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Steam Engine
Thomas Savery made the first steam engine design and patented it in 1679. His design was made to pump water out of coalmines. Thomas Newcomen improved Savery’s design in 1712. And in 1769, James Watt, a Scottish inventor and mechanical engineer, made several changes to improve the previous design. His design was a rotary motion steam engine that was later used to create the locomotive and the steamboat. Newcomen’s mottle was on of the inventions that started the industrial Revolution. -
French Revolution
France was bankrupt and its people were starving. The 3rd estate representing the common people went to an Indore tennis court and took the tennis court oath, agreeing they would meet until they had a fair say in the government. On August 26, 1789 Louis XVI signed the Rights of Man but the revolt continued. During the Reign of Terror, the Committee of Public Safety, led by Maximilen Robespierre, executed the King and Queen. The Revolution ended when Napoleon Bonaparte became the new ruler. -
Haitian Revolution
At this time Haiti was a French Colony. In August 1791 the slaves revolted led by Toussaint L’Ouverture. Spain and England helped France because they didn’t want their slaves to follow the Haitians example. In 1802 Napoleon sent an army to Haiti but the slaves were victorious. Though despite the slave’s victory, the army did succeed in capturing Toussaint. They put him in prison where he died in 1803. In 1804 Haiti became independent and in 1820 it became a republic. -
Congress of Vienna
The Congress of Vienna was an assembly to bring Europe back together after the Napoleonic era and years of war. It lasted from September 1814 to June 1815. Their goal was to create peace by establishing a balance of power. France decided to bring back the Monarchs that ruled before the Napoleonic era that people over through during the Revolution. And soon other European countries followed their example. This principle of bringing back the monarchies was called legitimacy. -
Independence of Mexico
Father Miguel Hidalgo started a revolt in 1810. Creoles supported his revolt until he wanted to end slavery and he was executed. Father José Morelos was next to revolt. He also wanted to end slavery but he was shot in 1815. In 1821 the creoles, mestizos, and Native Americans, led be Agustín de Iturbide, fought Spain and gained their independence. After their victory they set up the Republic of Mexico. -
Opium War
Britain traded opium from India with China for tea. The Chinese became addicted and the government outlawed it, which did not make the British happy. After the government tried to stop the trade the British attacked China. After Britain’s victory they made China agree to the Treaty of Nanjing. This Treaty gave Britain money, the city of Hong Kong, trading ports, and the right to live in China under British laws. -
Communist Manifesto
Manifesto of the Communist Party was a German book written by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels. It was published on February 21, 1848. The book is about Communism and their social and political ideas. It explains about the relationship between the poor people (proletarians) and the rich people (bourgeoisie). It clamed that capitalize is unstable and will eventually break down. -
Matt Perry goes to Japan
The Tokugawa Shogunate ruled Japan since 1603. They were very isolated and only traded with the Dutch once a year. The United States wanted to trade with Japan mostly because it’s a good “coaling base”. The U.S. sent Matt Perry to Japan and he arrived on July 8, 1853. Japan refused to open their ports to American trade so Matt Perry went back to Japan in February 1854 with 1,600 men. Japan agreed to the Treaty of Kanagawa on March 31, 1854, opening their ports to America. -
Sepoy Mutiny
The Sepoys were Indian soldiers trained by the British. They heard rumors that their bullets were put in pig and cow fat. The cow is sacred to Hindus and the pig is sacred to Muslims. Together they took over Delhi and Kanpur. The British recaptured the cities in September and October and the surviving Sepoys were severely punished. -
Unification of Germany
Prussia decided to unify Germany because they wanted to be a world power. The unification of Germany took nearly a century. January 18, 1871 was the official day of unification. On this day the German princes met and proclaimed Wilhelm I the Kaiser of the German Empire. -
Zulu uprising
The Zulus were one of the most successful kingdoms in southern Africa. Then the King Dingaan let the British have too much control over the people. When the king died in 1872, the people revolted with an uprising against the British. The uprising led to the Zulu War of 1878. -
Berlin Conference
The Berlin Conference’s purpose was to divide Africa for colonization. King Leopold II of Belgium called the conference to peacefully do this instead of fighting. The conference included the European powers but no one from Africa. The Conference ended with the signing of the General Act on February 26, 1885. By 1914 the only free African counties were Liberia and Belgium. -
Russo-Japanese War
The Russo-Japanese War between Russia and Japan began on February 8, 1904. They were fighting for land and Japan was greatly outnumbered. The last battle was from May 27- 29, 1905. It was the first time an Asian power defeated a western power. On September 5, 1905 the Treaty of Portsmouth was signed giving Japan Korea and part of Manchuria. -
Dr. Sun Yat-sen takes over China
In 1908 China’s Emperor died and a two year old was put in charge. In 1911 the government was overthrown ending the Qing Dynasty and in 1912 the Republic of China was founded. Dr. Sun Yat-sen became the president and ran China based on the three principles of the people. These principles were nationalism, Democracy, and livelihood.
