Absolutism, Scientific Revolution, & Enlightenment

Absolute Monarchs in Europe

•Feudalism declined•Catholic church weekend

▫Spanish Empire wanted to conquer Lutherans

•Caused growth of armies•Higher Taxes = Revolts against Absolute

rulers

Scientific RevolutionMedieval View

• Geocentric Theory▫ Earth was an immovable

object located at the center of the universe.

▫ Planers, moon, sun all orbited the earth

• Christianity taught God had deliberately placed the earth at center of universe.

New Way of Thinking

• Heliocentric Theory▫ Copernicus found that

the Earth revolved around the Sun

• Copernicus feared ridicule because it contradicted religious beliefs

• Published his book in last year of his life

Galileo

•Developed a telescope•Able to describe surfaces of sun and moon•Supported Copernicus•Church threatened him•Forced him to read a confession that his

and Copernicus findings were false•Summoned to house arrest

Enlightenment

•Because of science, people rethink ways of government

•Beliefs that people can learn from experiences and make good choices

•Separation of powers, abolishment of torture, freedom of expression, religious freedom, etc…

American Revolution

•Enlightenment ideas spread to Americas•Britain goes to war with France and gains

a lot of territory•Started passing laws on Colonists to pay

for war debt•Boston tea party

American Revolution

•Lead to organization of army under George Washington

•France wanted to weaken Britain so they entered

•Inspired people in France to have their own revolution

The French Revolution

The Old Regime•France divided into social classes (Estates)

▫1st Estate – Roman Catholic Church Owned 10 % of land Provided education and services to poor 2 % of profit given to the government

▫2nd Estate – Rich Nobles Owned 20% of the land, and paid no taxes

▫3rd Estate – 3 groups of people Bourgeoisie – middle class merchants City Workers – cooks, servants, etc… Peasants – Farm workers (97% of population)

The start of Revolution

•Members of the third estate paid up to half of their income in taxes.

•Enlightenment spread the idea that everyone should be equal

•The French economy was failing•King Louis XVI was weak and

unconcerned

Storming of the Bastille•King Louis intended to break up the

National Assembly by force•French people gathered weapons to

defend their city•The infiltrated the Bastille (Prison in

Paris) •July 14th Bastille Day (similar to 4th of July

in America)

Reform•National Assembly created new

constitution to limit the kings power•King Louis XVI was fearful

▫Boardering Countries who did not want revolution to spread

▫The French people thinking the King would help the enemy,

•Louis XVI sentenced to death for treason.

Napoleon Bonaparte

• War hero who ended threats from other nations

•French government lost peoples support so he seized the government

Napoleon’s Changes

•Made tax collection fair•Removed dishonest government workers•Started public schools•Gave the Church back some power•Wrote new laws to give equal rights but

he limited free speech and restored slavery

•Louisiana purchase (15 million)

Napoleon’s Empire Collapses

•Napoleon’s bad decisions▫Desire to crush Britain (Hurt Economy)▫Made his brother King of Spain (Lost

300,000)▫Tried to conquer Russia (Lost 300,000)

•Defeated in Germany 1813 and later in 1815

Congress of Vienna

•Three Main Goals▫Wanted to make sure the French did not

attack another country again▫Balance of power where one nation was not

too strong▫Place Kings back in charge of countries

from which they were removed

Revolution Overview

Revolution Overview