Figure 1.-- |
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The early-19th century was dominated by the Napoleonic Wars. After the Congress of Vienna, conservative forces were able to reestablish control in Europe. Less noticed at the time was how capitalism and the democratic forces were buttressed by the rise of America. Britain with the powerful Royal Navy prevented these forces from reestablish control of the Western Hemisphere. Britain also initiasted a campaign to end the slave trade, employing the powerful Royal Navy. The Revolutions of 1848 threatened the dominance of the European monasrchies. The Crimean War soon after weakened the hetherto amnity of the great powers. While the Europeans squabeled over relatively minor priovinces and territories, Russia expanded unopposed into Asia and America reached the Pacific and dominated North America establish the base for the two superpowes of the 20th century. The American Civil War ended slavery in America. It also determined that the only democratic republic at the time United States would not only remain united, but demonstrated the ernormous power that a democracy could generate. The unification of Germany and Italy dramatically changed the European power balance. The Industrial Revolution, especiaslly the railroad, remade Europe in the 19th century. And industrial development provided Europe the Europeans means of projecting power to every corner of the globe. The Scramble for Africa carved up the last areas of the world not under European control. Huge technological advances occurred in the 19th century, especially the second half of the century. Sociaslism challenged the foundations of captalism and acquired many devotees. Coservative forces in China resisted modernization as the European powers carved out zones of interest. The Menjii Restoration in Japan launched the country's modernization.
The decade began with the Opium War in China (1839-42). A colonial war which for the first time showed the shift in power between East and West. The Amistad Case wound its way through Anerican courts (1841) as the slavery issue ikncreasingly divided Americans. Mexico and America fought a War (1846-48). It was little noticed in Europe, but woyld have vast consequences. The potato by the 19th century had become a mainstay of the European diet by the 19th century. European crops began failing at mid-decade. A blight affected tghe harvest (1845). But no whre was itas severe as Ireland. One of the most tragic events of modern European history ocuured in Ireland--The Great Famine. At the end of the decade, Eurooe was rocked by the Revolutions of 1848. Major inventiobns began to transform North America and Europe. Despite the lack of respecyed unibersities and technical institutes, manyb of those inventions came from America. The first electrical telegraph sent by Samuel Morse from Baltimore to Washington, D.C. (1844). Elias Howe patented the sewing machine in 1846. This device was to have a major impact on the fashion and garment industry, both for children's and adult clothes. Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels published the The Communist Manifesto (1848). Marxist ideas proved extremely influential in the 20th century despite the fundamental errors an economic and social thought. The California Gold Rush followed the Mexican-American War, bringing tens of thousands of immigrants to California and providing needed capital just as America was beginning its industrial revolution.
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