American and French Revolutions“Liberte, Egalite, Fraternite”

Quick American Revolution Based on Enlightenment beliefs, Rousseau, Locke, Montesquieu Colonies resented paying taxes without a representative in Parliament British imposed higher taxes after the French and Indian (Seven Years’)

War British also restricted colonial movement west as a result

Colonies Revolt 1776, Declaration of Independence,

Thomas Jefferson (based on John Locke), “Life, Liberty, and Pursuit of Happiness”

With aid of French, the Americans are successful by 1781

Articles of Confederation too weak 1789 New Constitution by James

Madison: checks and balances and separation of powers (based on Baron de Montesquieu)

Bill of Rights added individual freedoms

French Revolution1789

Causes Political

Absolute monarch Ministers selected by favoritism Censorship Imprisoned enemies without trial, charges, bail,

jury People no say in government

Social & Economic Causes Social

Three distinct classes (Estates) First Estate: Clergy Second Estate: Nobility Third Estate: Everybody

else (bourgeoisie, workers, peasants)

First and Second estates: 3% of population, owned

most of land Exempted from most taxes Special treatment from law

Third estate bore almost entire tax burden

Influence of English and American Revolutions

English Two countries geographically close Many English had taken refuge in France French Enlightenment philosophers praised the

English Parliamentary system American

French fought for Americans Brought back Revolutionary ideas

King Louis XVI 1774-1792 No charisma, small

minded Queen Marie

Antoinette very unpopular, vain, frivolous, and a foreigner from Austria

Immediate Causes Louis XVI bankrupted France by court

extravagance and war Summoned the Estates-General (French

Legislature) Hadn’t been summoned in 175 years (because he

summoned them it made him seem weak) Each estate was represented and got 1 vote each,

the First and Second estates always outvoted the Third

Revolution Begins Third Estate demanded the Estates General be turned into a National

Assembly with each member having one vote (1st: 300, 2nd: 300, 3rd: 600) King Rejected idea Third Estate

Declares itself the National Assembly Tennis Court Oath: pledged to provide France with a constitution

Storming of the BastilleJuly 14, 1789 Rumor that king sent

troops to disband National Assembly

Paris mob stormed Bastille, prison holding political prisoners and symbol of Old Regime

Actually released no political prisoners, but 154 Mental patients

Anniversary is French Independence Day

Work of the National Assembly1789-1791

Abolition of special privileges by 1st and 2nd estate

Declaration of the Rights of Man Liberty, property, resistance to oppression All citizens should have a voice in

government All equal before law Freedom of speech, press, religion

Based on Declaration of Independence Church lands broken up and sold to ease

financial problems Took power from Catholic Church Constitution of 1791

Limited monarch’s power, made a Legislative Assembly

Limited Monarch 1791-1792Favored by bourgeoisie and peasants

Favoring a RepublicFavoring a Republic Girondists: moderate

bourgeoisie, wanted Republic similar to US

Jacobins: Radical city workers, paid no taxed; therefore had no voice in government Wanted republic run by poor Opposed king and

bourgeoisie

Favoring the Old RegimeFavoring the Old Regime Louis XVI Devout Catholics French Nobles Foreign Monarchs: feared

that their own people would revolt

National Convention (1792-1795) French Legislature deposed

king and set up a new Government called the National Convention

National Convention proclaims France a republic First French Republic

National Convention tried Louis XVI for treason and sentenced him to beheading by the guillotine

Reign of Terror Jacobins seize control of the

National Convention; set up Committee of Public Safety led by Robespierre

Reign of Terror instituted to protect revolution from “domestic” enemies

Arrested everyone suspected of treason

Sentenced thousands to death by guillotine, no matter how small or far-fetched the evidence

Eventually people ridded themselves of the Committee for Public Safety and Robespierre was killed on the guillotine

Democratic Ideals of the Revolution Liberte: freedom for all

and a voice in government

Egalite: equal treatment before law, society, and business

Fraternite: brotherhood of all persons

"Unity, indivisibility of the Republic; liberty, equality or death".

Results: Emphasis on Nationalism Influenced people throughout the world

Western Europe Latin America Asia Africa