Revolutions in the Wake of the Enlightenment: AP World History
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Revolutions in the Wake of the Enlightenment: AP World History Review: In response to the age of Absolutism (a response to the period of Religious wars) Europe saw a massive resurgence in abstract thought. The initial form of this thought process occurred in the form of the Scientific Revolution and later mutated when social scientists applied these notions to their respective societies. The results were amazing. Volumes of political literature were composed in response to the growing discontent of absolutism. The results are the works of John Locke, J.J. Rousseau, and Baron de Montesquie amongst others. Out of the movement two schools of thoughts emerge; Liberal: a school of thought promoting change and the rights of the individual. These individuals promoted equality and liberty of ideas and opportunity. Conservative: a school of thought interested in preserving the status quo, more interested in the power of the monarch, clergy and aristocracy. The political undercurrents in Europe in the mid 18th century were divided yet the ideals were clearly conquered by the monarchies. All of Europe was ruled by Monarchies. While some were parliamentary in nature, it is clear that the social undercurrents of the Enlightenment were impacting their success as people began whispering for “Life, Liberty, and Property”. The words of the Social Contract now refined by Locke and Rousseau were on the lips of every liberal on the continent. Clearly the environment was ripe for a change. The first example of change occurred in the New World in the Colonies held by mother England. Revolution in the United States: Causes of American Independence: A growing sense of patriotism and national identity. Increased resentment of the British policies of economic dominance over the colonies. The British Mercantilist policies called for a dominance of colonies and their trade and acts such as the navigation acts severely limited the economic policy making institutions of the colonies. Increased resentment of British Taxation: the colonists didn’t realize that their levels of the taxation were amongst the lowest in the world…however, it was not necessarily the amount of taxes they paid (at least to the enlightened populace of the East coast), rather it was the notion that they were being taxed without receiving a say in Parliament. Stamp Act Tea Monopoly were also painful to the colonists American merchants and their desire to gain independence of their own economic destiny, Adam Smith’s capitalist doctrines had inspired this powerful class. The influence of the Enlightenment, which had reached the parlors of Boston as it had the salons of Paris. Especially powerful were the ideas of Rousseau on Thomas Jefferson. The Seven Years War‐aka French and Indian War. This conflict an extension of European global politics during the 1760’s saw fierce battles rage in the colonies between the English and French. The result a massive increase in colonial taxation, in the form of parliamentary acts. American independence and geography: England’s scattered politics prior to the 1770’s along with the distance between “Mother and child” provided the colonies to become very self‐ sufficient and independent politically. The catalyst: the Boston Tea Party of 1773 which saw the colonists outraged over a forced monopoly of Indian Tea, harvested by the British. The tea was of a higher quality than any the colonists had seen and was actually significantly cheaper, however it violated the principles of the enlightenment. The result‐tea flavored fish! The early governance: the first colonial attempts at governing came in the form of the continental congresses. The First called met in Philly in 1774. The first was a meeting of radicals who did little more than debate and attempt reconciliation. The result was war in April of 1775 at Lexington and Concord. The American Military effort: can only be described as weak. The poorly trained, poorly funded, outmatched, outnumbered battalions had only two advantages over the superior Brits. 1. They had a cause, the British didn’t even do all the fighting, leaving that to Hessian mercenaries. 2. They had only one foe; the British were involved with several major European powers in warfare and did not turn their full attention to the Colonists. The situation was so bleak for Washington and his men that they all had non‐staggered 1 year enlistments that expired every new years eve! The war was about to be lost until the quartet of actions listed below: 1. The publication of Common Sense by Thomas Paine, a European Enlightened philosopher whose brilliant, motivating attack, riled the colonies in support of the war effort. 2. The passage of the Declaration of Independence: on the surface at the time a powerless annoying document to the British, but one that served to inspire the colonists and is now a national symbol. 3. The victory at Trenton: during which Washington crossed the Delaware on Christmas Eve and surprised a battalion of Hessians for a major victory. Inspiring the men to stay on for the next enlistment year. 4. In late 1787 the victory at Saratoga brought the French into the war on the side of the colonists. Louis XVI convinced that the colonists could win the war with French Naval and economic support tilted the side. Other advantages/notes: ∙ The colonists were fighting at home ∙ The colonists had tremendous military leadership in Washington ∙ The colonists had tremendous political leadership in their enlightened class which consisted of Jefferson, Hancock, Adams’s, and Madison amongst many ∙ The strength and stability added by the first governing body in the United States…the Second Continental Congress, which began to act as a unifying force in the colonies. Future: The Treaty of Paris 1783 is a unique document in which the Colonists claimed the land to the East of the Mississippi River but also saw the colonists make a fairly positive break with the British. Both sides knew that they were not going to survive without the economic cooperation that had marked their relationship for the first 200 years of their existence. Politics: The colonists in a knee‐jerk reaction to the hated absolutism (perceived) of King George III drew up the Articles of Confederation which placed the decision making powers in the hands of the states and gave them very few powers to govern. The effects were disastrous as the colonies were hardly united… It became obvious to the forefathers that this political arrangement was totally ineffective and did not support a developing nation. The result was a scrapping of the Articles in 1787 at Philadelphia. It is at this time that our remarkable Constitution known for its flexibility and power was adapted. The debates raged as the colonists debated enlightenment principles and eventually decided on a document based on a separation of powers, delegation of powers, and a federal republic. The needs of the Anti‐Federalists (state’s rights) were met with the inclusion of a Bill of Rights to preserve the Lockian principles of natural rights. The French Revolution: Chronology ‐ Sketch of Events 1788‐89 French State undergoes a massive revolution in politics but also in society and the way people think. The calling of the Estates General in 1789 was the catalyst for the Revolution. 1789‐1792 ‐ Liberal Revolution 1792‐1794 ‐ Radicalization 1795‐1799 ‐ Ineffective Reaction 1799‐1815 ‐ Napoleon ‐ did he destroy or establish the FR? A. The Estates System 1. First Estate: The Clergy 1% of pop, with 10% of land.They had wealth, land, privileges and they levied a tax on the peasantry, the tithe, which generally went to some remote bishop or monastery rather than the local parish priest. The First Estate was perhaps 100,000 strong. But note that there were many poor clergymen in this Estate, and they were going to support the Revolution. 2. Second Estate: The Nobility 2‐5% of pop, with 20% of the land. They also had great wealth and taxed the peasantry: There was a ʺfeudalʺ resurgence in 18th century. 400,000 people. The great division among the Nobility was between the Noblesse dʹepee, dating from the Middle Ages, and the Noblesse de Robe: later nobles whose titles came from their possession of public offices. 3. Third Estate: Everyone Else 95‐97% of the pop. There were some few rich members, the artisans and all the peasantry. These were also class divisions. In the modern world we only consider the Third Estate. Its Victory has been total. B. Subdivisions of the Third Estate 1. The Bourgeoisie 8% of the pop, about 2.3 Million people, with 20% of Land. They often bought land and exploited the peasants on it. In Third Estate, the most important group politically was the Bourgeoisie. The Bourgeoisie had been growing throughout the century, to some extent encouraged by the monarchy. By 1788 it was very important and its members were well read, educated and rich (fivefold increase in trade 1713 ‐1789). But this important group had no say in running the country. 2. The Peasants with 40% of the land, formed the vast majority of population. There was population growth in this period: perhaps 3,000,000 people added over the century. Peasants paid the most tax: aristocrats did not pay. Peasants alone paid the taille. They alone had to give labor service to the State. They also had to pay the tithe, in kind, to the clergy. As well as these taxes, peasants had to give services to their Landlords: this is sometimes called `feudalʹ service. They also pay dues to their feudal (seigniorial) lord when they sold land that was in all other ways their own. Poverty was intense, but varied by region.