The Second Millenium

[Vince53]

1775 is a very eventful year.

Lasting 24 years, Pius VI becomes the fourth longest reigning Pope in history. He condemns the French Revolution, but the French get even—Napoleon captures him and the Pope dies a year later in prison. His failure with the French revolution was only one of his problems—his impoverished subjects disliked him, and he failed in an ambitious and expensive attempt to drain a 310 square mile marsh in central Italy (It was drained and converted to farmland in 1930).


However, he got two of his harbors deepened and enlarged and made a lot of road improvements. He straightened out a lot of corruption and only appointed one relative to high office.


The Great North American Smallpox Epidemic begins. Lasting seven years, it began in the British colonies on the Atlantic coast, and spread to the Pacific, Alaska, and Mexico. Exact numbers are impossible to find, but it killed over 1/3 of the American Indians in present-day Washington state, and tens of thousands of Mexicans. It devastated the densely-populated city of New Orleans. 80% of the Arikari tribe, and over half the Blackfeet tribe die during the epidemic.

Indian slaves in San Diego, California revolt against the Catholic Church. They burn every building in the settlement and massacre most of the Spanish population, including the head priest. But they are quickly defeated by a Spanish army.

Massive outbreaks of epidemics ravage Japan. Edo alone loses 190,000 people killed.

 

[Vince53]

We return to 1775!


Antagonized by the British, Massachusetts citizens form an illegal government that effectively controls all of the colony except Boston. Not realizing that the rebels had moved most of their supplies, a British army secretly heads out to capture the supplies.



"On the eighteenth of April in '75
(Hardly a man is now alive,
Who remembers that famous day and year)" Paul Revere becomes a legend when he rides out at night to warn the Minute Men (an illegal American militia ready to fight at a minute's notice) that the British are coming. There were other riders, but "Revere" is easy to rhyme, so he gets all the credit.


April 19, 1775 The American Revolutionary War begins. Warned the night before by Paul Revere and others, hundreds of American militia assemble at Lexington, Massachusetts, and the United States Army is formed. The two armies face each other peacefully as officers try to negotiate a settlement. An American who was not in the army fires from his house, and the battle begins, with the British winning.

As victorious British troops head towards Concord to capture American leaders, remnants of the defeated army, plus local militia, plus re-enforcements, assemble at Concord Bridge to delay the British long enough to allow the leaders to escape. The Americans spread along their side of the river, planning to fire into the British as they advance on the bridge. Once the British crossed the bridge, they would have the advantage, so volunteers were needed to stand on the British side of the bridge to help delay the crossing. America’s first Special Forces were formed on the spot.

As officers from both sides tried to reach a peaceful settlement, a British soldier fired without orders, both sides started shooting, the British charged, and..


You know the rest from the books you have read
How the British regulars fired and fled.

Because...

There the embattled farmers stood
And fired the shot heard round the world.

To the astonishment of everyone, especially themselves, the Americans won.

 

[Vince53]

We're back in 1775.

Warfare breaks out across the 13 colonies with the Battle of Bunker Hill becoming an American legend. Trying to capture Boston, the Americans realize that they cannot hold Bunker Hill, so they fortify the nearby, but useless, Breed’s Hill. Determined to defeat these upstart rebels, the British advance under murderous fire and capture the useless hill when the Americans run out of ammunition. Contrary to myth, the British did not slaughter the American defenders, who simply fled when their ammunition ran out. But heavy British losses encouraged the Americans to continue the war.


Capturing Fort Ticonderoga in Canada in a surprise attack, the Americans begin transporting captured cannon to Boston, forcing the British to abandon the city next year. Benedict Arnold shared joint command of "The Green Mountain Boys" who captured the fort.



As battles break out across the 13 colonies, the Second Continental Congress has a tough job. Forbidden to exist by the British, and authorized only to negotiate peace by the Americans, the Congress successfully leads a nation that does not yet exist. They appoint George Washington as commander of the armed forces, organize the transportation of military supplies, set up training for recruits, appoint diplomats, sign treaties, secure loans, print money, and continue to try to settle America’s grievances peacefully.

 

[Vince53]

What a year! For the fourth time, we return to 1775!

The victorious Habsburg Empire forces the tottering Ottoman Empire to give up a large piece of central Europe. Today it is part of Romania and Ukraine.

As if they don't have enough trouble, Britain goes to war against the Maratha Empire in India. Seven years later, Britain loses and returns almost all the territory they had seized.

Having claimed various South Pacific territories for Britain, James Cook returns after sailing around the world.

Claiming to have uncovered a bizarre and impossible plot to kidnap George III, British authorities arrest the leader. To this day, it is not known if American sympathizers in London set up the whole thing as a hoax.

Isolated in northwest Canada, Tseax Cone is one of the most dangerous poison gas volcanoes in the world. It has a minor eruption, but to this day is still active.

 

[Vince53]

The Spirit of '76!

July 4, 1776—The Second Continental Congress declares the United States to be independent.
Nobody is interested in the long list of grievances contained in the Declaration of Independence. But its shocking declaration that government exists only for the benefit of the people (and not vice-versa) and that the government can only govern with the consent of the people altered world history. The United States did not invent these doctrines, but did make them popular.

As battles rage across the United states, a 21 year old school teacher becomes an American legend. Captured by the British on a spy mission, Nathan Hale says something like “I only regret that I have but one life to give for my country” before being hanged.

Nathan Hale 1755-1776
An honor graduate of Yale University, Hale was a school teacher who had never seen combat. When George Washington needed a volunteer to spy on British troop movements near New York City, Hale was the only volunteer.
But the British captured New York City, forcing Washington to evacuate to the northern part of the city. Hale was recognized behind the lines, and military intelligence was found on him. He faced death calmly, giving a speech that included the last words that turned him into a legend.

After losing a series of battles, including the city of New York, Washington crosses the Delaware on Christmas night. He launches a successful surprise attack on German troops who had been drinking heavily, capturing large amounts of military supplies. His troops include soldiers, sailors, militia, volunteers, and “a few good men”—the first amphibious landing of the United States Marine Corps.

 

[Vince53]

We return to the Spirit of '76.

British historian Edward Gibbon publishes the first volume of The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire. Because it is objective and relies heavily on primary sources, this six-volume work has made Gibbons the first "modern historian." It begins with 98 AD, at the height of the Empire.

Spain builds a fort to control San Francisco, California. It was later held by Mexico and then the United States. In 1994, the US turned the entire area into a large park.

The Illuminati are founded. A secret society that sought to free people from both government and religious abuse, it was never powerful. Today various crackpot groups claim to be the Illuminati, while other crackpot groups claim that the Illuminati secretly control much of the world.

An earthquake hits Guadeloupe, a French colony in the Caribbean, killing 6,000 people. Guadeloupe is part of France today, with 406,000 citizens.

James Cook sets sail on his last voyage, heading for both the Arctic and the Pacific.

 

[Vince53]

And now it is 1777!

As large numbers of battles rage across the United States, the Continental Congress passes The Articles of Confederation, the first constitution of the United States. This unsuccessful document declares that the US is a confederation of 13 nations, and gives little power to the national government.


Shades of independence! Vermont secedes from New York and declares itself an independent nation that intends to join the United States on its own. Fourteen years later, Vermont will voluntarily become the fourteenth state.


Peter III begins his nine year reign as King of Portugal. He had married his niece, she inherited the Throne, and Portuguese law automatically made him King. He spends his reign hunting and attending church.


The Continental Congress declares "The Stars and Stripes" to be the official US flag. The thirteen stars in a blue field represent a new constellation, and different flags arranged the stars in different ways.


Morocco becomes the first nation to recognize the United States. An 1836 treaty, still in force, is the oldest US treaty that has never been broken.


Despite several major victories, the war turns against the US. After losing Philadelphia, Washington moves his army into a miserable winter at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania that becomes an American legend. This is the lowest point of the American Revolution.

 

[Vince53]

Spring arrives, US soldiers return from taking care of their families, and the war turns once again in favor of the Americans in 1778.

British explorer James Cook discovers the Hawaiian Islands. Hopelessly outnumbered by a population they cannot conquer, the British accidentally introduce disease epidemics. Hostilities break out, and Cook is killed in the fighting. But news of the islands spreads, and Hawaii’s isolation comes to an end.

Thai Duc beings his successful fifteen year reign as Emperor of Vietnam. He will expel both Siamese and Chinese invaders, put down civil wars, and reconquer areas of Vietnam that had become small, independent kingdoms.
France enters the American Revolutionary War on the side of the United States.

Mary Hayes, nicknamed “Molly,” was the wife of the commander of an American cannon at the Battle of Monmouth. All the cannons required a lot of water to cool the barrels and swab the insides, and Mary spent the day under heavy British fire, carrying water to the cannon crews. When a crew that needed water saw her, they would yell “Molly! Pitcher!” When her husband was wounded, Mary assumed command of the cannon, successfully holding their position. The next day, the British retreated, and “Molly Pitcher” is now a beloved American legend.

 

[Vince53]

And now it is 1779!

Ching-Thang Khomba begins his legendary 20 year reign over the Manipuri Empire in northeast India. He managed to re-seize his kingdom after his father had been dethroned, and with strong British help, he was able to hold off invaders. He gave the British one village and unified the rest of his empire. An extremely devout Hindu, he created a secure, stable nation where art flourished.

Spain declares war on Britain.

The US Army captures Stony Point, New York in a surprise attack so unorthodox that their leader, "Mad Anthony" Wayne gets a permanent nickname.

"Plant of Saint George" begins 21 years of often-interrupted reign over Ethiopia. The government keeps imprisoning and then restoring him as rivals seek the Throne.

A 44 ship US Navy, accompanied by over 1,000 ground troops and a massive artillery unit, attack smaller British forces in Maine. In one of history's greatest naval victories, the British sink or capture every American ship without a single loss.

In Britain, the first cast-iron bridge is built.

 

[Vince53]

Welcome to 1780



A shipwrecked Japanese fishing boat releases rats into the western Aleutian Islands of Alaska. The Rat Islands are uninhabited due to heavy earthquake activity, but in 2009, the US killed the last rat. The rats had almost destroyed the nesting bird populations when the US took massive but careful measures to kill the rats without killing off the birds. The most successful method was to drop rat poison that birds would normally not eat. It worked, but large numbers of birds, including 46 bald eagles, were killed in the process. However, the bird population of the islands has increased significantly since then.

Spain hates the United States, but it takes advantage of the Revolutionary War to invade Alabama. And tied down with the American Revolution, Britain cannot stop Mexico from invading and re-seizing Florida. Neither one is part of the United States at this time.


In a move we have never seized to regret, the United States hangs British hero John Andre when he is captured on a spy mission. A brilliant American general, who had actually saved the American cause, is revealed as a traitor and flees to the British.

1741-1801
A merchant captain who advanced quickly through the ranks of the US Army, he distinguished himself by both courage and brilliance. The consensus of American military historians is that he was a better general than George Washington, but his arrogant personality made his men mistrustful of him. In a volunteer army that could not prevent soldiers from leaving at will, it was Washington’s ability to motivate men that kept the traitor out of the top position.

Falsely accused of corruption, he had actually gone heavily into debt financing the American cause. Passed over for promotion when others claimed credit for his victories, he decided to change sides.

As commander of West Point, upriver from British-held New York City, he agreed to betray his country to Major John Andre for $1.1 million (2008 equivalent). But when Americans forced British forces to pull back, Andre was trapped in West Point. He attempted to reach British forces disguised as a civilian, and was captured. The traitor fled to the British in time.

As a British general, he conducted successful military actions against the US, and returned to Britain after the war. Contrary to American myth, he was well-treated by the British, and he resumed business as a successful merchant.


American memorials record his deeds but not his name. One memorial features only his boot, where he had been shot and severely wounded. The West Point Military Academy has a memorial to every Revolutionary War general, But his memorial has no statue or name, listing only his dates and deeds.

 

[Vince53]

We return to 1780

John Andre 1750-1780



An accomplished man and gallant officer." George Washington


A popular British officer who had been born a Huguenot, Andre was well-liked by both Americans and British. Captured in Canada by the French, he had been released in a prisoner exchange. Fluent in four languages, he handled much British military correspondence.


In Philadelphia, he was assigned to live in Benjamin Franklin’s house, and when the British had to evacuate, he took some valuable items. Over a century later, his descendents would return a valuable oil portrait of Franklin.


As head of British intelligence, he negotiated the betrayal of West Point for $1.1 million (2008 value) with the American commander. A valuable fort on the Hudson River, north of New york City, the loss of West Point would have cut New England off from the rest of the US.


Attempting to return to British lines disguised as a civilian while carrying military information, he was captured. The local American commander sent a notice to West Point of the capture, not realizing that it's commander was a traitor. The traitor fled West Point one hour before George Washington arrived.


The British attempted to negotiate Andre's release, but refused an offer to trade him for the traitor.


Andre conducted himself nobly during his trial, where he was sentenced to be hanged. Four years earlier, the British had hanged Nathan Hale, and Washington, possibly in tears, refused to overturn the verdict. Nothing George Washington ever did has earned him as much criticism, but leniency would have been taken as a sign of weakness by both the Americans and the British.


John Andre is buried in Hero’s Corner in Westminster Abbey, under a monument of Britannia weeping. A century later, a grieved United States would erect a monument in his honor in the United States.

 

[Vince53]

We return to 1780

A combination of forest fires, fog, and thick clouds cover parts of New England and southern Canada with a thirty-six hour darkness. No Biblical prophecies are fulfilled, however.

French troops and ships begin arriving to support the faltering American war effort.

Russia forms the League of Armed Neutrality with eight other nations in order to protect their merchant ships from British interference. Britain had been searching and sometimes seizing neutral ships trading with the US.

Leading a combined British and Loyalist American army, British General Tarlton allows his men to massacre about 350 American soldiers after they surrendered. "Tarlton's Quarter" becomes an expression for furious fighting without restraint, as both sides begin killing prisoners.

With the Netherlands now in the war against them, British forces are so thin that Parliament repeals many anti-Catholic laws, allowing Catholics to join the military. At the same time, Parliament refuses to extend the right to vote to all men. With economic hardship causing much suffering, rioting breaks out as 60,000 citizens attack Parliament. Over a period of days, the British Army kills 285 rioters and wounds another 200. However, no one attacks Catholic neighborhoods, with most of the rioting directed against the government and wealthy neighborhoods.

A Caribbean hurricane kills 22,000 people.

The Holy Roman Emperor inherits the Habsburg (Austrian) Empire when his mother dies.

 

[Vince53]

And today is 1781! (Happy Easter, in 2015!)

Britain suffers a massive defeat to a combined French and American army, surrendering 8,000 soldiers and sailors at Yorktown, Virgina. George Washington personally swears to treat the prisoners well, and he keeps his word. As the defeated British troops march out to surrender their weapons, their band plays "The World Turned Upside-Down. "Small battles continue, but the United States has effectively won the war.


The planet Uranus is discovered.


Spain quickly defeats a revolt in Columbia, but the citizens continue to want democracy.


44 Spanish settlers found Los Angeles, California. Today's population is almost 4 million.

 

[Vince53]

So what's new in 1782?

Upset because the largest encyclopedia in the world had been written three and a half centuries earlier by a previous Chinese dynasty, the Emperor of China hires hundreds of scholars to compile “The Complete Collection of Four.” It is still the largest Chinese book ever written.


Wanting to retaliate for the deaths of several Pennsylvania residents killed by Indians, Pennsylvania militia travel west to Ohio and massacre 96 peaceful Christian Indians at a Moravian mission.

Backed by local chiefs, a Hawaiian religious leader seizes control of Hawaii (the largest of the Hawaiian Islands). It will take about four decades, but Kamehameha the Great will eventually conquer the entire island chain, uniting the islands for the first time. By purchasing firearms and cannon from American and British traders, Kamehameha the Great will maintain control and keep Hawaii independent of foreign colonizers.

Among his many great accomplishments, Kamehameha the Great banned the killing of women, children, and old men during war, helping to create a moral code that still exists.


A major famine begins in Japan.

 

[Vince53]

We're back in 1782.

Spain retakes Minorca, an island east of Spain in the Mediterranean, and holds it to this day. Its current population is over 93,000.

Ethiopia is going through a bad time, but it defeats a revolt by its Oromo minority.

Rama I, a successful general, seizes the throne of Siam (now Thailand). The greatest success of his 27 year reign is his victory over Burma, ending all major attempts by Burma to conquer Siam. He held to the strange belief that he should rigidly purify Buddhism of all corruption, while allowing Catholic missionaries to return and convert thousands of Siamese.

After an unsuccessful affair with her married employer, Anna Goldi is decapitated after an illegal trial condemns her for witchcraft and attempted murder. She had confessed to witchcraft under torture but withdrew her confession when the torture ended. She is the last person to be executed for witchcraft by a European government.

The US chooses the bald eagle as its national emblem. No, it isn't bald--it is "piebald," consisting of different colors. (Okay, it doesn't have any hair, but neither do any other birds).

French scientists fly the first manned hot air balloon 1.2 miles high.

 

[Vince53]

1783 is a really, really rough year.

For eight months, the Laki Volcano in southern Iceland will pour billions of tons of poison gas into the atmosphere. It will kill half the livestock in Iceland, which, combined with the gas, will kill ¼ of the population. Europe will have massive crop failures, while India will suffer a drought.

Five major earthquakes strike the southern "toe" of the Italian peninsula, leaving about 50,000 dead.

The 1783 Great Meteor strikes terror into Britain and France. Streaking south, it begins in Britain, travels through France, and breaks apart over northern Italy, causing no harm. Its fiery trip through the upper atmosphere lasts about thirty seconds.

A "very strong" earthquake hits New Jersey, causing moderate damage. George Washington sleeps through it.

And in Japan, Mount Asama erupts on Japan’s biggest island. After fifteen hours of massive gas and lava flows, the volcano continues to pour gas and dust into the atmosphere for another three months. Having already used up their food reserves due to the existing famine, the Japanese could not provide for the massive loss of agricultural land. The eruptions kill about 1,400 people, with another 20,000 dying from the famine.

 

[Vince53]

We're back in 1783.

Britain hemms and haws. They grudgingly admit that the US is independent. They even sign a few minor treaties. They make peace with Spain and France (who realize that large numbers of British military are now free to fight them if they don't). And on September 3, 1783, Great Britain formally acknowledges that a new constellation has appeared--it has thirteen stars, and thirteen stripes.

And now a little perspective. The loss of the United States is not the great British disaster that modern British think it is. Britain is located about as far north as the northern US, giving it a shorter growing season. With a heavy populations, Britain must import food, and the US would have been a steady source. Canada is too far north to provide all of the Empire's food.

With lots of open space and better weather, the US would have attracted immigrants and would eventually have a bigger population that England. The outnumbered English could have ruled in three ways:

1) Brutality-that's how Spain, the Netherlands, France, Japan, and Germany lost their empires. Britain lost its African and Asian empires the same way.

2) Kindness--but then the colonist would keep demanding more. That's how Portugal lost Brazil, and how Britain lost Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.

3) Equality--it worked for Rome and the US. Most of America's nineteenth century empire voluntarily became states and are fully equal. But Rome and the US (until the 1950's) were one continuous land mass. Once the majority of Britain lived in North America, voters would have spent more money on American interests while neglecting European interests.

In other words, American independence was inevitable.

 

[Vince53]

It's awfully cold in 1784!

The Laki Volcano in Iceland gives North America its longest winter on record, although not quite the coldest. The Mississippi River actually freezes over, New Jersey receives its heaviest snow fall ever recorded, Chesapeake Bay freezes over, the southeast is covered with heavy snow, and even part of the Gulf of Mexico freezes.


A defeated Ottoman Empire accepts Russia's seizure of Crimea. Why does this isolated peninsula cause so many wars? Actually, it's a large island in the northern Black Sea that is connected to modern Russia by a narrow strip of land. Russia has a massive shortage of ports that don't freeze up during the winter, and Crimea has an excellent port. The Black Sea then gives Russia access to the Mediterranean and then the Atlantic.


John Wesley brings the Methodist Church to the US. Actually, Methodists were pious Anglicans, and Wesley opposed separation. But after the death of this great preacher, the Methodists broke away. But in the US, where the Anglican Church was unpopular, Methodists separate that very year, and are now the third largest US religion.



What? You've never heard of the Queen's Diamond Necklace Affair? The King of France had ordered the most expensive diamond necklace in history for his mistress, but he died just as it was finished. The various jewelers were nearly bankrupt, and they tried to get the new Queen, Marie Antoinette, to buy it. She refused, and a prostitute who resembled her got involved with a Catholic Cardinal, bilking him of money and finally fleeing to Britain. Although she was innocent, Marie Antoinette gained an undeserved bad reputation that helped turn public opinion against the monarchy.


300,000 Japanese die from famine.


Benjamin Franklin invents bifocals.


South Africa is hit by a massive locust swarm.

 

[Vince53]

It's 1785, and...

After winning a series of victories, an invading 50,000 man Siamese force, including 300 warships, agrees to peace talks with the Vietnamese. Violating the truce, Vietnam attacks the Siamese with artillery, destroys all 300 warships, and kills at least 94% of the invaders.


A manned hydrogen balloon crosses the English Channel. But shortly afterwards, a hydrogen balloon crashes in Ireland, burning 100 houses, in the first aviation disaster. And, five weeks later, the two-man crew of another hydrogen balloon are killed in a crash.


And Napoleon Bonaparte is commissioned as a lieutenant in the French artillery.

 

[Vince53]

It's 1786!

The US passes “The Northwest Ordinance,” requiring fair treatment of the Indians.

Shay’s Rebellion, an unsuccessful rebellion against corruption in the Massachusetts government, as well as unfair treatment of poor farmers, stirs the US to realize that the federal government is too weak to handle major problems.


An earthquake causes a massive landslide, which causes a massive flood in China, killing about 100,000 people.


Britain begins using Australia as a giant prison.


The last wild wolf in Ireland is killed.