american and french revolutions
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American and French Revolutions. “Liberte, Egalite, Fraternite”. Quick American Revolution. Based on Enlightenment beliefs, Rousseau, Locke, Montesquieu Colonies resented paying taxes without a representative in Parliament - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
American and French Revolutions“Liberte, Egalite, Fraternite”
Quick American Revolution Based on Enlightenment beliefs, Rousseau, Locke, Montesquieu Colonies resented paying taxes without a representative in Parliament British imposed higher taxes after the French and Indian (Seven Years’)
War British also restricted colonial movement west as a result
Colonies Revolt 1776, Declaration of Independence,
Thomas Jefferson (based on John Locke), “Life, Liberty, and Pursuit of Happiness”
With aid of French, the Americans are successful by 1781
Articles of Confederation too weak 1789 New Constitution by James
Madison: checks and balances and separation of powers (based on Baron de Montesquieu)
Bill of Rights added individual freedoms
French Revolution1789
Causes Political
Absolute monarch Ministers selected by favoritism Censorship Imprisoned enemies without trial, charges, bail,
jury People no say in government
Social & Economic Causes Social
Three distinct classes (Estates) First Estate: Clergy Second Estate: Nobility Third Estate: Everybody
else (bourgeoisie, workers, peasants)
First and Second estates: 3% of population, owned
most of land Exempted from most taxes Special treatment from law
Third estate bore almost entire tax burden
Influence of English and American Revolutions
English Two countries geographically close Many English had taken refuge in France French Enlightenment philosophers praised the
English Parliamentary system American
French fought for Americans Brought back Revolutionary ideas
King Louis XVI 1774-1792 No charisma, small
minded Queen Marie
Antoinette very unpopular, vain, frivolous, and a foreigner from Austria
Immediate Causes Louis XVI bankrupted France by court
extravagance and war Summoned the Estates-General (French
Legislature) Hadn’t been summoned in 175 years (because he
summoned them it made him seem weak) Each estate was represented and got 1 vote each,
the First and Second estates always outvoted the Third
Revolution Begins Third Estate demanded the Estates General be turned into a National
Assembly with each member having one vote (1st: 300, 2nd: 300, 3rd: 600) King Rejected idea Third Estate
Declares itself the National Assembly Tennis Court Oath: pledged to provide France with a constitution
Storming of the BastilleJuly 14, 1789 Rumor that king sent
troops to disband National Assembly
Paris mob stormed Bastille, prison holding political prisoners and symbol of Old Regime
Actually released no political prisoners, but 154 Mental patients
Anniversary is French Independence Day
Work of the National Assembly1789-1791
Abolition of special privileges by 1st and 2nd estate
Declaration of the Rights of Man Liberty, property, resistance to oppression All citizens should have a voice in government All equal before law Freedom of speech, press, religion
Based on Declaration of Independence Church lands broken up and sold to ease
financial problems Took power from Catholic Church Constitution of 1791
Limited monarch’s power, made a Legislative Assembly
Limited Monarch 1791-1792Favored by bourgeoisie and peasants
Favoring a RepublicFavoring a Republic Girondists: moderate
bourgeoisie, wanted Republic similar to US
Jacobins: Radical city workers, paid no taxed; therefore had no voice in government Wanted republic run by poor Opposed king and
bourgeoisie
Favoring the Old RegimeFavoring the Old Regime Louis XVI Devout Catholics French Nobles Foreign Monarchs: feared
that their own people would revolt
National Convention (1792-1795) French Legislature deposed
king and set up a new Government called the National Convention
National Convention proclaims France a republic First French Republic
National Convention tried Louis XVI for treason and sentenced him to beheading by the guillotine
Reign of Terror Jacobins seize control of the
National Convention; set up Committee of Public Safety led by Robespierre
Reign of Terror instituted to protect revolution from “domestic” enemies
Arrested everyone suspected of treason
Sentenced thousands to death by guillotine, no matter how small or far-fetched the evidence
Eventually people ridded themselves of the Committee for Public Safety and Robespierre was killed on the guillotine
Democratic Ideals of the Revolution Liberte: freedom for all
and a voice in government
Egalite: equal treatment before law, society, and business
Fraternite: brotherhood of all persons
"Unity, indivisibility of the Republic; liberty, equality or death".
Results: Emphasis on Nationalism Influenced people throughout the world
Western Europe Latin America Asia Africa