Category West Dominates the World (1763 – 1899 A. D.)

Western dominance, this category deals with the period from the Congress of Vienna in 1815 to the First World War in 1914, This span of the world’s history, stretching across most of the nineteenth century, was crowded with significant events. Some of those events, created by the development of the Machine Age and the spread of European imperialism, created problems which still are unsolved.

We read of man’s struggle to bring about change, you will find herein several episodes to challenge your interest. Paramount was the struggle for democratic government in England. There the power to rule shifted from a small aristocracy, to representatives of the people in Parliament. În this same period, England spread her web of imperialism until her empire included, one fourth of the world’s peoples. France also broadened her base of democracy, but not without revolution and bloodshed.

Guided by aggressive statesmen, Germany and Italy won unification as a result of victory in wars. On the fringe of Europe, Russia was less influenced by the currents of European culture and the liberal ideas of freedom. As the twentieth century dawned, Russia was still ruled by an autocratic czor.

During the nineteenth century, the Orient was disturbed by European imperialists who sought to conquer China. Japan soon learned the material practices of the West and extended an imperialistic sway over China, who was trying vainly to free herself from European domination. The United States made a dramatic entrance upon the stage of world politics, by insisting upon an Open Door Policy in China; by it, many nations might share in the China Occident trade.

The United States came of age during this period and became a world power in the later 1800’s. Believing that it was her “manifest destiny,” she extended her domain to the Pacific, acquired overseas possessions  and spread her wings over this hemisphere, by applying the Monroe Doctrine. The peoples of Latin America won their independence from Spain and Portugal and emerged with a number of republics, which could hardly be called democracies.

In this category we note that the strides which led to the Machine Age, were taken by inventors during the late nineteenth century. Discoveries were made in medicine which increased man’s life span. Man entered the twentieth century certain, that he was on the right road to the good life on earth.

Political rallies of the 19th century, brought out the enthusiasm of the American people. The festive atmosphere was indicative of their desire to strengthen the spirit and practices of democracy in their new nation.

1750

1763 – Treaty of Paris — France

1787 – Constitutional Convention meets in Independence Hall — Philadelphia

1789 – Constitution becomes the law of the land — United States

1800

1803 – Louisiana is purchased from France by the United States

1814 – The Congress of Vienna assembles

1823 – The Monroe Doctrine is stated — United States

1832 – Great Parliamentary Reform Bill in England

1848 – Karl Marx writes the Communist Manifesto

1850

1854 – Crimean War begins — Russia

1857 – The Sepoy Mutiny in India

1861 – Italy becomes a nation. Alexander II’s Emancipation Proclamation in Russia. The War Between the States begins — United States

1862 – American education aided by the Morrill Act

1869 – Opening of the first continental railroad in the United States

1871 – The German Empire is proclaimed

1878 – The Congress of Berlin meets — Germany

1889 – First Pan American Conference meets at Washington

1898 – The Spanish-American War

1899 – Open Door Policy for China is stated