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The Enlightenment thinkers were philosophers who began to question the principles and concepts that surrounded everyday life and government. Using basic reasoning and logic, the men and women's ideas dominated Europe during the time period, resulting in great development within governmental systems as well as the basic rights of citizens and people as a whole. Without these thinkers spreading their ideas, Europe's governmental and social systems would not have developed nearly as fast.
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Published by the great Enlightenment thinker, Thomas Hobbes, the book Leviathan describes and explains his beliefs from the time. Within the writing, Thomas Hobbes describes what he calls the social contract. Hobbes explains the contract as an agreement between citizens and a government, stating that citizens give up freedoms in return for ensured protection. This idea would begin to spark the minds of citizens and influence the man revolutions to come. More Info
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Within the walls of the Palace of Versailles, a bed stuck King Louis XIV served as the leader of France. With a terminal case of the painful gangrene, Louis led his country, determined to do his duty until the end. After giving advice to his successor, the monarch of France died at the age of 76 on September 1, 1715, leaving his five year old great-grandson to take over as King. His death would greatly effect the country as young Louis XV came to power. More Infot
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On January 1, 1748, Enlightenment thinker Baron de Montesquieu published his most well known writing piece. The book titled, The Spirit of Laws, describes the aspect of political liberty and how to achieve it. Montesquieu explains that governments must have separation of powers to ensure no individual is to strong, as well as punishment for crimes to ensure the safety of the public. The book would aid greatly in framing many governments that were to come. More Info
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Published in 1758 by Enlightenment thinker Jean-Jacques Rousseau, the Social Contract described the formal agreement between citizens and the government where the people give up natural rights in return for civil rights such as protection. Rousseau argues that the people of a nation can only go so far as to speak their minds on public matters. The book had a huge impact as it began to get people questioning their rights and the societies they reside within. More Info
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After the death of his grandfather, King Louis XV, Louis XVI takes the throne at the age of 20. King Louis XVI would be the last French monarch preceding the revolution, being executed in 1792. He would rule throughout the French Revolution, marrying Marie Antoinette as his queen. King Louis XVi'sdecisions would go on to frame many outcomes. His choices as a leader would greatly influence the beginning of the French Revolution and the future of France. More Info
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Summoned by King Louis XVI, the French Estates-General meeting was called to discuss the growing financial problems of the French government and a solution to tax over of the estates. The first and second estate would outvote the third estate two to one. Inequalities seen during the meeting would spark the fire that would become the French Revolution. The Third Estate would then go on to form the National Assembly, fighting for fairer laws for the citizens. More Info
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After the Estates-General meeting of 1789, the citizens of France took up in arms. Forming the National Assembly, the people of the third estate fought for fairer rights and a new constitution. They went to great lengths to ensure that these ideas proposed by Enlightenment thinkers were fulfilled, even breaking into an abandoned tennis court and vowing not to leave until a new constitution was formed. This time period resulted in great change for both the country of France and Europe as a whole.
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The Tennis Court Oath of 1789 was one of the first protests held by the third estate in retaliation to the treatment of citizens. The men and women who were apart of this social section broke into an abandoned tennis court. Those who made their way into the court made a vow not to leave the place until a new, fairer constitution for France had been created. This event would go on to prove extremely influential to the development of the French Revolution. More Info
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After King Louis XVI hires the Swiss Guard for his protection, the citizens of France fear that the soldier's duty is to kill them. The third estate rallies storming the old Bastille prison, stealing weaponry and supplies. In doing so, the people hoped to prove their determination to the cause of the revolution. The attack on the prison results in anarchy between nobles and citizens of France as hundred of nobility are murdered, an event known as Great Fear. More Info
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In response to the chaotic revolution, King Louis XVI hired specially trained soldiers known as the Swiss Guard for protection. The French citizens feared the soldiers were hired to kill them and thwart the uprising. On July 14th, 1789 men and women stormed the Bastille prison in search of supplies. Peasants across France would kill many nobles over the summer, resulting in what is known as the Great Fear, immensely impacting the outcome of the movement. More Infor
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On August 26, 1789, the National Assembly signed and published what was known as the Declaration of Rights of Man and Citizen. Utilizing principles and ideas from the Magna Carta and Enlightenment thinkers, the third estate was able to form a new, much fairer constitution for the people of France. This would be extremely important in affecting not only the governmental ideas of France but the rest of Europe as well. More Info
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Originally led by Toussaint L'Ouverture, the Haitian Revolution was a fight between the slaves brought to Hispaniola and primarily their French colonist supervisors. The slaves grew powerful enough to rebel, having to beat the Spanish, English, and French under Jean-Jacques Dessalines rule before they could claim the land of Haiti as their own. Despite their independence, countries would refuse to trade and they owed the French lots of money, resulting in economic struggles for years to come.
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In the year 1791, slaves brought to the French colony of St. Domingue made the decision to rebel against their white oppressors. Greatly outnumbering them, the French people running the plantations feared for their lives, killing hundreds of slaves in an attempt to stop the rebellion. Many fights would follow this, but it would not be for years that they would earn freedom. The act would be the beginning of one of the most major slave revolutions to this day. More Info
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Published by Enlightenment thinker, Mary Wollstonecraft in 1792, the Vindication of the Rights of Women challenged the idea that a women's job was to please her husband. She argued women must be provided with equal opportunities in education, work, and politics. If this were to be accomplished, then society benefit, and women would be more prepared for motherhood. The writing had a huge impact on ideas of equality around the world and sparking protests. [More Info(https://bit.ly/3aX8bYl)
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After being caught while attempting to escape and convicted as a traitor to the French Revolution, King Louis XVI was brought out to be executed on January 1st, 1793. Killed by guillotine, Louis was taken to the Place de la Révolution to be prepared for execution. Such action as to execute the king by his people was a transformative moment across European politics and would inspire many other countries to fight for their freedoms. More Info
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Radical leader Maximillian Robespierre comes to power, tearing up the constitution, and eliminating the National Assembly along with it. In 1793 what is known as the Reign of Terror begins in France. The time was argued to be necessary for the revolution to achieve its goals, as thousands of citizens who were often innocent are executed for treason. The period served as a strong turning point for the movement as people tire of bloodshed and seek peace. More Info
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After being one of the defining factors of the Reign of Terror, Maximillian Robespierre was responsible for the death of thousands of French citizens accused of treason against the revolution. As the Reign of Terror neared its end, the people began to grow tired of the bloodshed. They took control, arresting and executing Robespierre on July 7, 1794. By doing so, France was able to establish the Directory whose goal was to restore France back to prosperity. More Info
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Without Robespierre, France was leaderless. What came of this was the formation of the Directory. The Directory was a five-man group, who goal was dedicated to restoring order, recover the economy, set up schools, and maintaining peace within the recently chaotic country. Their rule, however, does not last long as Napolean Bonaparte comes to power. If it had not been for these men, France's economic and social state would not have improved the way it did. More Info
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In 1799, Toussaint L'Overture and Andre Rigaud began to fight for control of the island of the previous French colony, St. Domingue. Rigaud had wealthier and educated freed slaves, while L'Overture fought with poor former slaves. These battles of power would be known as the War of Knives. In the end, L'Overture would win with the help of the English, greatly altering St. Domingue's future and what is to come of Haiti and the people who reside there. More Info
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On November 10, 1799 General Napoleon Bonaparte stages his own coup d'etat, dethroning the French Directory and taking his place as the primary ruler of France. Napoleon creates the French Consulate with two other men yet he claimed the most governmental power. His actions would eliminate and radical idealists, helping to implement equality and rights to the people. The major event is marked by many historians as the closing to the French Revolution. More Info
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The French are finally able to unite under a new final constitution. With Napoleon in control, the people of France finally earn the equality that they had fought so hard to earn. Once published, the men and women of the third estate voted, declaring the official end to the French Revolution. The signing of the newfound declaration concludes one of the greatest revolutions that would inspire many other nations to do similar movements for equality. More Informationt
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Toussaint L'Ouverture creates a new constitution, outlawing slavery, outlawing the practice of voodoo religion, and making him Governor for life. Both the changes in religious rules as well as his self-proclamation as the leader of the land for life angered the people of St. Domingue. The result of his impeachment would affect Haiti's future, for if L'Ouverture had implemented only a multi-year service he may have maintained his role as governor. More Info
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After utilizing the scorched earth plan in order to push out the soldiers of Napoleon, Jean-Jacques Dessalines declares St. Domingue is free. Returning to its original Taino name of Haiti, the citizens provided natural rights. European countries refuse to trade with the land, and between their immense debt to the French, Haiti is led towards centuries of economic struggle. The freeing of Hait was a huge movement becaming the first nation run by former slaves. More Info
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The revolutions of Latin and South America began after the Spanish colonists in Mexico, known as creoles, began to get word of America's independence and ideas of the Enlightenment. These men would begin to voice their opinions, hoping to earn freedom from Spain's grasp. Eventually, with the help of Augustin de Iturbide Mexico won its independence in 1824. In South America, Simón Bolívar would follow their lead, liberating countries across Latin America, greatly impacting Spanish power.
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Mexican creoles hear of the independence of America and the Enlightenment movement in Europe. In 1810, Mexican creole, Father Miguel Hidalgo rallies poor mestizos and Native Americans to fight for their freedom and rights. Many creoles joined the fight, just to abandon it once it was announced that slavery would be abolished. The acts would soon spark the flame that would become the Mexican Revolution and the starting point for the South America revolutions. More Info
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After fleeing into exile in Haiti twice from failed liberation attempts, Simón Bolívartried once more to free Venezuela. Bolívar made the daring decision to take his men over the Andes Mountains, attacking the Spanish land of New Granada. Many men died from cold and disease, however, the surprise worked. He went on to force the Spanish out of Venezuela, freeing the nation as well as its citizens from Spain's grasp, once again weakening the countries power. More Info
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Once Simón Bolívar drove the Spanish out of Caracas, Venezuela, his troops moved on to the other countries of South America. Joining forces with Jose de San Martin, who had recently freed his homeland of Argentina, the two armies moved on to free Peru. After many battles, the men would win the country from the hands of Spain. Peru's declaration of independence had a great impact on the other South American countries, reinforcing the revolution even more. More Info
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As one of the main leaders of the South American rebellion, Simón Bolívar was able to free the countries of Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela from Spain's control. Bolívar would designate himself as president of the newly liberated countries, combining them into what is known as the Gran Columbia and creating a republic. Here, Simón ruled as president for multiple years until eventually being forced out of control by the people of the nations. More Info
