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The Enlightenment
Centered mainly in France but spread across all of Europe and even to the Americas, the Enlightenment was a period of time in which intellectuals used scientific ideas from the scientific revolution and applied them to society. Philosophes valued reason and natural order, and believed that ppl were molded by their environment -
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The Industrial Revolution
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Invention of the Steam Engine
Invented by James Watt in 1760, the steam engine was a continuous power source that revolutionized primarily the cotton industry in Britain. -
Poor French Harvests
Poor harvests in france --> food shortages --> inflation --> unemployment, Louis XVI was a big spender, didn't know how to deal with this or with anything really -
Estates-General Meets
called to discuss debt problem after not meeting in more than 150 years, the first conflict was whether to vote by head (3rd estate would win) or by order (1st and 2nd would outnumber 3rd) -
Third Estate Declares National Assembly
Since they would've been outvoted in the Estates-General, the Third Estate separated into the NA in the Tennis Court Oath, which they weren't allowed to do but king was busy with Bastille and couldn't stop them. The National Assembly created the Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen and made the Catholic Church an enemy -
The Fall of Bastille
French commoners stormed the royal armory and completely destroyed it, distracted king from NA, and since the king couldn't do anything to stop it, showed the true weakness of the monarchy -
Constitutional Monarchy in France
The National Assembly created a new constitution governing the laws and rights of French citizens, and also made a Legislative Assembly to rule alongside (although sort of above) the king. However, LA was made up mostly of elite and required property ownership, indirect voting -
Slave Uprising Begins in Haiti
In an already unsteady colony where slaves outnumbered owners, inspired by the French Revolution, slaves in Haiti started a massive uprising. Originally using knives and machetes from their work, the slaves gained support from the free people of color who brought them better weapons. Toussaint Louverture, a former slave, took command as the leader of the insurrection, and made temporary alliances with the anti-French Spanish to gain better weapons/military support -
Louis XVI Attempts to Flee
Threatened by revolution, King Louis XVI attempts to flee France to Austria, but is caught when his face is recognized on a coin. This attempt at escape finally shattered the illusion of a loyal king. -
Battle Begins with Foreign Monarchs
Scared that revolution will spread to their countries, foreign powers began fighting with France. War was expensive however, and created economic troubles in France that led people to call for more radical change. Also, war created a sense of nationalism in the French people, since peoples govt --> peoples wars -
Citizenship Granted to Free People of Color
The French Revolutionary government desperately wanted to keep the prosperous colony of Saint-Domingue, so started to acquiesce some Haitian demands. However, this proved to not be enough -
National Convention
Radicals took the king captive and forced the National Convention, which began meeting in September. Very quickly, the National Convention abolished the monarchy and created the French Republic. Parisian government favored this, however commoners and other monarchies did not. -
Slavery Abolished in Saint-Domingue
Desperate to gain support of revolutionaries, two French delegates abolished slavery in the colony and offered citizenship. Many of Louverture's soldiers joined the French Revolutionary army. -
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Committee of Public Safety and the Reign of Terror
Subcommittee of 12 from the NC and led by Maximillian Robespierre, Committee of Public Safety did anything but protect Public Safety. Started due to international pressures, CPS mobilized army to fend off invaders. Also, they ushered in the Reign of Terror in which ~250,000 ppl were executed, and destroyed Lyons as an example of what would happen if you denied the NC -
King Louis XVI Executed
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Slavery Abolished in Entire French Empire
Jean-Baptiste Belley and others convinced the National Convention that it was in their best interest to abolish slavery. -
Robespierre Executed
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Directory
In an attempt to find stability after Reign of Terror, the Directory was a method of rule by 5 directors. Its goal was to maintain both stability and revolutionary ideals, but in reality was corrupt and hated by the left and the right. -
Coup d'Etat, Napoleon Takes Control
In the midst of an already unstable Directory, well liked military general Napoleon serves as a figurehead for the coup in 1799. He takes control and serves as first consul in the Consulate of the Republic -
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Rule of Napoleon
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Haitian Constitution Promulgated
Made Toussaint Louverture governor-general of the colony for life, however, also angered Napoleon to the point of invasion -
Re-established Catholicism as Official French Religion
Napoleon makes amends with powerful revolutionary enemy - the Catholic Church -
Napoleon Invades Haiti
Captures TS, who dies soon after, however resistance in Haiti continues -
Second Insurrection of Haiti
Dessalines, a former commander under Louverture, deserts the French Army and takes command of the Haitian Resistance. Under his command, the Haitians manage to force a French surrender -
Haiti is Declared an Independant Nation
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French Monarchy Returns, Civil Code
After being made consul for life in 1802, Napoleon crowns himself Emperor Napoleon I. Also, Napoleon codifies French laws into the Civil Code, which preserves some ideals such as legal equality and religious freedom, but takes away some such as some gender equality and universal male sufferage. -
Invention of the Locomotive
Railway networks across Europe meant transporting goods was vastly cheaper. In the 1870s, this even meant better wages for laborers -
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The Grand Empire
For a very brief period, Napoleon controlled the vast majority of Europe in his Grand Empire, consisting of the French Empire, dependent states (ruled by his relatives), and allied states (conquered nations such as Prussia, Russia, and Austria). Missing Britain, Napoleon created the Continental system to block trade, however many allied states refused. -
Napoleon Invades Russia
Russia, who refused to participate in the Continental System, had to be made an example. However, when Napoleon invaded, hundreds of thousands of his soldiers died from cold or starvation. This defeat led other European powers to fight back against France, taking Paris in 1814. -
Waterloo and the End of Napoleon
After returning from exile, Napoleon takes one last shot at retaking Europe in the battle of Waterloo. However, he loses, is banished again, and the reign of Napoleon is over. -
Industrialization Spreads to European Continent
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Factory Act of 1833
The Factory Act of 1833 prohibited young children from working, and restricted hours of all minors. For the most part this was good, however for families that needed their children's income, it wasn't always the best solution.