Revolutions

American

French

Industrial

THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION

Britain at Mid-CenturyRise to Global PowerMany colonies all over the worldWon many European conflictsGood for businessesFew trade restrictionsMerged with ScotlandKing George III

Growth of Constitutional Government

Constitutional Monarchy – government whose power is defined and limited by law

British constitution is many documents Magna Carta & Bill of Rights

Political Parties Tories – landed aristocrats, wanted old ways Whigs – supported Glorious Revolution,

tolerance

Cabinet System Cabinet – parliamentary

advisors to the King Gained status as leaders

Prime Minister Head of Cabinet Leader of the majority party

in parliament

Politics and SocietyPeaceful timeOligarchy – Government in which the ruling

power belongs to a few peopleNobles: “natural” ruling classMost poorMiddle class grew as merchants or

manufacturers

King George III Reasserts Royal Power

1760 began 60 year reignWanted to be a real King – no parliamentPut his friends in ParliamentThought that Americans should have to pay

for defenseBritain losing the colonies discredited the kingWent crazyCabinet power was restored

The 13 ColoniesBy 1750, 13

prosperous colonies

Britain regulated trade but not enforced

Smuggling was common

Seen as place free of persecution

Growing Discontent

1763- Relationship between colonies and Britain strained

Brits were running out of money (war)

Saw colonies as way to make money

Taxation without representation

Early ClashesBoston Massacre – 5 killedBoston Tea Party – protest tea taxColonial reps gathered in PhiladelphiaCalled: Continental Congress “The Founding Fathers”

Declaring IndependenceWashington and Continental ArmyApril 1775 – War startsBrits did well at first2nd Continental Congress voted to be freeJefferson wrote Declaration of

IndependencePopular Sovereignty – all gov.

power comes from the peopleList of grievancesJuly 4th, 1776 – adopted Declaration

The American RevolutionLoyalists – people in the colonies who

supported BritainCC had little money to pay soldiersUS advantage = fighting on own landBrits allied with IndiansFreedom to any slave willing to fight for

Britain

French AllianceFrance was impressed with AmericansSend supplies: ships and soldiers

Treaty of ParisBritish army was surrounded at YorktownCornwallis surrenders to Washington1783 – recognized independence of the

United States

A New ConstitutionNew Gov: Articles of ConfederationToo weakPhiladelphia 1787 – FF got together againWrote ConstitutionFederal Republic – power divided between

federal and state governmentsFirst 10 Amendments – Bill of Rights1789 – became lawNot all were included in “We the People”

The French Revolution

The Old Regime

The Clergy Known as the first estate Held a lot of privilege and

power Owned much land, collected

taxes, paid nothing Provided some social services

The NoblesKnown as the second estateNobility had gone down but still existedDidn’t have as much money as most

thoughtHated absolutism and royal

bureaucracyFeared the loss of their status

The Third Estate27 Million people – Middle class and

poorBourgeoisie – Middle classVery diverse groupResented other two estatesDiscontent and wanted change

Economic TroublesDeficit Spending – A government

spending more money than it takes inKing Louis XIV left France in deep debt

from wars and personal spendingPoor harvests left people hungry and

poor

Failure of ReformHeirs of Louis XIV weren’t good at

reformAdvisors tried to get king to tax 1st and

2nd estatesEstates General Called

First time in 175 years Nobles wanted to bring monarch under

control

Estates General – The CahiersLouis had each estate prepare a list of

their grievancesEach group of people had very specific

dislikes

Tennis Court OathMost from 3rd Estate were middle classWanted reform for their levelVoting system was biggest concern3rd estate broke off and created own

assemblyFound meeting hall locked and guarded –

moved to Tennis courtsReformers from 1st and 2nd estates joined

Storming the BastilleJuly 14th, 1789 Paris

streets were full of people

Went to Bastille to get guns and ammo

Gate didn’t open, riot started

Many killedBeginning of French

Revolution

Revolts in Paris The Great Fear – rumors of attacksFear and famine caused violent attacksParis in constant turmoilFactions – small groupsFactions roamed streets trying to gain

power

Moderate ReformsFeudalism was abolished – equality for

citizensMade declaration of rights of manMen were free and had natural rights “Liberty, Equality, Fraternity”

Women Storm VersaillesOctober 5th – Women march to

Versailles yelling “Bread”Angry at Marie Antoinette for

extravaganceWanted King in Paris, wouldn’t leave till

he agreedKing, Marie, son taken to Paris next day

and held prisoner for 3 years

Reorganization and ReformAssembly put French Catholic Church

under state controlMany clergy refused to recognize thisConstitution of 1791 set up limited

monarchyGovernment made more efficient

Political ReformsAll male citizens equalLimited power of monarchEstablish legislative assembly to make

lawsGranted all tax paying males right to

elect representatives

Social and Economic ReformsAbolished privileges of

nobilityEnded feudalismTaxed according to ability

to payForbade guilds and unionsCompensated nobles for

land taken by peasants

Religious ReformsFreedom of ReligionTook over and sold church landsPlaced church under state controlClergy must be elected and government

employees

Louis’ Failed FlightKing, Queen, and son

tried to escapeDressed as servant,

governess, and the childCaught and returned to

Paris

Reaction Outside of FranceWidespread fear from stories told by

émigrés Émigrés – people who fled FranceOther Rulers condemned, vowed to

protect FranceFrench began fighting themselvesRadical moved fight to battlefields

Radical DaysViolent outbreaks Radicals took controlSuffrage – Right to voteSuffrage for all male citizensNew constitution set up a RepublicKing put on trial as traitor, convictedBeheaded January 1793Marie Antoinette beheaded in October

Convention Defends the Republic At War on all fronts Committee of Public Safety made to save

the Revolution All citizens required to help the war effort

Robespierre Lawyer and Politician “Incorruptible” and a tyrant Chief leader of Reign of Terror

Reign of TerrorJuly 1793 to July 1794Hasty trials and many death sentences40,000 people died, mostly peasantsFalse accusations or mistaken identityConvention turned on CommitteeRobespierre was beheaded

Reaction and the DirectorySet up a new, more moderate

ConstitutionFive man directory, two house legislatorDirectory in power for four yearsPeople grew discontent againLooking for someone to lead

Napoleon Bonaparte Born in Corsica Trained early in

military Rose as an officer in

the military Had several

successes, fueled his ambition

Moved from general to political leader

NapoleonOverthrew the government and took title

of Consul for lifeTwo years later became EmperorEvery time moved up, held a votePlebiscite – ballot in which voters say

yes or no

France Under NapoleonReforms

Controlled prices, encouraged industry Made peace with Catholic Church All classes of people liked him

Napoleonic Code New code of laws Based on law, tolerance, advancement

based on merit

Building an Empire

The Grand Empire Annexed – Added Took over and ruled by force Put friends and relatives on thrones

of Europe Made allies with other rulers

France vs. BritainHeld off Napoleon with sea powerSet up blockadeBlockade – shutting off ports or supplies

from movingScarcity of goods made prices in

France risePeople got upset

NationalismPeople saw

him as foreign oppressors

Nationalism lead to revolts

Resistence in SpainBrother, Joseph

Bonaparte was King of Spain

People were loyal to former king

Guerrilla warfare – hit and run raids

Kept lots of French soldiers occupied.

War with AustriaSpanish resistance

encouraged Austrians

Beat them several times

Divorced his wife to marry Austrian princess to claim lands

Defeat in RussiaRussians were not happy with Napoleon1812- 40,000 French invade RussiaRussians retreated, burning everything

“Scorched Earth”Napoleon couldn’t

feed troops, turned around

1000 mile retreat killed many

Downfall of NapoleonExile and Return

Abdicated – Stepped down from power Exiled to Elba – island in Mediterranean Louis XVIII became King Accepted some of things from Revolution Many people got upset and wanted revenge Napoleon escaped and returned to France March 1815 – Napoleon returns and Louis

flees

Battle of WaterlooOnly in power for 100 daysBritish and Prussian forces crushed the

FrenchDefeated – forced to abdicate and

exiled again

Legacy of NapoleonRevolutionist or Terrorist?Consolidated governmentCitizens had more rightsSpread the idea of RevolutionSparked Nationalist feelings across

EuropeSold Louisiana Territory to America

Congress of ViennaGathering of Leaders

Met for 10 months Leaders of Europe

Austria, Russia, Britain, France

Goals of the CongressGoal to create lasting peaceEach person wanted own goals too

Balance of PowerRedrew map of EuropeTried to contain France

Restoration of MonarchyLegitimacy – restoring hereditary

monarchies that had been unseatedRestored Portugal, Spain, and Italy

Problems with PeaceQuadruple AllianceNations pledged to act together to

maintain peaceDidn’t take in to account nationalism

or cultures

Looking AheadMostly peaceful for next 100 yearsFrench Revolution would inspire people

for years to comeNationalism is a powerful force

Industrial Revolution

A Turning Point in History1750 – Land worked by handmade toolsSimple living Industrial revolution changed the way

work was doneMany scientific firsts and inventionsMachine made goods

Methods of FarmingBetter use of land, bigger fields, fertilizerCrop rotationJethro Tull created seed drillKing George III – “Farmer George”

Enclosure MethodRich landowners fenced off their landCreated pastures for sheep and

livestockLarger fields = less workers and more

outputJobless farm workers moved to the cityBecame labor for machinery

Population ExplosionMore food = more people5 million in 1700 to 9 million in 1800

An Energy RevolutionOld way – most energy came from

peopleWater mills and wind millsCoal used to make steam energyEngines developed

Improved IronCoal used to smelt ironSmelt – separate iron from its oreBetter quality and less expensive iron

Why Britain??Resources

Small nation but large natural resources Plentiful iron Large labor population

New Technology Many skilled mechanics High demand for technology

Economic Conditions Trade from overseas helped economy

prosper Started from slave trade – business class

grew Capital – wealth to invest in enterprise Population explosion created demand for

goods

Political and Social Conditions

Stable government supported economic growth

Strong navy protected trade and empire

People concerned about worldly rather than afterlife

Changes in the Textile IndustryMajor Inventions

Production was slow Demand for cloth grew John Kay’s flying shuttle Spinning Jenny – spun many threads at

same time

First Factories

Machines couldn’t be used at home Developed to house machines and workers Machines powered by steam engines

Revolution in Transportation

On Land Turnpikes – privately built roads Steam locomotives First major rail line in England Didn’t have to follow rivers

On Sea Used steam to power boats 1st steam boat broke speed record – 5mph Big steam power freighters with iron hulls

New Industrial CityUrbanization – movement of people to

citiesSoaring populations and demand for

workers led to bigger citiesRich and middle class lived in pleasant

neighborhoodsTenements – multistory buildings

divided into crowded apartmentsPoor sanitation lead to disease

Factory SystemRigid Discipline

Rigid schedules set by whistles Shifts were 12 to 16 hours Exhausted people suffered accidents Machines didn’t have safety devices Lost fingers, limbs, lives If sick, lost job

Women workersWomen were hired more than menAdaptable to machines and easier to

manageCould pay women lessWomen were taken out of the homeWent home to clean, cook and raise

kids

Child labor

Small fingers and quick moving children

Child made money for the family

Orphans often hired, slaves to machinesBeaten if not workingHurt their growth, ruined limbsLaws made to regulate child labor

Working ClassProtests

Workers resisted machines Riots against places that fired them Protesters met harsh repression Riots broken up by soldiers Strikes were outlawed

Spread of Methodism Comfort found in new religion John Wesley’s Methodist church Stressed personal faith Channeled anger from revolution to reform

The New Middle ClassThose who benefited most

were those who put it in motion

Merchants, inventors and artisans

“Rags to Riches”Valued hard work and

determination

Benefits and ProblemsSaw revolution as blessing and curseWorkers organized in to Labor UnionWon the right to bargainMass produced goods grew wealth Industrialization spread around the

world

Laissez-Faire EconomicsLegacy of Adam Smith

“Hands off” approach Wealth of Nations Free market helps everyone Government didn’t interfere

Malthus on PopulationPredicted the population would outgrow

food supplyPoor would sufferHowever population grew, food supply

grew tooPeople had fewer children

Ricardo on WagesPoor had too many childrenHigh wages = more childrenMore laborers = lower wagesBest cure for poverty was free marketPeople could pull themselves up

The Utilitarian'sUtilitarianism – goal of society should be

greatest happiness for greatest numberAction are right if they promote

happiness, wrong if they cause pain Middle class didn’t likeDemocratic governments use these

ideas to make laws

Emergence of SocialismSome wanted society focused onCondemned evils of capitalismSocialism – society rather than an

individual would own the means of production (farms, factories, railways)

Wanted Society to operate to benefit itself

The Utopians Early socialist tried to build self-

sufficient communitiesAll work and property was owned by allRich and poor was gone Impractical dreamers

The “Scientific Socialism” of Karl Marx

Condemned Utopians but built new theory

Wrote “Communist Manifesto”

Communism – form of socialist that sees class struggle between employers and employees as unavoidable

MarxismEconomics is the driving force of historyThe “Haves” always control society and

its wealthThe “have-nots” were the proletariatProletariat – Working ClassWould always be a struggle Proletariat would triumph and create a

class-less system

Looking aheadFailures

Marxism fell often Government improved conditions for workers

so they didn’t revolt People were more nationalist than tied to

classRevolutions

Russia embraced Marxism Revolutionist set up communist government Many nations started in communism went to

capitalism Now almost all governments are free-market