The Steam Engine

The steam engine was the invention which powered the industrial revolution. Thomas Newcomen and Thomas Savery were the first two creators of the first practical steam engine. James Watt is the one accredited with the invention, because he made the steam engine which actually was reliable and used in the industrial revolution. The invention was first used as a water pump to suck water out of coal mines, a resource which was greatly needed to power the industrial revolution. Then people modified the invention to work for the textile industry, and eventually almost every industry was using steam engines. The train was another invention which used the steam engine. It allowed for faster transportation for goods and people.

For more information on the steam engine go to:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steam_engine

Industrial Revolution

The industrial revolution played a key role in the evolution of our species. New technologies which required less man power, and a new way of life came from this advancement in society. The English were the first to make this giant leap, because they were basically better prepared. They had a stable government, and the second agricultural revolution had already affected them. Through new inventions in the textile industry and through the invention of the steam engine the British lead the way in this new era.

The rest of Europe which was constantly at war did not embrace this new revolution quickly. France was in its own political revolution, and other countries like Germany were still divided. The British had a sort of golden era which was short lived. America was quickly adopting the new ideas and technology of the industrial revolution. With vast resources, hard workers, and a free market the United States had it all. They became an industrialized nation, and later in 1900 they surpassed England in manufacturing.

This new era also saw a great change in the social aspect of life. People were now coming together in ever-growing cities, and workers now had to travel to work and earn their wage. In the beginning entire families and orphans worked at the factories, but after Government intervention only men and unmarried women worked in factories. This change saw the rise of the patriarchal family in which the father is the one that brings the meat to the table, and the mother is the one who takes care of the family.

Clearly the Industrial revolution had a great impact in modern day society. It influenced our way of life and how we make the goods which keep us alive. The patriarchal family arose, and new technologies which powered great industries made our world go round. Without the manifestation of this revolution our world would be much different today.

The Ancient Hitler

Why the ancient Hitler? Well, because even though Hitler and Napoleon did not follow exactly the same policies, they did commit the same mistakes in war. Hitler also attacked Russia, and opened up a two front war which gave an advantage to the allies during World War two. Hitler’s armies also had no supplies to survive general winter and general mud in Russia, so they had to retreat. Both Napoleon and Hitler tried to unite Europe, and both followed a type of Blitzkrieg tactic in war. Clearly Hitler and Napoleon were two different persons in different times, yet they wanted to accomplish many of the same things, and they made several of the same mistakes. Basically, if you are trying to take over Europe, never go after Russia!

Napoleonic Complex

Throughout the ages Europe has been filled with conflicts, and warring armies. In the nineteenth century Napoleon took hold of power in France and begun a campaign which would redefine Europe and shape it into what it is today.

Napoleon was born in the small island of Corsica off of the coast of southern France. He was later trained as an artillery officer in mainland France. When the French revolution broke out he was called upon by the first French republic. He successfully defeated the first and second coalition, armies sent by Prussia and other European countries which wanted to restore the French monarchy. The people admired Napoleon, and later when the republic was in decay Napoleon successfully undertook a coup d eta and secured the French government. Later he crowned himself emperor of France, and begun his dictatorship.

Napoleon was a military man, so in turn one of his first decrees as emperor was to take over Europe. He led great armies into ancient empires which could not defend themselves against mighty France. Napoleon spread the new ideas of equality, opportunity, and brotherhood which were main ideals of the French revolution.

The biggest mistake that Napoleon committed was invading Russia. Throughout history the Russians have been known for their great tactics for defense. With an army of more than a million men Napoleon invaded Russia and seized Moscow. The only problem was that Moscow had been deserted; the nobles and the Czar had fled to St. Petersburg. The weak French army had to survive the unbearable Russian winter, and men began to die. Of the one million men Napoleon had only twelve thousand had returned to France in defeat.

The countries of Europe saw this defeat as their chance to get back at Napoleon. They invaded France with large armies that the weakened French could not oppose. Napoleon was sent on Exile to an island off the coast of Italy, and then after an attempt to take back his position in France he was defeated again and sent to a far away island in the middle of the Atlantic were he finally died.

Impacts of the American Revolution

France: Tennis Court Oath

America: Signing of Declaration of Independence

The American Revolution did not only cause change in Europe, but it also affected Europe, but mostly France. Since the beginning of the war France had stated that it was an ally of the Americans. They sent troops, guns, ammunition, and monetary aid to the rebelling country. They did this to get back at the English for the French and Indian war. This expending caused inflation in France and really hurt its economy.

France now had greater debts than before. The wars fought earlier had amounted a great debt, and now the American Revolution added to that debt. The French government did not know how to solve its great financial problems. This inflation caused food prices to soar, which in turn caused the lower classes to revolt. Basically the American Revolution in a way caused the French revolution, and greatly affected Europe in many ways.

The French Revolution

The French revolution was an event that impacted all of Europe, and saw the end of a long established social order in the country. The poor were sick and tired of the lack of food, and increase of taxes. There were three estates or social groups in France before the revolution. The first was the clergy which had a huge piece of the land and paid no taxes. The second estate was the nobility, which also had a huge part of the land and paid no taxes. The third and last estate included the middle class and the poor. It paid all the taxes, and did almost most of the work.

The third estate was tired of this unfair system, and revolted. Early in the revolution the peasants took over government, and Paris. They seized the Bastille and attacked the king at Versailles. They incarcerated the royal family, and after a couple of years sent Marie Antoinette and King Louis XVI to the guillotine. The National assembly established by the third estate was in charge of government and made the laws. They drafted a constitution and established a new order. The national assembly, after several splits and differences, gave way to a dictatorship. After a coup de tat Napoleon took over government and the revolution had ended.

Cottage for everyone

The cottage industry in the late eighteenth century grew quickly out of the new ideals of mercantilism, and of the enlightenment. The cottage industry was a way for families to earn their living away from the fields. Families would come together and manufacture products, usually textiles, to make a profit. First a merchant would come and provide raw materials. Then the family would work together and make a finished product which they would sell back to the merchant at a reasonable price.

This cottage industry allowed for a massive population growth, and a decrease in poverty in Europe. It was also a step closer to forming the capitalistic ideals of the late nineteenth and early eighteenth centuries.