H R B S G l o b a l H i s t o r y R e p e a t e r - M r. O b e r h a u sU n i t 5 Se c t i o n 2 - Po l i t i c a l R e v o l u t i o n s

Aim: How did political revolutions

change global history?

Big Ideas

Revolutions brought change to Europe and the Americas in the 1700s and 1800s.

People in Great Britain’s 13 colonies applied Enlightened ideas to the fight for independence from Great Britain.

French Revolutionaries rebelled against absolute monarchy and reformed the French social order.

Napoleon spread democratic ideals and nationalism across Europe.

The revolutionary spirit brought independence to Latin American nations.

Influences of the American Revolution

Magna Carta- Limits Kings power. Led to the American belief of “No Taxation Without Representation”.

English Bill of Rights- Led to American Bill of Rights Thinkers- Locke, Montesquieu, Hobbes, Rousseau Thomas Paine’s “Common Sense” (1776)- Argued

that American’s should not be ruled by a distant King and that “Natural Laws” dictate their independence

Declaration of Independence- Written by Thomas Jefferson; called for “Life, Liberty, Pursuit of Happiness”. This document justified the need to break away from Great Britain.

United States Constitution

Social Contract: The US Constitution set up a government by contract. The government was established by the consent of the people. The Constitution starts with “We the people of the United of America…”

Separation of Powers: As per ideas by Montesquieu the US government was divided into three branches

Protection of Rights: The Bill of Rights offers citizens many rights not afforded to many other people around the world

Impact of the American Revolution

The United States stood as a symbol of freedom to both Europe and Latin America

The United States Constitution created the most liberal government of its time. Other nations would copy the ideas in this document

The success of the American Revolution would inspire major global changes as other people challenged the authority of their leaders

The French Revolution

Many injustices existed in France. Political, social, economic, and intellectual problems exploded in 1789.

Absolute Monarch: France was ruled by an Absolute Monarch (absolute control)

Social Inequality: There were three Estates in France. The Clergy belonged to the first estate and the nobles belonged to the second estate. Everyone else (98% of the population) belonged to the third estate. The paid the taxes to run the country and had few rights and privileges.

Economic Injustice: The government was spending more money than it was making. So they taxed the third estate more to make up the difference. A bad farming season in 1789 caused a food shortage.

Enlightenment: Fueled those who were critical of the French Monarchy.

American Revolution: Inspired those in France to rebel against their King. Ironically, the French government aided the American’s against their arch enemy the British.

King Louis XVI: As tensions rose he called the three estates together; known as the Estates General they were not able to compromise and the revolution began in 1789.

Stages of the French Revolution

National Assembly: The third estate declared themselves to be the national assembly and vowed to write a constitution

Seizure of the Bastille: The third estate attacked the Bastille prison on July 14, 1789. Fighting broke out between the estates

Moderates in Power: The King in fear of his life and throne allowed the National Assembly to institute some reforms

Declaration of the Rights of Man: The National Assembly abolished all special rights and privileges and wrote this document Written in 1789 Modeled after the US Declaration of

Independence All men have natural rights The job of government is to protect the rights of

people All males are equal Freedom of religion People would be taxed according to means to

pay

Limited Monarchy: 1791, the National Assembly for a new constitution. It defined the role and purpose of governments: It set up a limited monarchy and representative assembly It declared that people had natural rights and that the

role of government is to protect those rights It put the Church under state control

Rulers across Europe feared what happened in America and France. Some vowed to use military action against the new French government. The National Assembly declared war on Austria, Prussia, and Great Britain.

Radicals Come to Power

Slogan: “Life, Equality, Fraternity”. 1793, French King executed beginning the

“Reign of Terror led by Maximilien Robespierre. Thousands would be executed during this time period.

1795- Napoleon Bonaparte rises to power and ends the “Reign of Terror”

Napoleon Bonaparte

Launched a coup d’etat against the “Five Man Directory” and seized power. In 1802, he name himself “Emperor of the French”. The French people who were looking for peace supported him.

Achievements: Controlled prices Built new industry Built roads and canals Reformed education Established new legal system- “Napoleonic Code”

Napoleon’s Fall

In 1812, Napoleon invaded Russia. The Russian’s used the “Scorched Earth Policy” to prevent Napoleon from making use of captured land. Most of Napoleon’s army died of starvation and cold.

In 1814, Russia, Great Britain, Austria, and Prussia joined forces to defeat Napoleon and send him into “Exile”. He came back in 1815; and Great Britain and Prussia defeated him and he was once again put into exile on a remote island for the remainder of his life.

Effects of the French Revolution

Democratic Ideals Nationalism Unification of Italy and Germany Weakening of Spain Rise of Latin American Independence

Latin American Independence Movements

Toussaint L’Ouverture: A self education Haitian slave, Toussaint worked to overthrow the French in Haiti. He led a war against Napoleon’s army and won. Haiti became free in 1820.

Simon Bolivar: Fought to rid Latin America from the control of the Spanish. He became known as the “Liberator”. He freed Venezuela, New Granada (Columbia), Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia. With Jose de San Martin, he also freed Argentina and Chile.