THE AMERICAN AND FRENCH REVOLUTIONS

The causes of, key people in , and common outcomes of Revolutionary activities.

Defining Revolution

‘Revolt” and “Revolution” - in your books write down your definition for these words http://dictionary.reference.com/

In your opinion, what are some common reasons people might revolt?

What kind of person do you think typically leads a revolution?

Do you think a revolution is something that happens quickly or over time?  Why?

Once a government has been overthrown, how long do you think it would take for new leaders to establish a different form of government and make it run effectively?

Revolutions throughout time http://www.pbs.org/marieantoinette/revolution/what_is_re

volution.html The above map portrays a selection of major revolutions

or revolution attempts that occurred in the 200 years following the American Revolution.  Though their causes and outcomes were all different, the revolutions on this map all represent attempts at forcible government overthrown by those  being ruled.This global perspective provides an insight into humans’ historic struggle to govern, collaborate, and thrive together. 

Revolution has been around as long as people have, changing the way we think, work, worship, and live.   But: Does a revolution always have a definite and identifiable

(specific) outcome?  Is somebody always the winner, and somebody else the loser?

Who Leads Revolutions?

A common misconception is that revolutions happen when ordinary people join together and rise up against authority.

For a revolution to really take hold, a large section of a population typically does need to feel a pressing need for societal (community) change. 

Revolutions are historically led by people who are not "just plain folks." 

Revolutionary leaders usually possess something extra: additional education, connections to existing authority, a leadership position within the repressed community, or simply a profound charisma or oratory gift that helps them influence, persuade and lead. 

This doesn't mean that revolutionary leaders do not empathize with their followers; indeed, many have lived the same struggles.  But this is not always the case.

Beyond Political Revolutions The term "revolution" can refer to many types of massive change that affect

society in extreme ways.  The British Agricultural Revolution, which happened between the 16th and

19th centuries, refers to a time of extraordinary agricultural output, mostly due to better farming methods and mechanization.  This upturn in agricultural success supported a huge population growth, which freed a lot of workers to leave farming and pour into the workforce.

The concept of revolution also reaches into other areas of daily life.  The Italian Renaissance of the 15th century was a time when the way in which the Western world created art, wrote poetry, designed architecture.

Social revolutions include the Sexual Revolution, when the invention of the birth control pill in 1960 offered women access to reliable contraception. Social scientists theorize that this pharmaceutical development impacted sexual behaviour, attitudes, and more throughout the Western world, and redefined women's views of education and career. 

Finally, the computer on which you're reading this was developed during the Digital Revolution, which refers to an ongoing transformation that began in the early 1980s.  The plummeting cost and rapid improvement of digital devices  made these tools more widely available, affecting the way we do our jobs, entertain ourselves, and even communicate with one another.

Summary - Revolution

What is a revolution? Who usually leads a revolution? Name one revolution discussed in

class and briefly describe it.

Answers: Revolution

a drastic and far-reaching change in societal ways of thinking and behaving; sudden or momentous change in a society and social structure

The overthrow of a government and its replacement by another

Leaders No one is born a revolutionary leader, and there is no one set

formula for how people become revolutionary leaders. Each revolutionary leader is a complex mix of personal life experiences and broader social experience. Revolutionary leaders can be of any race, nationality, either gender, and come from many different backgrounds.

Revolutionary leaders usually possess something extra: additional education, connections to existing authority, a leadership position, or just intense charisma or a public speaking gift that helps them influence, persuade and lead. 

American and French Revolution From an historical perspective, the

French and American Revolutions have greatly influenced revolutionary activity on a global scale and that the impact of these historical events continues in the world even today.

THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION (1754–81, Revolutionary War 1775).

The American Revolution

The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free of the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America.

Liberty – The American Revolution http://video.google.com/videoplay?d

ocid=-5602751196414323436# (53.56 mins)

Colonies

Colonists migrated from Europe to the Americas: for economic reasons and religious freedom

Life was difficult for the first settlers . They built cities from scratch, and brought civilization to the wild lands.

Before and during the French and Indian War, from about 1650 to 1763, Britain essentially left its American colonies to run themselves.

Europe’s View of The Colonies Europeans viewed the colonies as their

property. The colonies existed in order to serve their

home nation. The colonies produced crops and goods that

could then be shipped back to their mother country in order to enrich those who lived there.

The colonies were expected to remain loyal to their mother country.

Colonies were controlled by governors which were appointed by the crown.

Colonies’ View of Europe

Many of the inhabitants of the colonies had come to the Americas in order to escape persecution, for their religious or extreme political views.

Many of the colonists had been born in the Americas, and had never visited Europe.

They considered themselves Americans, and not Europeans.

Increasingly their loyalty was to the colony, and not to the distant mother country.

Colonies began to tire of the restrictions placed on them by their mother countries. These restrictions favoured their parent nations, but made life more difficult for the colonies.

The British Empire Goes To War In 1760 a new king came to power in Great Britain

named King George III. George III used the powerful British Navy to wage

war with France. These wars brought the British Empire vast new

territory, including all of Canada, as well as all the land in North America East of the Mississippi River.

This war, which greatly enlarged the territories of Great Britain proved to be very costly, and nearly bankrupt the national treasury.

King George III was as a result in desperate need of raising funds to keep his government operating. To do this, he looked to the colonies in the Americas.

The Stamp Act To help cover the cost of the war between Great Britain and

France, British officials began to establish new taxes in the Colonies.

In 1765 a tax was passed by Great Britain known as the stamp act.

This law required all colonists to pay a tax to Great Britain on all of the printed materials that they used, newspapers, magazines, and even playing cards.

Colonist were outraged, and responded by boycotting all British goods.

They also attacked officials who were sent by Great Britain to enforce the stamp act, and burned the stamps in the street.

Many of the colonies sent representatives to a special meeting in New York, which they called The Stamp Act Congress.

As a result, the British Parliament repealed the stamp act just one year later in 1766.

Parliament in Great Britain had lost the battle over the stamp act.

Summary - Revolution

Who are the colonies (place) and colonists (people)?

Why did the colonists migrate to the Americas? Describe how life was for the colonists? Describe how the colonists (teenagers) viewed

Europe and Europeans (parents). Describe how Europe and the Europeans

(parents)viewed the colonists (teenagers). Why did King George III introduce the Stamp Act? How did the Americans (colonists) react to the

Stamp Act? WHY?

The Boston Massacre

The Parliament in Great Britain was determined to assert their control over the colonies.

In 1766 they passed a new decree that reaffirmed their right to pass laws regarding the colonies. The next year they passed a number of new taxes, including a tax on glass, lead, paper, and tea.

The colonies were again outraged, and many refused to pay them. In order to enforce these new tax laws, British officials requested military

troops to aid them. These military troops outraged the colonists. In the Winter of 1770 a small group of colonists in Boston were taking out

their frustration with the troops by taunting them, and throwing snowballs at them. In retaliation, these soldiers opened fire, killing four of the Bostonians. This event became known as the Boston Massacre.

The events of the Boston Massacre were spread quickly by newspapers throughout the colonies further angering colonists.

As a result, Great Britain was forced to once again repeal all of the new taxes they had enacted. However, in order to send a message that they were still in charge, they left the tax on tea in place.

The Boston Tea Party

The tax on tea that Parliament had passed greatly effected the tea business in the colonies.

The price of tea in the Americas increased, making it more difficult for tea growers, producers, and shippers to survive.

In order to insure that British companies would not be hurt by this new tax, Parliament passed a law that exempted British companies from having to pay the tax.

This meant that these companies could sell their tea cheaper, almost guaranteeing that companies based in the Americas would go out of business.

In protest a group of individuals dressed up as Native Americans boarded a cargo ship in Boston Harbor, and dumped its entire load of tea into the harbor waters. This event became known as the Boston tea party.

In response to the Boston tea party the Parliament in Great Britain passed a number of new laws.

These new laws became known by the colonies as the intolerable acts.

The First Continental Congress As a result of the intolerable acts colonists in the Americas

become increasingly convinced that they needed to take more aggressive steps in order to protect themselves, and their liberty.

On September 5 , 1774 56 delegates were sent from each of the 13 colonies to meet in Philadelphia as representatives of The First Continental Congress. For the first time in history, the 13 colonies were working as a group, and not as individual colonists.

The First Continental Congress passed resolutions stating that the British Parliament did not have the right to pass laws in the colonies, and only had the right to regulate trade between the colonies and Great Britain.

They further resolved that by December of the same year they would cease importing any goods from Great Britain, and that by September of the following year, they would cease exporting any goods to Great Britain.

Exports and Imports: 1768 - 1783

Loyalist Strongholds

Only 1/3 of the colonists were in favor of a war for independence [the other third were Loyalists, and the final third were neutral].

Tensions Build

In April of 1775 tensions in the Colonies were very high. Many of the 13 colonies had begun to raise armies in order to defend themselves against the possibility of war with Great Britain. Colonists in Boston had suffered more than many of the other colonists.

In response to the Boston Tea Party, Great Britain had closed down the Boston Harbor. The result was that life in Boston had become very difficult. Many who lived there had lost their jobs. British troops were also being sent to Boston in mass. In order to house these troops, Bostonians were forced to let them live in their homes, and eat their food.

As tensions rose, officials in Great Britain ordered the governor of Massachusetts to send troops to Boston.

The British soldiers were the best trained military force on Earth. They also had superior weapons.

Colonists in Boston had prepared themselves for any military actions by Great Britain. They had formed a group of soldiers known as minutemen.

Military Hostilities

The Battle of Lexington and Concord took place April 19, 1775, when the British sent a force of roughly 1000 troops to confiscate arms and arrest revolutionaries in Concord. They clashed with the local militia, marking the first fighting of the American Revolutionary War. The news aroused the 13 colonies to call out their militias and send troops to take Boston.

The Battle of Bunker Hill followed on June 17, 1775. While a British victory, it was at a great cost; about 1,000 British casualties from a garrison of about 6,000, as compared to 500 American casualties from a much larger force

Bunker Hill- June 1775

The British suffered over 40% casualties

The Shot Heard Around The World As the two armies faced each other, someone fired a shot. No

one knows who fired it, or which side they were on. This shot became known as the shot heard around the world, and it touched off a conflict that would help further the tensions between Great Britain and her colonies.

As the British Troops began advancing towards where the ammunition and weapons were being stored, Paul Revere, and William Dawes rode ahead of them, shouting ‘The Redcoats are coming’.

Their warning allowed the colonists the time they needed to get the minutemen in place along the route. Hiding behind trees, and buildings, these minutemen were able to easily defeat the British soldiers who were marching in formation, in the open.

The defeat of the British military humiliated Great Britain, and energized the colonists, showing them that it was possible to win their independence militarily.

The Olive Branch Petition

In May of 1775 The Second Continental Congress met to discuss the ongoing problems between Great Britain and the Colonies.

A small group of radicals, lead by John Adams felt that war with Great Britain was inevitable. However, in an effort to avoid war, they passed a resolution known as the Olive Branch Petition.

This petition was sent to King George III, and addressed the wrongs that had been perpetrated against the colonies.

King George III refused to even read the petition, and declared that the colonies had come out in open rebellion against the crown, and against Great Britain.

Common Sense

In January of 1776 a man by the name of Thomas Paine wrote a pamphlet entitled Common Sense.

It outlined the reasons that he felt why the colonies should part company with Great Britain and form their own independent nation.

Common Sense helped greatly to change the opinions of important and influential colonists who had been holding out hope for resolving the conflict with Great Britain without going to war.

The Declaration of Independence The Second Continental Congress charged

Thomas Jefferson with the responsibility of writing a declaration of independence that would be sent to Great Britain.

On July 4th, 1776 this declaration was officially adopted by the Continental Congress, and a new nation was born.

The Declaration of Independence stated the belief that a government had a responsibility to the people it governed, and that if they abused their responsibilities, that the people who were ruled had the right to rebel.

A Revolutionary War

The American Colonies who were among the poorest and weakest nations on Earth, had decided to take on the most powerful of the day. The Continental Congress appointed General George Washington as their commander.

A long, difficult war would follow, which would devastate the colonies. They were simply not equipped to fight such a powerful military force. Many times, it appeared as though the British were just a few steps away from wining the war. However, the American soldiers held out.

The Battle of Yorktown (1781)

Count de Rochambeau

AdmiralDe Grasse

Cornwallis’ Surrender at Yorktown

Painted by John Trumbull, 1797

The war continues

As the war carried on year after year, the Americans began to win important battles, embarrassing the British.

As this happened, the French, who were upset about the territory they had lost to Great Britain became convinced that the Americans could win, and sent ships and supplies to help the colonists.

Spain who had also lost territory to Great Britain also sent aid to the colonies.

By August of 1781 the British were forced to surrender in Yorktown Virginia.

Summary of the American Revolution Battles

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-5602751196414323436#docid=5907460563985929059

http://www.mrnussbaum.com/amflash2.htm

http://teachingamericanhistory.org/neh/interactives/americanrevolution/

The Articles of Confederation After wining their independence in 1781 the

Continental Congress established the Articles of Confederation.

These articles stated that: each colony was to act as an independent state that each state had the right to pass laws within

their territories. This central government had very little

authority. It could not pass taxes, and as a result, the nation amassed massive amounts of debt, which it could not pay off.

The Constitution of the United States After debating the problems with the Articles of

Confederation, the representatives in Philadelphia decided they would create a new constitution, that would form a new central government.

After several months they signed the Constitution of the United States into law, creating the United States of America.

This constitution guaranteed certain rights to the people, helping to insure that they were treated fairly.

Shortly after the constitution was signed, 10 amendments were added to it, known as the bill of rights, which granted even more freedoms to the people of The United States.

This new nation was to be headed by a President, rather than a monarch. This President would be elected by the legislature, which was in turn elected by the people. This type of government is known as a republic.

American Revolution Key People

http://www.sparknotes.com/history/american/revolution/terms.html

FRENCH REVOLUTION (1789 – 1799)

Reading Focus • What caused the French Revolution?• What happened during the first events of the

Revolution?• How did the French create a new nation?

Main Idea Problems in French society led to a revolution, the formation of a new government, and the end of the monarchy.

The Revolution Begins

Preview For centuries, the quality of life in Europe had been

determined by the status that one held. This status could not be attained, but was instead determined by the family to which someone was born. If you were born to a poor family, your life would be one of poverty. No matter how hard an individual worked, it was impossible to rise above this fate.

The wealthy enjoyed a life of ease, comfort, and recreation. Day after day, they pursued the pleasures of European society, while 97% of Europe’s people struggled just to survive.

This gap between the wealthy and the poor created resentment. Those at the bottom saw the wealthy grow increasingly richer, while they got nothing.

Background to the Revolution

1776 – America Rebels

Then in 1776 something unthinkable happened. A group of people at the bottom of society rebelled against those who were at the top, and what was more remarkable, they won. The British Colonies in America declared their independence and then enforced it by beating back the most powerful military on Earth.

This sent shockwaves throughout Europe. And gave hope to many poverty stricken peasants, who wanted to see the powerful aristocracies of Europe fall. If America could do it, why couldn’t they. Why couldn’t they rebel, and create a new, more fair society

Interactive Map of the French Revolution and Napoleon http://my.hrw.com

http://www.worldology.com/Europe/napoleonic_wars_imap.htm

Causes of the RevolutionLong-standing resentments against the

monarchy

Inequalities in society Existing social and political structure Called the Old Order, or ancient régime

King at the top and estates under him King Louis XVI, shy and indecisive Unpopular, self-indulgent queen, Marie-

Antoinette Rest of French society divided into three

classes, called estates

The French Estates

Nowhere was the divide between the wealthy and poor greater, than in France. The French Aristocracy were among the wealthiest individuals in all of Europe. They controlled vast tracts of land, huge amounts of money, and had power that was unchecked by a Parliament as in Great Britain.

The poor in France were suffering greatly. They had been abused, mistreated, and ignored. They had been forced to work on the estates of the wealthy, with very little pay, and in terrible conditions. They were starving, sick, dirty, tired, and growing more resentful with each passing year.

French society was divided into three separate castes known as estates. The first estate was made up of priests, and religious leaders. Those belonging to this estate occupied the highest level in French society.

The second estate was made up of the nobility. The third and lowest estate consisted of everyone else, over 97% of

the population of France.

Varied widely in what they contributed in terms of work and taxes

•Roman Catholic clergy

•One percent of the population

•Exempt from taxes•Owned 10 percent of the land– Collected rents

and fees from the land

– Bishops and other clergy grew wealthy

First Estate•Nobility•Less than 2 percent of the population

•Paid few taxes•Controlled much wealth

•Held key positions– Government– Military

•Lived on country estates

Second Estate•Largest group—97% of the population

•Bourgeoisie—city-dwelling merchants, factory owners, and professionals

•Sans culottes—artisans and workers

•Peasants—poor with little hope, paid rents and fees

Third Estate

The Three Estates

Turmoil And Unrest In France In 1774 Louis XVI a 19 year old prince came to the

throne as the King of France. His 18 year old wife was named Marie Antoinette.

King Louis XVI inherited a massive amount of debt from his predecessors.

He further increased the debt of the French Government by supporting the American Revolution in its fight against France’s bitter rival, Great Britain. King Louis XVI became desperate to raise funds to pay off the debts of France.

In order to pay of these debts, he decided that we would tax the first and second estates, which had always been exempt from paying taxes before.

These estates refused to pay the new taxes.

Estates – General

In 1789 King Louis XVI summoned a group known as the Estates-General to meet in Versailles to discuss the matter of taxes.

The Estates-General was a body of people representing each of the three social estates in France. They had not been called together since 1610.

King Louis XVI hoped that by calling them together they could solve the problems of debt facing the nation.

The Estates-General had other plans however. They wanted to use the meeting to take power from the King, and address the social ills that they felt were plaguing them.

King Louis XVI and Marie Antionette

• Severe economic problems affected much of the country

• France in debt, spending lavishly, borrowing money, and facing bankruptcy

• Hailstorm and drought ruined harvest; harsh winter limited flour production

• People hungry and angry; clergy and nobility no help

A Financial Crisis

• Inspiring new ideas from Enlightenment philosophers

• Great Britain’s government limiting the king’s power

• American colonists rebelled successfully against British king

• New ideas changed government and society in other countries

Enlightenment Ideashttp://www.mrdowling.com/705french.html

Further Causes

Causes of the Revolution

What were the causes of the French Revolution?

Summarise:

Answer(s): inequalities in society, Enlightenment ideas, poor leadership, financial crisis, hunger and cold

By 1789, no group happy

• Clergy and nobility lost power to monarchy

• Bourgeoisie resented regulations

• Poor worse off Storming of the Bastille

• King brought in troops• People of Paris armed

themselves• Searching for weapons, a mob

stormed the Bastille

Estates General meets • Desire for reforms• Voting process a problem• Third Estate proclaimed

themselves National Assembly• Tennis Court Oath

Great Fear spread• King to punish the Third Estate

with foreign soldiers • Rumors of massacres• Peasants destroyed records and

burned nobles’ houses

First Events of the Revolution

A French Constitution

Members of the Estates-General representing the third estate outnumbered representatives from both the first and second estates combined. If each representative were to be given one vote, the third estate would have more votes, and would be able to get their wishes passed. In order to insure this did not happen King Louis XVI locked representatives of the third estate out of the meetings.

Outraged, they met at a nearby indoor tennis court, where they gave themselves the name of The National Assembly. Here representatives took an oath that they would not leave until they had written a new constitution for France.

King Louis XVI worried about the form this constitution would take, if it were to be written strictly by members of the third estate. He ordered representatives from the first and second estates to join the National Assembly.

A Revolution Begins

As the National Assembly met to write a new constitution, their debates often spilled out into the streets of Paris. Soon everyone in the Capital was debating the social ills of France, and what form a new government should take.

Fearing the feeling of unrests that was quickly expanding throughout the capital, King Louis XVI placed troops throughout the capital city, as well as around the palace.

Seeing this troop build up, many of the supporters of the National Assembly worried that the King planned to use these troops to put an end to the National Assembly, and to the reforms they were making.

In order to defend the National Assembly, rioters attacked the Prison of Bastille, where weapons and ammunition were stored. In this battle, a number of rioters, and soldiers were killed. The rioters were able to gain control of the prison, and establish a new radical government in Paris.

The Great Fear

Rumours were spread that the feudal lords had hired robbers to murder peasants. This rumour was not true, but it flamed fear, that lead to the peasants uprising against their local lords.

Between June and the beginning of August there were riots in the countryside.

Peasants broke into manor houses, killed many of the nobles, and took possession of their properties. They burned monasteries and buildings which housed public records. They particularly targeted documents which contained records of their feudal obligations.

This wave of violence is known as The Great Fear.

The Great Fear

burning chateaux as the peasants riot in the countryside

What was the connection between the fall of the Bastille

and the Great Fear?

Identify cause and effect

Answer(s): the fall of the Bastille, people were terrified that the king would punish them.

The Declaration of Rights

As violence continued to spread throughout the countryside, members of the third estate demanded equality for all citizens of France. Members of the first and second estates held out, refusing to grant equal rights, and refusing to give up the special privileges that they had enjoyed for so many centuries.

The continued violence finally convinced them that they had no choice but to give up, and submit to the will of the much larger third estate. On August, 4th, 1789 the National Assembly passed a number of important reforms that abolished feudal dues, and established taxes on members of the first and second estates.

The National Assembly then turned their attention towards creating a bill of rights for their people. This Declaration of Rights included the freedom of speech, the freedom of the press, and the freedom of religion. It also protected citizens from being falsely arrested. This Declaration of Rights remains in the French Constitution to this day.

King Louis XVI Moves To Paris The National Assembly presented their new reforms,

along with the Declaration of Rights to the king, who refused to acknowledge them. This lack of support from the king greatly angered many of the people in France, who were anxious to see a new era in freedom and equality. These people demanded that the king not only acknowledge these new laws, but also that he move to Paris, with his family in order to show his support for the National Assembly.

In October of 1789 King Louis XVI finally consented to move to Paris from Versailles, after having his palace surrounded by an angry mob, threatening to attack.

A New French Government Is Created After passing a new reforms, and forcing the king of France to

accept them, the National Assembly began the process of setting up a new government, including writing a constitution.

By 1791 this constitution was ready. It kept the monarchy, but limited its royal powers. It also established a legislature, which would be elected by the people. This new constitution granted equal rights to all men, who could vote, so long as they paid a tax.

In order to pay off the national debts which had been accumulated by earlier kings, they confiscated the lands owned by the Catholic Church, and sold them. They demanded that Catholic priests take an oath of loyalty to the French government, and that priests be elected by local parishes, and not appointed by the Church. These actions angered Pope Pius VI, and caused him to condemn the revolution

Royal Family Flees France

In June of 1791 King Louis XVI, fearing for the lives of himself, and his family, attempted to escape into Austria. Marie Antoinette’s brother was the emperor of Austria. They hoped that once in Austria, they would be safe.

Their attempt failed however, when they were recognized along the road by a passerby, who called for soldiers to have them arrested. Returned to Paris the king, and his family had no choice but to accept any demands put upon them by the people, and to remain in his home as a prisoner.

France Declares War On Austria In 1792 France declared war on Austria. They worried

that Austria would attempt to reinstate King Louis XVI on the throne, and felt that they had to act to defend their new republic.

Austria was soon joined in the war by Prussia, and Sardinia. This war had devastating effects on France. Food shortages, and poverty ran rampant throughout France, and threatened to tear the country apart.

Just as it looked like the armies of Prussia and Austria would defeat France, the French armies pulled off a stunning victory at Valmy, a city less than 100 miles away from Paris.

This victory boosted the morale of French troops, and turned the tide of the war.

A Republic Is Born From 1792 through 1795 a National Convention met

in Paris to further define the new form the French Government would take. They decided to completely do away with the monarchy, and establish a republic. They also granted the right to vote to all men, regardless of whether they could pay their taxes or not.

In 1792 King Louis XVI was tried before the National Convention, where he was found guilty of having conspired against the liberty of the nation. In January of 1793 he was put to death by the Guillotine.

News of the death of the king was received with great joy and celebration throughout Paris, and throughout France. This was seen as a great moment, and as a guarantee that the revolution would now go forward.

• Louis tried to protect his throne• Angered the common people• Prices still high; mob broke into

the palace demanding bread • Royal family seized; National

Assembly took bolder steps• Passed laws against the

church, clergy, and public employees

• Some outraged by actions

Restrictions on Power• Feudal dues eliminated• Declaration laid out “liberty,

equality, fraternity”• Inspired by the English Bill of

Rights, American Declaration of Independence, and the writings of Enlightenment philosophers

• Men are born equal and remain equal under the law

• The rights did not extend to women

Legislating New Rights

Creating a New Nation

French revolutionary troops won the Battle of Valmy. New French republic held ground against Europe’s Old Order.

In 1791, the Legislative Assembly is formed. Citizens gained broad voting rights, but rights were not universal. Constitution restricted power of king and ended distinctions of birth. King and queen feared they would be harmed.

• Austria and Prussia warned against harming monarchs

• Austrian army defeats French• Financial strain of war, food

shortages, and high prices • King blamed; action demanded

Foreign Powers

Formation of a New Government

• August 10, 1792 royal family imprisoned by mob

• Radical faction took charge with National Convention

• Monarchy abolished; France declared a republic

End of Monarchy

What steps did National and Legislative Assemblies take to

create a new nation?

Sequence

Answer(s): National Assembly completed constitution and created Legislative Assembly; Legislative Assembly—created a new legislature, the National Convention, which abolished the monarchy and declared France a republic

A Revolution In Trouble

Monarchs throughout Europe were concerned about the events that had taken place in France. The natural order that had existed for centuries had been disrupted. They worried that the same thing could happen in their own nations, and that their own thrones, and even their lives might be at risk.

To avoid the revolution spreading into their own nations, these monarchs joined together to fight against France. Soldiers were sent from Great Britain, the Netherlands, Spain, and Sardinia to fight against the revolutionaries in France.

This war made life very difficult in France. In order to fight these large armies, the new French government established a draft, and called up all men between the ages of 18 and 45 to fight for their liberties. This draft touched off a civil war in Western France, where royalists who had supported the king were angry that their sons had been forced to fight in a way that they did not support.

Within the National Convention, fierce debate and a growing divide among different political parties threatened to tear the young fragile government apart.

The Reign of Terror Seeing the turmoil that was both within and surrounding France the

leading political party known as the Jacobins determined that they would crush any resistance within their new nation. They established neighbourhood watches that were intended to find anyone who was not loyal. These watches would turn in suspected traitors, who would often be put to death.

This period of time is known as The Reign of Terror, and lasted from July of 1793 until July of 1794, during which approximately 17,000 individuals were executed.

After the reign of terror ended, the Jacobins lost their power in France. The National Convention continued to rule as the government, however, a new constitution was written, which once again denied the right to vote to those who could not afford to pay a vote tax. This constitution established the office of five directors, known as the directory, who ruled France.

The directory ruled from 1795 until 1799. During this time they used the army to put down a number of disputes within France. Once again, the rich began to grow wealthier, while the poor had very little. The same old problems that had begun the revolution once again began to creep into France. The new government was also running out of money to pay their civil employees, and to carry on the process of governing the nation.

Napoleon Bonaparte

Napoleon Bonaparte

During the revolution in France one general in particular began to outshine all the others. This general was a 26 year old by the name of Napoleon Bonaparte.

Napoleon’s skilful leadership helped to crush rebellions within France, and also greatly expand the territories of France, including a surprising victory over the more powerful Austrian army.

In October of 1799 Napoleon returned to Paris, after having been in Egypt with his armies, to take part in a coup d’ etat, or an overthrow of the government.

In 1804 Napoleon named himself as emperor of France, and had himself anointed as such by the Pope.

Napoleon was a masterful ruler. He established a number of reforms that brought peace and stability back to France. He also rewrote the old French feudal laws, which were confusing, creating a new Napoleonic Code of laws that were much clearer. Many of these laws remain in France to this day.

Revolution Key People

http://www.sparknotes.com/history/%20european/frenchrev/terms.html

Bibliography

http://www.historywiz.com/greatfear.htm

http://www.kidspast.com/world-history/0370-french-revolution.php

http://my.hrw.com http://www.worldology.com/Europe/n

apoleonic_wars_imap.htm http://uzar.files.wordpress.com/2010/

01/napoleon.jpg

AMERICAN AND FRENCH REVOLUTION

Revolutionary Twins?

The American and French Revolutions were fought several years and an ocean apart.  However, they feature enough similarities that some people initially consider them “mirror struggles.”  both revolutions occurred in the later eighteenth century.  both subverted an existing, monarchical government.   Finally, both created ripe conditions for constitutionalism

and deep patriotism.    Although many believe that the two revolutions

influenced one another (as well as had profound worldwide impact), each revolution is a very distinct and singular struggle for freedom, identity, and an improved way of life.  

Causes Economic challenges definitely contributed to the basis for both revolutions. 

However, each nation’s money-related woes were quite unique. The American Revolution

The American Revolution had roots in the financial pressure that Britain placed on the New World; because Britain was economically dependent on the colonies, it kept taxing them. However, the colonists didn’t oppose the taxation itself.  They were more vexed by the lack of a reasonable basis for the taxation, feeling that they received little or no benefit from their funds that were being spent “back in the old country.”  This phenomenon—commonly known as taxation without representation—infuriated the colonies, building the basis for their revolt.

So although the British tax-related woes were also tied to royal greed and exploitative control, they were relatively common to any new colonist establishment.

The French Revolution

Classic images of hungry, poverty-stricken French peasants are still familiar.  Indeed, the pre-revolution French economy was dismal and had been for decades.  As a second-tier trading nation, France was unable to pay off national debts using the scant amount of money it received on the taxes for traded goods. To make up for this deficit, the King imposed further taxes, especially on the peasants. Strangely, the wealthiest nobles were not obligated to pay taxes.  This allowed the King to successfully sell titles, pulling the two social classes further apart.  

France’s case, while certainly tax-related, was more deeply rooted in a historic division of social class. Although the rich and poor had long been separated, the King’s selling of titles totally isolated the two groups.  This resulted in famine and extreme poverty for the lower classes, and left them no choice but to revolt.

Goals

Both revolutions were undertaken with the goal of independence in mind.  The American Revolution

The American Revolution was not initially or even primarily fought for independence. Independence almost became a “by-product” of the colonists’ initial attempt to remove unfair taxes levied on them by British Parliament.

The French RevolutionOn the other hand, France’s decades of class division and its burgeoning interest in thinkers like Rousseau (who emphasized the importance of human rights) sparked a popular interest in a more independent way of life.  The influence of speeches, articles, and pamphlets from gifted writers and orators like revolution leaders Jacques-Pierre Brissot and Maximillien Robespierre also fuelled this desire for freedom. 

Finally, the success of the American Revolution (and the colonists’ resulting independence from British rule) arguably acted as an incentive for revolt.

American-French Relationships

Both revolutions spurred a strong response from the other nation. 

Before 1789, most people (excluding the Americans of the new United States) lived with the general form of government their ancestors had known for centuries, usually hereditary monarchy. After the French Revolution began in 1789, no form of government could be accepted as legitimate without justification. The revolutionaries established a republic in 1792, and henceforth republicans around the world would challenge monarchists.  

Overall, the French Revolution offered the world something totally novel: an ideology that allowed and encouraged the questioning of historic power structures.

This ideology borne of the French Revolution laid the groundwork for other ideologies, including nationalism, socialism, and eventually communism.  In fact, early communist leaders Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels both commented extensively on the French Revolution, hoping to find important lessons for building and governing communities.  

North Americans showed special interest in the French Revolution, believing the events of 1789 drew heavily on their own experience with Britain. The French Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen seemed to borrow strikingly from the states' bill of rights. Even more direct influence took place when American Thomas Jefferson, resident in France at this time, passed along specific ideas to the legislators through the Marquis de Lafayette. Although the French Revolution took a far different path than the North American variety, this interaction was close, so it is not surprising that the initial U.S. reaction to the French Revolution was positive.

Not all Americans approved of the France’s methods.  For example, John Adams declared his early and ongoing disapproval, and the Federalist Party’s support began to waver toward the Revolution’s end.  The Reign of Terror also did little to create American approval and drew criticism from some prominent American statesmen.  However, the Jefferson-led Republican Party remained largely supportive throughout most of the revolutionary decade.

Famous DocumentsBoth revolutions produced similar and seminal political documents.

The Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen was adopted in France in August 1789 by the National Constituent Assembly.   Drafted by the Marquis de Lafayette, it was intended as part of a transition from an absolute to a constitutional monarchy, and presented the ideas of popular sovereignty and equal opportunity.  This document, which defined a set of universal individual and collective rights, was to be considered valid in all times, in all places, for all people. This novel way of thinking totally contradicted the traditional French idea of people being born into a nobility or into another favored class.  It also eliminated the concept of people enjoying or being denied special rights based on family lineage of status, which clearly dismantled centuries of French ruling structure.

The principles outlined in the Declaration sprung from the theories of philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau and other Enlightenment thinkers. However, the French Declaration is at least partly inspired by the declaration of Human Rights contained in the U.S. Declaration of Independence, adopted on July 4, 1776, and on the Virginia Declaration of Rights, developed by American George Mason in June 1776, which was itself based on the English 1689 Bill of Rights.  

The Declaration of the Rights of Man also showed similarities to the United States Constitution (1787) and the United States Bill of Rights, which was adopted in 1789, at approximately the same time as the Declaration of the Rights of Man. Like the U.S. Constitution, The French Declaration provided for a national defense, and emphasized equality before taxation (which was distinctly different from traditional France, in which the Catholic Church and the nobility were exempt from most taxes).   Like these American documents, France’s Declaration prohibits ex post facto application of criminal law and proclaims the presumption of innocence to a crime suspect.  Finally, the Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen provides for freedom of speech and of the press, and addresses freedom of religion.

The Declaration departs from seminal American documents in some important ways.  It’s vital to note that the Declaration is largely individualistic.  It focuses less on the rights of a political or religious group and more on the singular citizen, thus straying from America’s “we the people” stance.  The Declaration also fails to address the freedom of assembly, liberty of association, or the right to strike, which were important American tenets

Why do you think the French and American Revolutions and the revolutionary activities of the people and leaders of this time have had such a broad impact on other revolutions worldwide even though they took place so long ago?

Do you think that these two revolutions will continue to impact revolutionaries in the global community over the next 100 years?  Why or why not?

How has your understanding of the political causes of revolution throughout the world changed as a result of completing the activities in this lesson?

INFLUENCE OF THE AMERICAN AND FRENCH REVOLUTION ON AUSTRALIA

Whilst Involved in the difficulties of the American Revolution (War of Independence), Britain had no time to consider any possibilities of settlement in remote areas.

It was the American Revolution that finally gave the motivation to act; for the loss of the American colonies raised a number of problems for British.

Before the American War of Independence about a thousand criminals were sent to Virginia and Maryland every year.