Marquis de Launay, the commander of the Bastille, was killed along with many other guardsmen that night. This is important because the Bastille stood as a tyrannical figure of the absolute monarchy in France, but revolutionists were able to successfully invade and take control of the Bastille, which showed the people of Paris they were ready for the French Revolution. -
The Civil Constitution of the Clergy goes into effect
The newest Civil Constitution of the Clergy forces the papacy of the First Estate to swear their primary allegiance to the king, not to religion. The church is also to give its currently owned lands to the state, thus begining the secularization of France. This is important b/c the Third Estate of France was finally taking action for themselves. -
A New Constitution is formed
In 1791, the National Assembly had finally finalized the first constitution of France, which consisted of a limited monarchy and a separation of powers. This was crutial to the revolution because now France was beggining to become the republic the people and peasants of the Third Estate had wanted.This is important b/c now France had its first ever constitution. -
The King tries to flee
Astonished by the actions of the National Assembly, many nobles fled France, even King Louis XVI and his family tried. Unfortunately for the king, he was recognized and arrested by National Assembly officers who brought him and his family bak to the capital, where he would reluctantly accept the new constitution. This is important b/c the King had realized how much of a threat the revolution had become. -
France declares war on Austria
in Spring of 1792, France declares war on Austria, who would soon be joined by Prussia, the leading state in the German Confederation. This event would cause France to not only lose a lot of money funding the war, but also suffer another great food shortage, which only upset the people of France even more. This is important b/c this war would last long enough to drain France of all its resouces at the end. -
Austria and Prussia threaten Paris
In early Fall 1792, Austrian and Prussian forces advance on Paris. Prussian commander, Duke of Brunswick, issues a warning that if Paris doesn't surrender peacefully, they will burn the city. Eventually revolutionaries from Paris assembled unfrightened of the Duke's warning. Revolutionary forces would soon push out all invading forces out of France. This showed the other countries that the French revolution was no joke, and angry Prussians join an uprising known as the Second French Revolution. -
King Louis XVI is executed
After being put on trial in August of 1792, on Januray 17 King Louis XVI is condemned to death on charges of "conspiracy against liberty." He is executed by guillotine on January 21 -
King Louis XVI's execution
The National Convention announces they found evidence that the King was plotting to crush the revolution, this sealed King Louis XVI's fate as the Convention unanimously voted for the kings execution. Louis' execution sent shock waves through all of Europes capitals leaving the monarchs fearful of the revolution. -
France faces problems internally and externally
With Great Britain, the Dutch Netherlands and Spain joining Prussia and Austria in the war against France, France now not only faced problems from outside of its walls, but also from within with the French Revolution still at large. This would cause France to go into a period of time known as the "Reign of Terror". -
The Reign of Terror
With the growing domestic and foreign threats, the National Convention took action, setting aside the newly approved constitution, and formed the Committee of Public Safety. The committee had basically dictatorial powers in which it condemned about 40,000 men, women, and children to the guillotine. This display of ruthlessness caused the revolts within France so subside leaving only foreign affairs left to deal with. -
The Reign of Terror begins
The most violent era in the French Revolution begins as a massive political battle between the two factions, the Jacobins and the Girondins. Thousands of people were sentenced to death by execution during this period, and thousands more were killed during in surges of violence. This is important b/c in this time many people died, innocent or guilty. -
Eli Whitney
Whitney was an American inventor best known for inventing the cotton gin. This was one of the key inventions of the Industrial Revolution and shaped the economy of the Antebellum South. Whitney's invention made upland short cotton into a profitable crop, which strengthened the economic foundation of slavery in the United States. Despite the social and economic impact of his invention, Whitney lost many profits in legal battles over patent infringement for the cotton gin. -
The Directory comes into power
The Directory, created by a new constitution, assumes the role of governing France until November 10, 1799, when it is overthrown by Napolean Bonaparte. During its reign of government, it only held legislative power. -
Alessandro Volta
Volta was an Italian physicist and chemist, best known as the inventor of the electrical battery and the discoverer of methane. He is credited with the invention of the Voltaic pile, which he invented in 1799 and the results of which he reported in 1800 in a two part letter to the President of the Royal Society. With this invention Volta proved that electricity could be generated chemically and debased the prevalent theory that electricity was generated solely by living beings -
Napoleon
Between the years of 1799 and 1804 Napoleon Bonaparte had centralized power into his own palms and had been able to proclaim himself "Emperor of the French", with the majority of the French people behind him. Napoleon coming into power had basically set France into yet another monarchy desite their new constitution and limited monarchy they had worked so hard for, this would also lead to more years of war, in which only set the downfall of Napoleon. -
Napoleon's downfall
After barely making it out of Russia and being exiled to Elba, Napoleon tries to come back and quickly raise another strong French army. Shovked by the news, Vienna went into an uproar till Napoleon's demise at Waterloo where he was completely defeated and exiled for good. This meant that France no longer had the means to wage war or become a strong power house that it once was. -
France no longer the best
The long and harsh 23 years of war came to an end, with France left as the loser having all of its resources drained and its leader, Napoleon Bonaparte, exiled to St. Helena, where he would soon die a few years later. With France no longer the strongest and richest country in Europe, Great Britain forged its way ahead in commerce and industry. -
Gottlieb Daimler
Gottlieb Wilhelm Daimler was an engineer, industrial designer and industrialist born in Schorndorf, in what is now Germany. He was a pioneer of internal-combustion engines and automobile development. He invented the high-speed petrol engine which completey changed the way and types of automobiles produced, allowing for better and faster cars. -
Elisha Otis invents the elevator safety break
Elevators were already invented by 1853, but people worried about elevator cars falling. Elisha Otis invents a safety break to prevent them from falling if a cable breaks, making people feel more confident about using elevators in tall buildings. -
The Bessemer Method for processing steel is invented
Henry Bessemer invents a process for making steel out of iron. Having a way to make steel more quickly and more cheaply helps the production of building and leads to the growth of cities. This allowed for the mass production of steel. -
Alfred Nobel creates dynamite
Alfred Nobel invents dynamite, which is a safer way to blast holes in mountains or the ground than simply lighting black powder. Dynamite is important in clearing paths to build things such as roads and railroad tracks. -
Louis Pasteur develops vaccines for diseases
A chemist named Louis Pasteur believed that germs caused disease. Using this information, he created vaccines that helped prevent many common diseases, which helped people live longer. -
Alexander Graham Bell
Alexander Graham Bell was an eminent Scottish-born scientist, inventor, engineer and innovator who is credited with inventing the first practical telephone. Bell's father, grandfather, and brother had all been associated with work on elocution and speech, and both his mother and wife were deaf, profoundly influencing Bell's life's work. Alexander's invention of the telephone completely changed how we communicate forever. -
Thomas Edison
Thomas Alva Edison was an American inventor and businessman. He developed many devices that greatly influenced life around the world, including the phonograph, the motion picture camera, and a long-lasting, practical electric light bulb. The light bulb revolutionized the way we able to use light and how effeciently we could do so. -
Invention of the dishwasher
The main issue is whether it helps sell the home faster. Doubt that you can get any more value by adding it. In many areas dishwashers are hit and miss and not likely to be a major detractor. This is important b/c before the dishwasher, everybody had to hand wash their dishes, now it was automated. -
Guglielmo Marconi
Guglielmo Marconi, 1st Marquis of Marconi was an Italian inventor and electrical engineer, known for his pioneering work on long-distance radio transmission and for his development of Marconi's law and a radio telegraph system. This is important b/c the radio changed communication and entertainment immensely. -
Orville Wright
They were two American brothers, inventors, and aviation pioneers who are credited with inventing and building the world's first successful airplane and making the first controlled, powered and sustained heavier-than-air human flight, on December 17, 1903. From 1905 to 1907, the brothers developed their flying machine into the first practical fixed-wing aircraft. This is important b/c the airplane revolutionized travel. -
Henry Ford creates the Model T
Henry Ford creates a type of car called the Model T. It is much cheaper than other cars because it is made on an assembly line, allowing many more people to buy cars. The Model T is important b/c it allowed everyday consumers to puchase an automobile. -
Henry Ford
Henry Ford was an American industrialist, the founder of the Ford Motor Company, and sponsor of the development of the assembly line technique of mass production. Although Ford did not invent the automobile or the assembly line, he developed and manufactured the first automobile that many middle class Americans could afford. Ford was able to convert the automobile from an expensive curiosity into a practical conveyance that would profoundly impact the landscape of the twentieth century. -
Robespierre is executed
Robespierre, a highly influential supporter of the Jacobins, is executed, and the power of the Jacobins falls with him. This is important b/c the Girondins gain more power as a result and the Jacobin party is eventually banned.