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Birth of Charles Darwin
Darwin was born in Shrewsbury, England. Little did the world know, he would soon become one of the most important naturalists to have ever lived. He would soon be a significant theorist(Byers 397). -
The End of the Peninsular War
This war, lasting five years, was Napolean's second of his three costly mistakes during his reign. Portugal ignored his Continental System, so he decided to march through Spain to invade Portugal. The war ended with 300,000 of Napoleon's men dead, because of Spanish guerillas that struck at the French unknowingly using hit and run tactics. The significance of the end of the war was the rise of Spanish and global nationalism(Beck 589-599). -
Battle at New Orleans
General Andrew Jackson led the U.S to victory in this battle during the American Revolution. Little did they know, the Treaty of Ghent had been signed to end the war on Christmas Eve of 1814. It was Great Britains last attempt to break through the U.S line from the Mississippi to the Cypress Swamp. With Great Britain defeated, it's significance was that it sparked nationalism in the U.S that made Andrew Jackson a hero, and the U.S unstoppable(Warshauer). -
Simon Bolivar Liberates Venezuela
Native Venezuela declared their independence from Spain in 1811. A volunteer army of revolutionaries faced numerous defeats, and Simon Bolivar faced an exile twice. In August of 1819, 2,000 soldiers marched from the Andes to Colombia and surprised the Spanish army in Bogota. Finally, in 1821, a Venezuelan victory led to their full independence. This is significant because Bolivar then met Jose San Martin to complete the revolutions for the other Spanish countries(Beck 605). -
Darwin Attends Christ's College
Darwin took John Steven Henslow's course of botany at this college in Cambridge, where his interest in the natural world first sparked in his mind. Henslow's course was evidently his greatest benefit from attending the college. He attained his bachelor degree here in 1831. This college was significant because it was the main catalyst for his interest of plants and animals, and it was Henslow who passed the invitation to board the H.M.S Beagle on to him(Byers 397-398). -
Voyage of the H.M.S Beagle Begins
Darwin boarded the H.M.S Beagle as a naturalist to survey the coast of Patagonia and Tierra del Fuego. He observed longitude by circumnavigation, which is sailing around the world. This event is significant because it marks the rise of the theory of evolution and natural selection, which will come to play as an effect of the voyage(Byers 398). -
H.M.S Beagle Returns
Spending 535 days at sea and 1,200 days on land, Darwin found "small locally living forms" that closely resembled other mammals. He also found differences in birds and animals on Galapagos Islands and two closely related but distinct ostrich species in Patagonia. The return is significant because it brought back important information that would lead to further research and journal publications of organism specification(Byers 398). -
Darwin Publishes Zoology of the Voyage of the Beagle
His work contains five volumes. In the series, he wrote of fossils, living mammals, birds, fish, and reptiles that he had encountered. Darwin looked over and edited the research of habits of animals and many different species. The observations of behavior he made on the voyage contributed to the species diagnosis that are included in the volumes. This event was significant because it opened peoples minds to the theories Darwin had and it sparked controversy(Byers 398). -
Darwin Marries Emma Wedgwood
Emma Wedgwood was Darwin's first cousin, and they had ten children. Their marriage was significant because it almost proved Darwin's theory, having children with a close relative created defects which resulted in death for many of them. This was significant because this was the basis of Darwin's study of plants, saying that "cross-fertilization was much more beneficial than self-fertilization for maintaining robust and plentiful plant species."
Sources: (Caldwell)
(Byers 398) -
The First Cirripedia by Charles Darwin
Based off of his South American observations, Darwin created a four volume book series. The first two volumes contained information about shell-boring living barnacle he studied at Chonos Islands in 1835. The second two volumes were fossilized versions of the barnacle, which showed its variety. These are significant because it tested his views of his theory and provided proof(Byers 398). -
Principle of Divergence: Dominant Species
Darwin suggested that the dominant species, which is one that is more suited for its environment, must make an effective use of its surroundings than its competing species, or in other words, adapt to its environment. The theory first sparked from his research, but he was unsure of it at first. He couldn't come to an exact solution. The significance of this was that it filled a hole in multiple publications he made(Byers 399). -
Matthew Perry Opens Japan to American Trade
American and Japanese relations got better as Matthew Perry ended Japanese isolation from the west. A strong interest aroused because Japan was a mystery to many countries. Perry was appointed as Commander to navigate a treaty between the two countries, and Japan agreed in order to remain free from western domination. Finally, Japan let the U.S into Shimoda, which is a port near Tokyo Bay. Its significance was that it ended Japan's isolation and started a new era of East-West relations(Perry). -
On the Origin of Species
This was Darwin's book, which was proof of his hypothesis: How can we explain the variety of life forms on earth? Before Darwin, people thought everything was created by God. Darwin says that all forms of life evolved from other forms that lived long ago. He stated that populations grow faster than food, so they must compete. Those with advantages produce offspring, growing their population. The significance was Social Darwinism, and debates that still occur.
Sources: (Byers 399) (Beck 678) -
The Emancipation Proclamation
The proclamation was primarIly read 100 days before it was published by Abraham Lincoln. It ended slavery legally in limited areas, but as the Union captured more territory in the south, it expanded. Lincoln waited 100 days after reading it to the cabinet to ensure this was the right thing to do. The significance was a milestone that brought the U.S closer to the 13th Amendment. It also created a sense of freedom for people of African descent in the U.S(Trefousse). -
Assassination of Abraham Lincoln
At Fords Theater, John Wilkes Booth assassinated President Abraham Lincoln and made a quick getaway shortly after, which eventually led to him being shot down. Preceding the assassination, the people of America showed drastic concern for what the future of their country held. This was significant because a new president, Andrew Johnson, had to quickly succeed him and continue the Reconstruction of the South, Lincoln's former plan(Bates). -
Charles Darwin's Death
Darwin created a tremendous amount of research and proposed it in a way that was controversial to religion. He persevered and put his thoughts into the minds of scientists world wide. His books and publications are significantly known all across the globe, and students still learn about him to this day(Byers 399).
