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Acts of Union 1707
As population increased and technology strengthened during the 18th century, world trade became more prevalent. The Acts of Union were two acts of Parliament that unified England and Scotland into Great Britain. This established them as a maritime superpower and solidified the Atlantic economy as well. This was crucial in growing the global economy going forward. -
Britain Gains Control of Trade in Asia
The British struggled to find a way into Asian trade that was primarily dominated by the Portuguese and Dutch. Changing consumption patterns meant that the Dutch lost their foothold in Asia, and Britain came to power in 1716 when the Mughals conceded trading privileges. The British East India Company became involved in Asian affairs and even started conflicts with Indian nobility. Asian trade became necessary for the furthering of the Atlantic economy in years to come. -
Invention of the Flying Shuttle
This was one of the key developments for weaving in the Industrial Revolution in the 18th century. It allowed a single weaver to weave fabrics much larger than they could before. Previous to this invention, four people were needed to operate this machine. The increase in production transformed the textile industry. Weavers were continuously paid low wages and were loaned materials by capitalistic merchants. This set the precedent for capitalism through European history. -
European Population Explosion
During the 18th century, the population in Europe increased rapidly due to the effects of the Agricultural Revolution and new technology that allowed for better crops and farming. The Bubonic Plague had died out, and mortality rates were dropping with birth rates increasing steadily. The Enclosure Movement created large scale farming which contributed to the population growth as well. The population explosion added to the development of Europe during the 18th century. -
Putting Out System
In 1762, the government encouraged the growth of cottage manufacturing. This led to an extreme increase in rural industry in populated regions. In the putting out system, a capitalistic merchant would loan peasants raw materials and pay them low wages to produce textiles. This set the stage for the factory workers in the Industrial Revolution later on. -
"The Social Contract" Written
Jean-Jacques Rousseau wrote "The Social Contract" regarding political philosophy in Europe during the 18th century. He believed that society threatened citizen's natural rights and freedoms. Additionally, he thought that society had been corrupted by the rise of science. The ideas established in "The Social Contract" inspired social reforms across Europe, especially in France where his ideas were used by leaders of the French Revolution. -
Treaty of Paris
The Treaty of Paris ended the French and Indian War. As a result of this treaty, France gave up all of their North American territories, settling several disputes in the colonies. This also ended military threats to Britain in North America. This set a precedent for Britain monopolizing global trade in time periods to come. -
"Causes of the Wealth of Nations" written
"Causes of the Wealth of Nations" was written by Adam Smith in 1776. He developed revolutionary ideas regarding economics. He argued that the government should only have three roles, to protect against foreign attacks, to maintain civil order, and to sponsor public works. His ideas impacted the world for years to come as they inspired domestic reforms and calls for free trade to protect against monopolies. -
Atlantic Slave Trade Peaks
In the 1780s, about 80,000 slaves were shipped across the Atlantic annually. The Agricultural Revolution was to blame for the increase in the Atlantic Slave Trade. African merchants profited off of selling people to Europe and gained access to many European goods along the way. As the 18th century came to a close, opposition to slavery grew in Britain which led to the British Slave Trade coming to a close in 1807. -
"Vindication of the Rights of Women" Written
"A Vindication of the Rights of Women" was one of the earliest recorded feminist philosophies. Mary Wollstonecraft disagreed with philosophers at the time who believed that women should not have a role in society. She was a firm believer in education for all people and argued that the education of women was crucial for the furthering of society. "A Vindication of the Rights of Women" was well received and did much to change European society at the time.
