Significant dates for AP Euro. Yeah!

1. Turning Points in European History

2. 1492 … Columbus sailed the ocean blue … But WAIT! There’s more!

4. 1 5 1 7 Martin Luther, a German monk, posts his 95 Theses in Wittenberg, Germany Luther protests many practices of the Catholic Church, such as the selling of indulgences Preached Sola Fide – Salvation by faith alone The Protestant Reformation begins

5. 1588 Defeat of the Spanish Armada England defeats Spanish fleet on August 8, 1588 From then on, Spanish naval power falls to the new supremacy of British naval power

6. Defeat of the Spanish Armada , Philip James de Loutherbourg

7. 1648: Treaty of Westphalia Marks the end of the Thirty Year’s War Gave all rulers the right to choose the religion of their lands (cuius regio, euis religio)

8. Territorial map of Europe after the terms of the Treaty of Westphalia Ratification of the treaty

9. 1688 The Glorious Revolution After the reign of terrible rulers (James I, Charles I, Oliver Cromwell, Charles II, James II), William of Orange and Mary overthrow James II The supremacy of Parliament is reaffirmed England becomes a constitutional monarchy

10. 1713 Treaty of Utrech Ends the battle of Spanish Succession Louis XIV’s grandson Phillip becomes Phillip V of Spain

11. 1740 The shift in power Both Frederick the Great and Catherine the Great took power in Prussia and Russia, respectively The balance of power in German states shifts from Austria to Prussia

12. 1776 American Declaration of Independence is written Sparks the ideas of future revolutions

13. 1789 FRENCH REVOLUTION “ Liberty, Equality, Fraternity” Bourgeoisie rises against the government, a new republic is formed Lot’s of people (including Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette) lose their heads to the handy-dandy guillotine Thus begins the changing of government like underwear in France

14. 1815 The Fall of Napoleon Bonaparte

15. 1 8 1 5 Napoleon is defeated at the Battle of Waterloo Delegates meet at the Congress of Vienna in an attempt to reestablish the old order

17. 1 8 6 1 Unification of Italy King Victor Emmanuel II with the help of Giuseppe Garibaldi unified the nation states of Italy making it a single political entity

18. 1871 German Unification Kaiser Wilhelm II appoints Otto von Biskmarck as chancellor He then proceeds to unify Germany from 300 semi-autonomous states into a new world power

19. 1914 The Great War The War To End All Wars I’m talking about World War I buddy! The Black Hand, a radical Serbian political group, assassinates Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife in Sarajevo Mainly comprised of battles between The Triple Alliance (Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy) and The Triple Entente (Great Britain, France, and Russia)

20. 1917 Bolshevik Revolution Lenin, the leader of the Bolshevik party, took the communist ideas of Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels to overthrow the tsarist regime in order to create a Communist government Tsar Nicholas II and his family were brutally assassinated in the movement

21. 1918: The End of WWI After the Central Powers collapsed, an armistice was signed to end the war on September 29, 1918 The Big Three (Lloyd George, George Clemenceau, and Woodrow Wilson) controlled the Treaty of Versailles The Allies determine Germany is to blame, ordered to pay 269 billion gold marks (approximately $32 billion)

22. 1929 ~ Global Economic Depression In 1929, the American Stock Market crashed, sending the country into economic decline The majority of Europe also suffered economic decline due to the mass destruction caused by World War I France and the United States suffered the greatest problems

23. 1939 ~ The start of WWII Germany invades Poland (because Poland is the doorknob of Europe – everyone takes a turn) Then it’s Allies versus Axis Powers Schizekopf!!

25. 1945 May 7-8, 1945 – VE Day (Victory Europe) Nazi Germany officially surrenders to the Allies August 15, 1945 – VJ Day (Victory Japan) After imminent decline in power during the war, Japan surrenders to the Allies, ending all combat

26. 1989 The Dismantling of the Berlin Wall The dismantling of the wall signified the decline of communist Russia