The Age of Revolution & The Enlightenment 17th & 18th Centuries Overview

Expansion of European Power As a result of the Age of Exploration, European powers became extremely wealthy and powerful: Colonies Mercantilism France and Great Britain were the leaders

Great Britain & The 13 Colonies Britain had several colonies in North America in the 1700s The Atlantic Coast of what is now the United States became known as the 13 Colonies In 1763, after the Seven Years War, Great Britain also took control over New France (present day Quebec)

The 13 Colonies

The Seven Years’ War From 1756 to 1763 Britain and France fought in the Seven Years’ War The fighting started in Europe but quickly spread to the colonies During the war, The British who had a stronger military and navy, took control of several settlements in New France, including Montreal in 1760 The Treaty of Paris ended this war in 1763 and forced the French to give up the colony of New France to the British

New France Before and After the British Conquest

British Control of the Colonies The British controlled everything in the colonies: Politics Government Military

Revolutions People in the colonies were unhappy with the rules imposed by the British They wanted autonomy (to be able to make their own decisions and govern themselves) The American Revolution thus begins in 1776

What was Happening in Europe? At the same time, a revolution was also starting in France The French lived under a monarchy People were unhappy with the authority of the King and the fact that he favored higher social classes In 1789, the people of France demanded to be heard and they began their own revolution.

Where did Revolutionary Ideas Come From? During the Renaissance, the Humanists valued the importance of the individual and the role each person had in society In the 18th century, philosophers explored this idea even more and wanted respect and equality for all men They were very critical of governments and monarchs who wanted to keep all the power to themselves This period became known as the Enlightenment

The Enlightenment This way of thinking was also influenced by the technological advancements that occurred during the Renaissance and Age of Exploration Inspired by this, they argued that every person should have fundamental rights that protect them from injustices

The British Parliament The British were the first to adopt a more open system of government A Parliament consists of an assembly of representatives who are responsible for adopting laws Though not everyone got to participate, it was more democratic than an absolute monarchy (like that of the French under Louis XIV)

The Early British Parliament

Current Canadian Parliament

Enlightenment & Democracy Enlightenment philosophers believed in democracy They thought it was important for a society to account for the needs and beliefs of all the people They used the British system as an example of how a society should be run Though not perfect, the Parliamentary system was a step in the right direction

Enlightenment & Revolutions: How are they related?

How does this image relate to the concept of a revolution?