King Charles I signs the Petition of Right in England

King Charles I violates the Petition of Right and refuses to rule with Parliament

King Charles I is put on trial

Charles I’s wife flees to France with their children

Charles I is beheaded

Oliver Cromwell establishes the Commonwealth, a republic.

Oliver Cromwell becomes corrupt.

Parliament invites Charles II to come back from France and take back the throne (The Restoration)

Charles II dies without children, so his brother James II becomes king.

James II is overthrown in the Glorious Revolution for being Catholic.

William and Mary are invited to be king and queen.

William and Mary sign the English Bill of Rights.

England is now a constitutional monarchy.

America declares its independence in 1776.

France helps America in the war for independence, putting France in debt.

America wins its independence in 1781.

Members of the bourgeoisie form the National Assembly and sign the Tennis Court Oath, swearing they will write a constitution in France.

Citizens of Paris storm the Bastille in 1789, the first violent act of Revolution.

A mob of women force the King and his family to move to Paris.

Louis XVI is executed

Marie Antoinette is executed

Robespierre rules during the Reign of Terror.

Robespierre is beheaded.

A new French government, called the Directory, is established A new French government, called the Directory, is established. It is ineffective.

Napoleon rises to power due to popularity and desire for stability.

Napoleon declares himself “Emperor for Life”

Napoleon makes a series of bad decisions, like the Continental System and invading Russia.

Latin American independence movements, inspired by France and America, begin.

Napoleon is defeated at the Battle of Waterloo

The Congress of Vienna re-establishes the balance of power in Europe.