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The enlightenment thinkers were people who came up with new, important ideas that would improve and evolve society. New ideas about writing, government, art, science, and math are just a few examples of what these thinkers came up with. This is an important part of this timeline because mankind evolved greatly during this time period and because the new ideas lead to the beginning of the French revolution. More info
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Louis was appointed king at 20 years old when his grandfather, Louis XV, died. He faced enormous debt and increasing resentment towards a despotic monarchy. He lacked the strength of character and decisiveness to combat the influence of court factions or give support to reformers in their efforts to improve the french government. This is important to this timeline because Louis becoming king and applying his new laws practically started the French Revolution. More info
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In this meeting, the 3 estates discussed what they should do about King Louis XVI's unfair taxes. Here, the 1st estate had the most power, then the 2nd had middle power, then the 3rd the least power. This is important to this timeline because it is the cause for the forming of the National Assembally. More info
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King Louis XVI's expensive taste needed high taxes on his people. These people became upset with this so they met together in the Estates-General to decide what to do. The 3rd estate felt if they didn't have enough say in this meeting so they broke into a tennis court to decide on their own. Then these people broke into the bastille and went on killing nobles. This is important to the timeline because of the major changes in government it caused. For more info
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The 3rd estate went on to break into a Tenis court and pledged not to leave until they had developed a new constitution for France and this pledge was known as the Tennis Court Oath. They created The Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen which would limit the King's power and reduce taxes. This is important to this timeline because it is the cause for the French Revolution. For more information press this link
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Louis XVI hired a group of soldiers called the Swiss Gaurd to protect him from the people that were against him. The people of Paris believed these soldiers were out to kill them so they stormed the Bastille looking for gunpowder and supplies to protect themselves. This is important to this timeline because gaining access to these weapons lead to the deaths of thousands of people and the Great Fear. More Info
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People of Paris believed that Louis XVI's soldiers were out to kill them so they stormed the Bastille to get supplies to arm themselves. As a result of this, they began to kill members of the 2nd estate. This is important to this timeline because it is the starting point for a major event known as the Great Fear. For more information press this link
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The publication of this Declaration did not please Louis XVI so the National Assembly worked to develop a new constitution for France. This is important to this timeline because it caused the Elimination of the National assembly and the destruction of the new constitution and many more events to follow. For more information press this link
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The Europeans had disputes with the native population, in this case, Tainovs. By the late 1700s, the slaves in Hispanola launched a revolution lead by Toussaint L'Ouverture against their French owners. They also fought against the English and Spanish to achieve their independence. Jean-Jacques Dessalines was the leader who returned the name of Hispaniola back to Taino. This is important to this timeline because a new constitution was created for the island. Link text
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The Africans heard about the Declaration of Rights of Man and Citizen being published and were pleased with the idea of equality. They struggled oh how to take advantage of this declaration so they began to revolt. In august of 1791 Dutty Boukman organized a slave rebellion. This is important to this timeline because the rebellion eventually lead to the creation of a new constitution by L'Ouverture. More info
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The Vindication of the Rights of Woman was a response to those educational and political theorists of the 18th century who believed that women should not receive a rational education. After its publication, it was well-received and didn't cause many problems. This is important to this timeline because it had a significant impact on advocates for women's rights in the 19th century. More info
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The French republic was proclaimed during the French revolution and lasted until the declaration of the first empire in 1804. This period was characterized by the fall of the monarchy, the creation of the National Convention and the Reign of Terror, the Thermidorian Reaction and the founding of the Directory, and finally the creation of the Consulate. This is important to this timeline because the French republic went on to abolish slavery in French colonies. More info
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King Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette disguised themselves in an attempt to escape the revolution lead by Maximilien Robespierre with their children. They were eventually captured when someone recognized Louis and they were thrown into prison. Then on January 21st, 1793 Louis and Antoinette were beheaded by guillotine. This is important to this timeline because the execution of Louis lead to problems in France from foreign nations. More info
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Thousands of French citizens were executed as "enemies of the revolution" with often no or very little evidence. Robespierre argued this was necessary for the revolution to achieve its goals. During this revolution, formal rejection of religion was replaced with reason. This is important to this timeline because of the thousands of innocent people and because of the execution of Robespierre. More Info
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The increasing revolution in Saint-Domingue forced the National Assembly to reevaluate its stance. Representatives from Saint-Domingue described enslaved people's literal battles for freedom and justice. This caused the French republic to outlaw slavery in its colonies, including Saint-Domingue. This is important to this timeline because this movement freed thousands of people from slavery. More info
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Robespierre was killing thousands of innocent French citizens for almost no reason and he argued that it was necessary for the revolution to achieve its goals. Robespierre also formally rejected religion and replaced it with reasoning. For these reasons, people got tired of Robespierre and executed him by guioditne. This is important to this timeline because the execution of this man put an end to the French revolution. More info
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A new constitution for France was drafted and a five-man group called the Directory was created. The directory overcame challenges to restore France, set up elite schools, helped France's economy recover, and made peace with Spain and Prussia which continuing war with Austria and England. This is important to this timeline because the Directory turned to Bonaparte to achieve their own goals, but he had goals of his own which lead to major events in the future. More info
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The war of knives was a war that lasted for over a year where L'Ouverture and his poorer former slaves fought against Rigaud and his wealthier and well-educated former slaves and free blacks. L'Ouverture, with the help of the English, defeated Rigaud who fled into exile. This is important to this timeline because of this war being won by L'Ouverture, he secured power and created a new constitution which outlawed slavery and gave all citizens equal rights. Link text
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Napoleon performed a coup d’état that overthrew the system of government under the Directory in France and substituted the Consulate, allowing for the despotism of Napoleon Bonaparte. A Coup d’état, also called coup, the sudden, violent overthrow of an existing government by a small group. The event is usually viewed as the effective end of the French Revolution. This is important to this timeline because of the effect it had on the French Revolution. More info
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A new constitution was put up in France by a man named Napoleon Bonaparte to achieve the goals of the 5 man group called the Directory. They wanted to restored order, set up elite schools, helped the economy recover, and made peace with enemy nations. With the help of the Directory and the new constitution, the revolution was declared over. This is important to this timeline because it is the end of one of the biggest revolutions and a fresh start to France. More info
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L'Overture proclaimed a new constitution in St. Domingue that outlawed slavery and gave all citizens equal rights, outlawed voodoo, and made L'ouverture leader for life. This angered the people of St. Domingue who rebelled against him and Napoleon Bonaparte. This is important to this timeline because it leads to Napoleon sending troops to St. Domingue to win it back which lead to the Haitian Revolution. More info
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Half of L'Ouverture's army that had been made french citizens joined Napoleon's troops to win St. Domingue back. But, L'Ouverture's troops did not realize that France intended to put slavery back in place. Jean-Jacques Dessalines organized a plan to capture L'Ouverture. He was eventually captured and thrown into prison but despite that, the revolution continued. This is important to this timeline because it created a power shift in St. Domingue.
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Dessalines proclaimed Haiti to be the first independent nation of former slaves. He abolished slavery and gave people natural rights, returned the island's name back to Taino, prohibited white landowners, and made it so no European nation or the U.S. could trade with Hati. This is important to this timeline because this event caused Hati to go into an economic downfall that would take them over 100 years to recover from.
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The creoles in the complex society of the Spanish colonies were the first to try for independence. Then, shortly after, Mexico became the first of the Spanish colonies to become independent. Finally, Simon Bolivar and Jose de San Martin led the people of South America in their fights for independence. This is important to this timeline because of how many people and countries were freed during this time period. More info
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In Mexico and Central America, Miguel Hidalgo fought for independence for Mexico in 1810. Poor Mestizos and Native Americans rallied to the call and other creoles initially supported this but abandoned it when a call to end slavery was added because they were afraid their power would be lost. This is important to this timeline because this event led to the assassination of Morelos which nearly ended Mexico's independence and cause a chain reaction of events. More Info
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After arriving in Merida, he attacked the Spanish throughout Mexico. He defeated Spanish forces at Bogota, drove out the Spanish from Caracas, and moved further south to free Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia. Doing all of this earned him the name "The Liberator". This is important to this timeline because thousands of people from Latin and South America were freed and the Spanish forces of those areas were defeated. More Info
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Peru gained its independence through a series of military conflicts in Peru starting with viceroy Abascal's military reconquest in the battle of Guiqui, the battle of Ayacucho, and the Siege of Callao. Independence was proclaimed for Peru by José de San Martín. This is important to this timeline because of the battles that were fought and the many Spanish armies that were defeated. More Info
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The battle of Boyaca was the battle that ensured the success of Bolivar's campaign to liberate New Granada. It is considered to be the beginning of the independence of North of South America. This event is important to this timeline because it led to the victories of the Battle of Carabobo in Venezuela, Pichincha in Ecuador, and Kinin and Ayacucho in Peru and it freed New Granada from Spanish control. More info
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Gran Colombia formed in South America because of the Venezuelan military liberator Simon Bolivar. He freed Venezuela, Panama, Ecuador, and parts of Peru and Brazil and combined them together to form Colombia. This is important to this timeline because it is the creation of a new major country and because of all the other countries that were freed in the process. More Info
