The document summarizes political and intellectual developments between 1750-1914 that led to revolutions in America and France, including the Enlightenment, social contract theory, influential philosophers like Locke and Montesquieu, and key documents such as the Declaration of Independence, U.S. Constitution, and Declaration of the Rights of Man. It also discusses the impact of the American and French Revolutions, including inspiring independence movements in Latin America.

1. 1750-1914

2. Vocabulary to Know
 Monarchy-undivided rule or absolute sovereignty by a
single person
 Political Revolution-the overthrow of one government
and its replacement with another
 Political Philosophy-a theory or set of theories
regarding how a government should be run
 Sovereignty-freedom from external control

3. More Vocabulary
 Absolute Monarchy-king or Queen who has absolute
power and seeks to control all aspects of society (Louis
XIV France)
 Limited Monarchy-laws limit the power of a ruler
(constitutional monarchy) (England after the Glorious
Revolution)
 Absolute monarchies may be stable and powerful but
rarely do they recognize the importance of individual
rights!

4. Enlightenment-Age of Reason
 Scientific Revolution-promotes application of reason and
the scientific method to all aspects of society, including
government
 Social Contract Theory (2 Views)
 Hobbes-people create government, but give up their rights to
a strong ruler in exchange for law and order-men should put
faith in their government to provide stability since life is
“cruel, nasty, and short.”
 Locke-people have the natural ability to govern their own
affairs-natural rights of life, liberty, and property; people can
overthrow a government that does not protect these rights!
(Heavily influenced Thomas Jefferson)

5. Enlightenment-Age of Reason
 Philosophes-apply reason to all aspects of life
including truth, nature, happiness, progress, and
liberty.
 Montesquieu-separation of powers-three branches of
government and checks and balances on these powers
 Rousseau-individual freedom-general will (majority)
should decide the laws of the nation
 Mary Wollstonecraft-women deserve the same rights as
men
 William Wilberforce-British politician who successfully
led the movement to abolish slavery in Britain in 1807

6. Impact of the Enlightenment
 European monarchies make reforms
 American and French Revolutions
 Belief in progress through social equality and
improvements in education
 More secular outlook-questioned religious beliefs and
the teaching of the Church
 Importance of the individual

7. Enlightenment leads to Revolution!
 Separation of Powers: power should not rest in the
hands of one or the few
 Checks and Balances: measures designed to prevent
one branch of government from becoming too
powerful
 Liberty: Freedom, the ability to make choices, no
oppression (social or economic)
 Equality: all MEN are equal
 Democracy: people make the political decisions (direct
or republic)

8. Enlightenment leads to Revolution!
 Popular Sovereignty: political power rests with the
people-voting and participation in government
 Human Rights: inalienable rights/individual rights
 Constitutionalism: basic principles and laws of a
government should be organized into a written
document
 Nationalism: devotion to the interests or culture of
one’s nation-independence from foreign domination-
emphasizing national rather than international goals

9. American Revolution (1775-1783)-
Causes
 Glorious Revolution(limited monarchy) and
Enlightenment(natural rights)
 “Rights as Englishmen” were violated “No taxation w/o
representation”
 British policies towards the colonies (taxes)
 Declaration of Independence (grievances against King
George III)

10. American Revolution-
Characteristics
 Started by merchant class
 Protest against taxation
 Many remained loyal to Britain
 Success due to alliances with France and Spain
 British overconfidence and fighting a long-distance
war

11. American Revolution-
Consequences
 Independence
 U.S. Constitution (1789) Bill of Rights (1st 10
Amendments)
 Inspired French Revolution (as well as Haitian and
Latin American)

12. French Revolution(1789-1795)-
Causes
 Enlightenment and American Revolution
 Inequality in the class system (1st, 2nd, and 3rd Estates)
 Abuses by nobility and kings
 Debt and high taxes
 Crop failures cause price of bread to rise above the
price that peasants can pay (famine)

13. French Revolution-Characteristics
 Originates with lower classes (as opposed to
merchants in America)
 Extreme violence-Reign of Terror, guillotine, execution
of nobility including King Louis XVI and Marie
Antoinette

14. French Revolution-Consequences
 Declaration of the Rights of Man
 Parliament established
 Peasants freed
 Chaos in government results in Napoleon and the
Army coming to power and creating the French
Empire

15. Impact of Napoleon-France
 Restored order after the Reign of Terror
 Efficient tax collection and a national bank improved
the economy
 Lycees set up as government run public schools to train
students as potential government officials
 Roman Catholic Church-majority church of France-
rejected church control over national affairs
 Napoleonic Code-uniform set of laws-limited
freedoms of speech and press, as well as women’s
rights

16. Impact of Napoleon-Europe
 Annexed Austrian Netherlands and parts of Italy
 Puppet government in Switzerland
 War against Third Coalition
(Britain, Austria, Russia, Sweden, and Prussia)
 Britain retains naval supremacy-Battle of Trafalgar
 Continental System-economic blockade against Britain
unsuccessful
 Invades Spain-brother Joseph named King
 Attempts to invade Russia, but fails (winter)
 Defeat at Leipzig-exiled to Elba
 Returns to power, but defeated at Waterloo-exiled to St. Helena
 Congress of Vienna-restore balance of power to Europe

17. Impact of Napoleon-Latin America
 Establishment of Haiti as an independent republic
after the first successful slave revolt in history
 Napoleon’s troops decimated in Haiti due to yellow
fever
 Independence movements in Spanish colonies begin
when Napoleon conquers Spain in 1808
 Spanish creoles had no loyalty and argue that power
shifts to the people

18. American and French Revs
influence Latin America
 American Rev showed that colonies could win
independence
 Both had written declarations that address natural
rights
 American allowed a free market to flourish
 French was the uprising of the common man
 Enlightenment influenced Simon Bolivar in Colombia
and Venezuela
 Both inspire revs in Argentina (Jose de San
Martin), Chile, Peru, and Mexico (Miguel Hidalgo)

19. Influential Documents
 English Bill of Rights
 Limited the monarch
 No suspension of Parliament’s laws
 No taxes w/o consent of Parliament
 No suspension of freedom of speech in Parliament
 Citizens have the right to petition the king with
grievances

20. Influential Documents
 Declaration of Independence
 Unalienable rights-life, liberty, and the pursuit of
happiness
 Governments established to protect these rights
 People have the right to change or abolish a government
that does not protect these rights

21. Influential Documents
 U.S. Constitution
 Three branches-Separation of Powers
 Checks and Balances
 Federal System (power divided between states and
national government)
 Limits on power of government
 Popular election of executive and legislators
 Bill of Rights to protect personal freedoms

22. Influential Documents
 Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen
(France)
 Men are born and remain free and equal
 Rights include liberty, property, security, and freedom
from oppression
 Governments should preserve these rights
 “Liberty, Equality, Fraternity”