Key events By 19Tintin99 Period: Feb 6, 1775 to Feb 6, 1783 American war of independence Feb 6, 1788 First fleet arrives to colonise Sydney Period: Feb 6, 1789 to Feb 6, 1792 French Revolution Period: Feb 6, 1794 to Feb 6, 1815 Napoleonic Wars Feb 6, 1807 Britain abolishes slavery in the british empire Feb 6, 1848 European Revolutions Feb 7, 1848 James Watt invents the steam engine and kick starts the industrial revolution Feb 6, 1850 Karl marx writes the ' Communist Manifesto' Feb 6, 1890 Australian Unionism and Strikes Feb 6, 1901 Australian Federation Feb 6, 1917 Russian Revolution