The Atlantic Revolutions:England, America & France

Critically weakened the Old Regime

Freedom

Progress

Democracy

Nationalism

Background of Revolution

social change

ideas

English Precedents"Bill of Rights“ / Glorious

Revolution (1688)

• the king could not suspend laws

• no taxes would be levied or standing army maintained in peacetime without the consent of Parliament

• sessions of Parliament would be held frequently

• freedom of speech in Parliament would be assured

• subjects would have the right of petition and be free of excessive fines, bail, or cruel punishments

popular sovereignty

the political principle that the legitimacy of the state is created by the will or consent

of its people, who are the source of all political power

Effects of the Revolutions

popular sovereignty replaces absolutism

the dynasty replaced by the nation

converted the king's subject into the nation's citizen

Effects of the Revolutions

the nation the major social unit

"defense of the sacred soil of the homeland”

Effects of the Revolutions

Ideology

a system of ideas that are usually goal-directed

Conclusion

Liberalism• human nature was essentially

good• mankind essentially rational• purpose of life the "pursuit of

earthly happiness

Conservatism• human nature was weak• mankind essentially selfish• purpose of life the search for

social stability and order