Top 10 People of the Modern Period

Matthew Perry (1749-1858)

Commodore Perry was the head of an expedition that forced Japan to enter trade in 1853 and become open to diplomatic relations with the west after their isolation for over 2 centuries.

I think he deserves this spot because he did get the Japanese to open up and trade with the world.

10

J. Hargreaves (1720-1778)

He was an English inventor and industrialist. He had created the 'Spinning Jenny' which quickened up the pace for the production of cotton

This helped with the industrial revolution even though people feared that it would take their jobs away.

9

Simon Bolivar (1783-1830)

Simon Bolivar became the most powerful leader in South America, nicknamed “El Libertador" for helping nations become independent from Spain.

He helped his people through the Revolution and lead victorious and apart from their mother country.

8

L'Ouverture (1743-1803)

L'ouverture led a successful slave revolt and emancipated the slaves in the French colony of Saint-Domingue.

He deserves this spot because he led the island of Saint Domingue to freedom and led the first successful slave revolt ever, breaking away from Napoleon/The French forces.

7

Charles Darwin (1809-1882)

6

Darwin was an English naturalist whose scientific theory of evolution by natural selection became the foundation of modern evolutionary studies. Also a cause of "Social Darwinism"

He contributed to many scientific theories and things that are still used today in the field of science.

Cecil Rhodes (1853-1902)

Cecil Rhodes was an imperialist, businessman and politician who played a role in southern Africa. He founded the De Beers diamond firm which until recently controlled the global trade. He also connected a telegraph line from Africa to Europe.

He deserves this spot because of his findings/founded the De Beers diamond company which stands and runs today.

5

Robespierre (1758-1794)

Maximilien Robespierre was a radical democrat an important figure in the French Revolution of 1789. He also was like the main cause of the Great Terror because he kept beheading people who didnt agree with what he wanted.

He deserves this spot because of his commitment to a revolution (even though he had a bunch of people exicuted) in the end he was a subject of his own creation.

4

George Washington (1732-1799)

George Washington is called the “Father of His Country.” He not only served as the first president of the United States, but he also commanded the Continental Army during the American Revolution.

He deserves this spot because led the American People out of control of the British, helping the nation reach their independence.

3

Napoleon Bonaparte (1769-1821)

Napoleon was a French military general and statesman. Napoleon played a key part in the French Revolution, served as first consul of France, and was the first emperor of France, he expanded this control almost all over Europe, his downfall was that he tried to get to big and it backfired on him.

He gets this spot because of his part in the French Revolution and that what he did led to the Hatian Revolution.

2

Karl Marx (1818-1883)

Karl Marx was a German philosopher during the 1800s. He worked in political philosophy and was a famous advocate for communism. He cowrote The Communist Manifesto and was the author of Das Kapital, which together formed the basis of Marxism.

He is on the top because he helped give insight to political philosophy and his definining of communism and the creation of Marxism.

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