World History: Era 7

An Age of Revolution 1750-1915

Introductory Explanationsrevolution...

1. The movement of an orbiting celestial object, as a star or planet, completely around another object

2. A turning or spinning motion of body around a center or axis; rotation

3. A complete cycle of events

4. A complete or radical change of any kind

5. Overthrow of a government, form of government, or social system by those governed and usually by forceful means, with another government or system taking its place

autocatalysis…

When one kind of change precipitates by itself the need for other kinds of changes.

A interweaving sequence of self-perpetuating and ever-accelerating change.

http://catalysiscourse.com/design/image_catalysis.png

Background RevolutionsThe Scientific Revolution

• The Scientific Revolution changed the way Europeans viewed their world—more science, less superstition

• Copernicus, Kepler, and Galileo provided new explanations of the universe.

• Breakthroughs in chemistry and medicine changed the understanding of human anatomy.

• Scientific advances precipitated applications in technology and economics.

Background RevolutionsThe Enlightenment

• Philosophes applied the scientific method to examine government, justice, and religion.

• The ideas of the Enlightenment became a force for social reform.

• Some rulers governed by Enlightenment principles but ultimately were more interested in maintaining power.

• Architecture, art, music, and literature were influenced by Enlightenment ideas.

Background RevolutionsThe American “Revolution”

• English colonists in the Americas asserted their rights as Englishmen, refusing to submit to arbitrary or absolutist actions by the king and/or parliament.

• Thomas Jefferson summarized the ideals of the revolution: governments are necessary to secure the rights of men, not to serve the needs of the monarch.

• The war afforded European powers another opportunity to weaken their neighbors by fighting their holdings overseas—it wasn’t “all about us”

• The birth of a new nation created a government “of, by, and for the people” under a federal, constitutional republic.

Political RevolutionsThe French RevolutionReasons for Discontent

A. The Enlightenment raised expectations of reform.

B. The American Revolution gave hope to Frenchmen who wanted the same, or so they thought, freedom.

C. Social Inequality: French society was structured into three estates—the First Estate (clergy); the Second Estate (nobility); and the Third Estate (everybody else)

D. Political inefficiency by the kings led to dissatisfaction among the people

E. Economic irresponsibility: an imbalanced tax system exempted those who had the money from paying taxes; bankruptcy brought on by wars and extravagant building projects brought more taxes.

http://www.conservapedia.com/images/thumb/9/9f/3estates.jpg/320px-3estates.jpg

The Outbreak of the Revolution

A. Calling of the Estates-General. Louis XVI dismissed his financial ministers. He called for people to send representatives to the Estates-General, an early form of parliament.

1. They—the representatives—made demands: a written constitution, equal taxation, equal justice, an end to feudalism.

2. The Third Estate realized the meeting was only to pacify them, not actually hear and remedy their grievances.

http://koltchak91120.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/louis-xvi.jpg

B. Forming the National Assembly.

1. The Third Estate, as representatives of the majority of the people in France, declared themselves the National Assembly.

2. In the “Tennis Court Oath” they vowed to establish a written constitution before leaving.

http://www.reprodart.com/kunst/jacques_louis_david/The-Tennis-Court-Oath.jpg

3. The First and Second Estates joined the National Assembly, creating a new legislative body, the National Constituent Assembly. Louis XVI ordered troops to close the meeting.

C. Storming the Bastille. On July 14, 1789, mobs stormed the Bastille (a prison in Paris) and the army headquarters to secure arms for protection. What had begun as an orderly attempt at reform (the work of various legislative actions) devolved into a revolution of turmoil and anger by the mobs.

http://www.dadychery.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Storming-of-the-Bastille.jpg

Phases of the Revolution

A. Destruction of the Old Regime.

1. Peasants began plundering the homes of the nobility

2. Feudalism abolished

3. The adoption of the “Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizens”

4. Refusal of the people to taxes

5. Confiscation of church lands to gain money

B. Overthrow of the Monarchy

1. A written constitution adopted in 1791

2. A divided legislature: revolutionaries (the left); reformers (the middle); the monarchists (the right)

3. War with Austria and Prussia made the people more fearful of the king

4. Mobs began massacring the supporters of the monarchy and on Jan 21, 1793 the king was convicted of treason and beheaded.

5. The cry of the revolution became “Liberty, Equality, and Fraternity”

C. The Reign of Terror

1. The Committee of Public Safety organized a “mob” mentality in Paris, then throughout all of France

2. Suspicion, accusation, and execution characterized society as thousands of enemies of the revolution were beheaded

D. The Directory reorganized the government, ending the Reign of Terror and preparing the way for Napoleon, whose rise to power ended the French Revolution

Aftermath of the Revolution

A. Unrest and turmoil spread throughout France, and then all of Europe

B. Critical analysis of political ideas and goals

1. Do we maintain the status quo?2. How do we balance the differences

between the social classes?3. Do we think locally? nationally?

continentally?

C. Napoleon

Political RevolutionsThe Napoleonic EraNapoleon’s Rise to Power

A. His character: brilliant mind; energetic; charismatic

B. His military experience: trained in military school; introduced innovative fighting techniques; led successful campaigns in Egypt and Italy; ability to inspire troops

C. France’s desire for an orderly government; three governments in a ten year period; Napoleon declared himself emperor in 1804

Napoleon’s Era of Power

A. Centralized local governments

B. Furthered education: built schools; standardized education requirements; encouraged French nationalism in education; started the University of France

C. Settled religious differences: reimbursed Huguenots and Jews

D. The Legion of Honor recognized military veterans

E. Code of Napoleon restructured the legal system: provided equal treatment under the law; guaranteed religious toleration; established trial by jury

F. Improved the finances: created the Bank of France; collected taxes on a fair basis from all citizen; required the government to pay its debts

Napoleon’s Fall from Power

A. His character: greedy; lustful for power; unwilling to take advice; stubborn

B. Britain controlled the seas: the battle between the “Tiger” and the “Shark”; Lord Nelson defeated the French fleet at Trafalgar, ending any hopes of French naval strength

C. Continental System: France closed all European ports to English trade

D. Orders in Council: Britain restricted neutral trade with France and blockaded Europe

E. Invasion of Russia: RU retreated; the Grand Army forced to retreat from the winter; Battle of Nations (Leipzig) RU, AU, SP, PR, & IT defeated the retreating French army; Napoleon exiled to St. Elba

Napoleon’s Fall from Power

F. The Hundred Days: Napoleon escaped from Elba, raised another army; defeated by Wellington at Waterloo; exiled to St. Helena where he died in 1821

http://upload.wikim

edia.org/wikipedia/com

mons/2/28/Ingres%

2C_N

apoleon_on_his_Imperial_throne.jpg