America Revolution and French Revolutions
I. American Revolution
A. European Influence
1. Magna Carta 1215
a. King John forced to signs
b. Limits power of king
2. Parliament
a. Representative part of gov’t
b. King must consult to raise taxes
3. Colonists study Enlightenment philosophes
a. John Locke (social contract)
b. Montesquieu (separation of powers)
B. Steps to Revolution
1. People are disgruntled with England
a. England taxes colonies to pay for 7 Years War (French and Indian War)
b. “no taxation without representation”
c. limits put on self-government
2. “Common Sense” by Thomas Paine
a. Colonies should break away from England
b. Rule themselves
3. Continental Congress
a. Olive Branch Petition (offer to work with king)
b. King does not change his stance
4. Declaration of Independence
a. Thomas Jefferson (primary author)
b. Influenced by John Locke
c. Natural rights are restated
d. Governments rule with the consent of people
e. Right to remove government if not doing its job
f. List of grievances about king of England
g. Declaration of War and of Independence
C. Impact of the American Revolution
1. America becomes symbol of freedom
a. Europe
b. Latin America
2. Other countries copied Declaration of Independence and Constitution
3. Successful revolution inspired other countries
a. France
b. Challenge absolute monarchs
II. French Revolution
A. Old Regime
1. France before the revolution
a. Set up in 3 classes: estates
b. First Estate = clergy
c. Second Estate = nobility
d. Third Estate = peasants
2. Taxes were uneven
a. First Estate and Second Estate almost tax exempt
b. Third Estate paid most of the taxes but least able to pay
3. Special Privileges
a. First = controlled education, high government officials
b. Second = high government officials, military
c. Both First and Second could tax the Third Estate
4. Absolutism
a. Clearly set with Louis XIV
b. Louis XVI wanted to restore it
5. The Estates General (legislative body) had not met in 175 years.
B. Stages of the Revolution
1. Constitutional Monarchy
a. Moderate controlled the government
b. Declaration of the National Assembly
c. Storming of the Bastille
d. Declaration of the Rights of Man
2. Republic
a. War breaks out with other European countries who are threatened by the Revolution
b. Radicals take over the revolution
c. Execute Louis XVI and his wife Marie Antoinette
d. Committee of Public Safety
i. Led by Maximilien Robespierre
ii. Make sure foreign invasion and domestic protestors squashed
3. Oligarchy
a. Directory Established
b. Rule by a few Consulate (three rulers which Napoleon dominated) (1799-1804)
c. Napoleon takes over (1804)
C. Events of the French Revolution
1. Estates General called in 1789
a. Third Estate wanted to the right to alter government and demanded estates General meet as a unified group.
b. First and Second estate refuse
c. Third Estate declared itself a National Assembly
2. Tennis Court Oath (1789)
a. Third estate declares itself a national Assembly
b. Pledges to meet until France has constitution
3. Storming of the Bastille July 14, 1789
a. Bourgsousie (French workers) attack French prison (Bastille)
b. Symbolic of the Old Regime
c. Freed some prisoners
d. Confiscated few weapons
4. Abolition of special Privileges (1789)
a. Nobles meet at night
b. Agreed to give up feudal dews, tax exemption, and hunting rights
5. Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen (August 1789)
a. Mirrors declaration of Independence of US
b. Rights like life, liberty, property, security, and resistance of oppression
c. Taxation by consent of people
d. Equality before the law
6. Civil Constitution of the Clergy (1790)
a. Church is under Government control
b. Church officials are elected by all and paid by state
c. Caused a major split in support for the Revolution
7. Reign of Terror (1793-1794)
a. Executed King Louis XIV and Marie Antoinette
b. Executed many nobles (about 40,000)
c. Focused on possible traitors.
8. Thermaidorian Reaction
a. Reaction against Reign of Terror
b. Led to formation of the Directory
c. More conservative by corrupt oligarchy
D. Effects of the French Revolution
1. challenged the idea of divine right of kings
2. removed feudal restrictions from France
3. democratic government and social equality
4. models for citizens in other countries.
E. Napoleon’s France
1. from lower noble family but sympathetic to revolution
2. established himself in military
3. dominates the Consulate (1799-1804)
a. reduced the first and second consul
b. had plebiscite make him first consul for life
4. Plebiscite declares him French Emperor (1804)
5. Goes to war against majority of Europe
a. Wins battles against Austria, Prussia, Russia
b. Extends the empire
6. Dominates other countries by marriage and treaty
a. Spain
b. Austrian Empire
c. Italy
7. Cannot beat England
a. Continental System (1806) boycott of British goods backfires
b. English blockades Europe
8. Russia retreated into itself after leaving Continental system of alliance with France
a. “scorched earth Tactic” retreat and burn
b. Napoleon follows and hits Russian Winter Hard
c. Napoleon overthrown and exiled to Elba
9. Napoleon returns and tried to recapture throne
a. Exiled to St. Helena
10. Napoleonic Accomplishments
a. Napoleonic Code (1807) equality before the law, male = head of household, religious freedom, business laws
b. Concordat of 1801 recognized Roman Catholicism as religion of majority, church gave up right to tithes, Pope regained control over some officials
c. University of France (1902) established national system of education
d. Legion of Honor (1802) established to honor those who served France (civilian or military)
11. Effects of the Napoleon
a. satiability for the country with Napoleonic Codes
b. introduction of French Revolution ideas to rest of Europe by Napoleon
c. Sold Louisiana Territory to US
d. Weakened Spain so much it lost its colonial empire in North America
F. Congress of Vienna
1. goal: restore the balance to Europe
2. ignored the desire of local people
3. reset the old boundaries
4. leads to nationalism movement.
5. restored French and Spanish kings