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American and French Revolutions

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

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American and French Revolutions

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  1. American and French Revolutions “Liberte, Egalite, Fraternite”

  2. 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

  3. 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

  4. French Revolution1789

  5. Causes • Political • Absolute monarch • Ministers selected by favoritism • Censorship • Imprisoned enemies without trial, charges, bail, jury • People no say in government

  6. 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

  7. 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

  8. King Louis XVI • 1774-1792 • No charisma, small minded • Queen Marie Antoinette very unpopular, vain, frivolous, and a foreigner from Austria

  9. 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

  10. 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

  11. 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

  12. 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

  13. Favoring 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 Regime Louis XVI Devout Catholics French Nobles Foreign Monarchs: feared that their own people would revolt Limited Monarch 1791-1792Favored by bourgeoisie and peasants

  14. 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

  15. 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

  16. 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".

  17. Results: • Emphasis on Nationalism • Influenced people throughout the world • Western Europe • Latin America • Asia • Africa

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