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Birth of Jean-Jacques Rousseau
Born in Geneva, Switzerland. -
Birth of Denis Diderot
Born in Langres, France. -
Birth of Thomas Paine
Born in Norfolk, England. -
Rousseau befriended Diderot
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Diderot sent to Vincennes Prison
Denis was imprisoned for three months due to his opinions published in 'Philosophical Thoughts' discussing religion and government. -
Diderot published 'Encyclopédie'
Also published short stories, novels and plays in which he continued to criticise society and argued for political revolution. -
Birth of William Blake
Born in Soho, London. -
Rousseau publishes 'The Social Contract'
Helped inspire political reforms and revolutions. -
Paine joins the Society of Twelve
Joins a group to discuss town politics, and becomes a member of the Vestry Church collecting taxes and tithes to distribute among the poor. -
Paine publishes 'The Case of the Officers of Excise'
Consisted of a request to parliament for better payment and better working conditions. -
Start of the American Revolutionary War
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American Independence Day
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Death of Jean-Jacques Rousseau
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End of the American Revolutionary War
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The Treaty of Paris is signed
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Storming of the Bastille
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Thomas publishes 'The Rights of Man'
Radical work calling for representative democracy and proposing a Republican government. -
Death of Louis XVI of France
Executed by the guillotine. -
Death of Thomas Paine
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Death of William Blake