What factors contributed to the French Revolution? (there were 2 factors)
1- the structure of French society:
-nobility and clergy had privileges
-this created profound social tension plus the unrest in french society
-there were three estates:
-first estate: the Clergy
-second estate: the Nobles
-third estate: the commoners + bourgeoisie
2- France’s financial crisis
-during the reign of Louis XVI, France’s financial debt tripled
-this plunged them into a financial crisis
-by the 1780s, nearly 50% of the annual budget went to interest payments for the debt; the rest went to maintaining the king’s expenses in Versailles
-the minister of finance attempted to raise state revenue by imposing a land tax on the clergy and the nobles, but it was rejected
-they claimed they needed the approval of the Estates-General
What events immediately preceded the French Revol.? (there were 2 events)
1- the meeting of the Estates-General:
- held in Versailles in May 1789
- consensus that absolute monarchy should give way to constitutional monarchy
- however, disagreement over the voting process: 3rd estate wanted a more representative vote, since 1st and 2nd always combined to outvote them.
2- formation of national assembly:
- June 17, 1789: delegates of the 3rd estate decided to form the national assembly
- they swore the Oath of the Tennis Court, swearing not to disband until they had written a new constitution
Explain the Outbreak of the Revolution (attack of the Bastille, spread of the insurrection, abolishment of noble privileges, march of the Parisian women to Versailles, arrest & execution of the king), give a key date (storming of the Bastille)
June 14, 1789: the storming of Bastille, the state prison, a symbol of the french monarchy
-the insurrection was successful, citizens took control of Paris
-spread throughout France, peasants attacked the property of their lords and stopped paying taxes
Aug 1789: delegates of the national assembly abolished all noble privileges
Oct 1789: an angry mob of Parisian women marched into Versailles to protest the price of bread, which had risen.
-they demanded the King leave the luxury of Versaille and live in Paris
June 1791: royal family attempted to escape Paris
-amid rumours of treason, the king was arrested and guillotined in 1793
What were the consequences of the French Revol.? (there were 2)
1- Aug 1789: National Assembly issued the Declaration of the Rights of the Man and the Citizen
- charter outlining natural rights of man (liberty, security, property, resistance to oppression)
- guaranteed individual freedom, equality before the law, and representative government
2- Sept 1791: National Assembly drafted a new constitution:
- it created a new form of government: constitutional monarchy
- National Assembly held real power (to make laws, impose taxes)
- King remained, but with limited power
What were the main ideas of the Renaissance Humanists? (there were 4 ideas)
1- they emphasized human begins and human intellectual achievement:
-man was considered to be “the measure of all things” , not God or Christ
2- it was based on the critical study of classical literature, with the goal of understanding human nature
3-believed that each person is free to develop their own special talents, and that human beings have an unlimited potential
4- although it was a complete break from medieval thought, there was a persistence of strong religious feelings about Renaissance humanists:
-they believed that man is made in the image of God and that humans embody the divine.
-because humans are endowed with divine qualities, they believed there are no limits to what man can achieve
What factors led to the Scientific Revolution (less important)?
1- renaissance patrons (ex: Medici family)
2- geographic explorations of Europeans
3- emergence of universities
What were the major figures of the scientific revolution?
1- Nicholas Copernicus:
- a polish astronomer
- first to challenge Aristotlelian view (that Earth is at the center of the universe)
- developed heliocentric theory: that sun is at the center
- this challenged church’s view: only presented his theory as an alternative
- 1543: authorized the theory’s publication on his deathbed
2- Galileo Galilei:
- considered to be the first modern scientist
- applied experimental methods in physics and astronomy
- physics: he explored the laws of motion by dropping items of different weights from the tower of pisa
- astronomy: he used the telescope to make observation of the moon and other planets. He also publicly defended the heliocentric hypothesis, with proof he’d discovered with his telescope.
3- Isaac Newton:
- english scientist who revolutionized physics
- explained the forces that control the movement of planets and objects on Earth:
- he discovered Law of Universal Gravitation, which he demonstrated mathematically
- Newton’s Law of Universal Gravitation:
- idea that every body (object) in the universe attracts another body
- the force of attraction between two bodies depends on mass and is inversely proportional to distance.
Who were the major figures of the Enlightenment?
1- Voltaire:
- 1734: published book “Philosophical Letters”
- in it he praises English form of government and its balance of power
- his book caused a scandal and was banned
- he believed all men are born free and equal
- was an outspoken advocate for civil liberties: freedom of thought, expression, and consciousness (faith)
2- Montesquieu:
- his book on political theory: The Spirit of the Laws (1748)
- developed a theory of separation of powers: political power should be divided:
- parliament (legislative)
- king (executive)
- judges + courts (judiciary)
- they would guarantee individual freedom + justice, and prevent despotism (single ruler)
Describe the first estate.
First Estate: The Clergy
- numbered about 100 000
- they were church officials
- they had privileges:
- owned large amount of properties
- lived life of luxury, exempt from taxes
- imposed its own tax on 3rd estate, the tithe (la dime)
Describe the second estate.
Second Estate: The Nobles:
- numbered about 400 000 (2% of pop)
- were landowners
- paid lighter taxes and other privileges
Describe the third estate.
Third Estate: The Commoners
- they were mostly small farmers and peasants
- vast majority (95% of pop)
- owned about 30% of land
- lived in conditions of economic hardship and rural misery
- burdened by rising price of bread and heavy tax (land tax, salt tax, etc.)
- The Bourgeoise: wealthier members of 3rd estate (artisans, merchants, lawyers)
What were the major inventions of the Ind. Rev.? (there were 3)
1- Spinning Jenny:
- invented by James Hargreaves in 1765
- better spinning wheel, could spin 100 threads at a time
- hand powered, operated by one person
- used in cottage industry
2- Water Frame:
- invented by Richard Arkwright in 1765
- cotton spinning machine that could spin several 100 threads at a time
- water powered
- required specialized factories
3- Steam Engine:
- 1769: James Watt
- became a huge commercial sucess in 1780s
- most fundamental technological invention of Ind. Rev
- provided almost unlimited power
- used in britain in multiple industries, like cotton textile to operate power looms
- applied to transportation: locomotives + steamboats
What were the major social consequences of the Ind. Rev.? (there were 2)
1- it changed the patterns of work
-by 1800s, as new factory system gained acceptance, cottage workers were subjected to increasing competitive pressures
-large number of cottage workers in need of employment moved to cities
-they became factory workers
-with decline of child labor (Factory Act passed in 1833), family unit was divided:
-men became primary wage earners
-women concentrated on housework and
childcare
2-it changed the social class structure
-lead to creation of 2 economically determined social classes:
-middle class (aka “bourgeoisie)
-factory owners, manufacturers
-joined existing middle class (educated merchants and
professionals.
-they owned the capital and means of production
-working class:
-about 80% of pop
-people who engaged in physical labor to ensure their
livelihood
-included agricultural and urban workers (factory
workers and domestic servants)
-they lived in relative poverty and experienced difficult
working conditions.
