1. Absolutism Enlightenment Scientific Revolution Democratic Revolutions
Unit 4
Absolutism
Enlightenment
Scientific Revolution
Democratic Revolutions

2. Absolute Monarchs Ruled by “divine right” – power from God
Pros - Increased country’s power; economic growth; efficient, quick decisions
Cons – Costly wars; disregard for the people, taxes, social inequality, corruption

3. Monarchs
France – Bourbon; Louis XIV – “The Sun King”; L’etat c’est moi (I am the state); palace at Versailles
Spain – Phillip II – most Catholic king; lost Spanish Armada to England in 1588
Russia – Romanovs; Peter the Great – westernized Russia; “windows” (ports); men shaved beards; Catherine the Great
Prussia – Hohenzollerns; Frederick the Great; expanded military
Austria – Hapsburgs – Maria Theresa, Joseph II; expanded Austria, fought Protestants
England – Tudors – Henry VIII, Elizabeth I

15. Absolutism - Summary
Achievements – weakened the nobles, provided strong central government, wealth and power to nations, generally furthered growth of nation states
Weaknesses – nation’s welfare depended on one person, sacrificed national well-being for personal or family interests, led nations into costly wars, disregarded the rights of the common people
Enlightenment ideas will challenge absolutism and lead to revolutions

16. English Revolution (Civil War)
Stuart family follow popular Tudors
James I and Charles I
Divine right, ruled without Parliament
Parliament issues Petition of Right
No taxes w/out Parliament
Can’t imprison without charge – habeas corpus
No quartering of troops
Oliver Cromwell (Puritan) leads Parliament (Roundheads) to victory over Stuarts (Cavaliers); Charles beheaded!
Cromwell rules as a dictator – hated by many

17. England cont. Cromwell dies; Stuarts return (Restoration)
Charles II and James II
Reforms – pledges to observe Magna Carta; Petition of Right; Habeas Corpus Act
James II antagonizes Parliament
Glorious Revolution - William and Mary become king and queen; bloodless revolution; Bill of Rights

18. English Civil War Summary
James I
Charles I
War - Cromwell (Parliament) rules
Charles II
James II
A “James” sandwich 

19. Scientific & Intellectual Rev.
Renaissance spirit
Questioning leads to scientific achievements
Use of reason and logic (not medieval superstition)
Scientific method and experimentation
Ptolemy's (geocentric) theory that planets revolve around the earth is disproved
Copernicus – earth revolves around sun (heliocentric)
Kepler – laws of planetary motion; elliptical orbit
Galileo – telescope; confirmed Copernicus
Newton – laws of motion and gravity

20. Cont. Boyle – chemistry; gases
Leeuwenhoek – microscope; discovered previously invisible world of bacteria, cells
Vesalius – dissections; science of anatomy
Harvey – blood circulation
Bacon – scientific method

21. Enlightenment (Intellectual Revolution)
Based in the Scientific Rev. and Renaissance
Focus on reason, questioned governments
Could apply scientific method to real life
The Philosophes:
John Locke – (Two Treatises of Government)
Natural rights – life, liberty, property
Governments exist through “consent of governed”
Government should protect these rights
If they fail, people can replace government

22. Enlightenment cont. Montesquieu – (The Spirit of the Laws)
Separation of powers
3 Branches - legislative, executive, judicial
Checks and balances
Foundation of U.S. system (Constitution)
Rousseau – (The Social Contract)
Society agreed to be governed
Individuals must abide by majority

23. Enlightenment cont. Adam Smith – (The Wealth of Nations)
Natural law should apply to the economy
People should pursue economic interests
Government should protect people but leave the economy alone
Laissez faire – “hands off”
Foundation of capitalism

24. Enlightenment Voltaire Foundation of U.S. Bill of Rights Free speech
Religious equality
Foundation of U.S. Bill of Rights
Speech, press, religion, bear arms, jury, attorney, etc.

25. Enlightenment
Mary Wollstonecraft – feminist; criticized men in government; women should be educated
If using “reason” then women should have equal rights to men
Salons – elegant rooms where philosophes met, discussed, etc.

26. American Revolution
Democratic reforms long part of English history (thus the colonists)
Mercantilism – trade with GB for 150 years; mutually beneficial – resources for products
Salutary Neglect – ignored colonists, allowed self government
Many disconnected from England
1607 – Jamestown; Georgia
French & Indian War – GB gains new territory; begins to tax and control colonies
No taxation without representation

27. American Revolution cont.
Boston Tea Party, Boston Massacre
Enlightenment Ideas
Declaration of Independence (1776) – Thomas Jefferson
George Washington in command of Continental Army
Victory in 1781 – new country & new govt.

28. American Revolution cont.
Constitution creates framework for govt.
Based on
Separation of Powers – 3 branches
Checks and Balances – Each branch limits the other
Federalism – We live under federal and state govt.
Bill of Rights – Added to protect rights

29. American Revolution cont.
Speech, religion, press, assembly, petition, bear arms, warrant, speedy trial, confront witnesses, no self incrimination, attorney (counsel), jury, no double jeopardy, no cruel or unusual punishment

30. French Revolution

31. Doctors, Lawyers, “Bourgeoisie”, Merchants, Peasants
1st – Clergy 1%
2nd – Nobles 2%
ESTATES SYSTEM
3rd - 97%
Doctors, Lawyers, “Bourgeoisie”, Merchants, Peasants
Everyone Else!

33. French Revolution - Causes
Estates System
1 – Clergy
2 – Nobles
3 – Everyone else (97%)
Included bourgeoisie (middle class), educated, wealthy; NOT JUST PEASANTS
Weak, incompetent king – Louis XVI
Excessive spending on Versailles, American Revolution; extravagant lifestyle (Marie too)

34. French Revolution People had no voice in government
Estates General not used in 175 years
Inflation
1st and 2nd Estates exempt from taxes, military service, etc.
Unemployment
Poor harvests
Starvation
3rd Estate bore tax burden

35. Events Louis XVI calls Estates General – needed $
3rd Estate declared themselves National Assembly
Tennis Court Oath – won’t disband until a constitution is created (Am. Rev.)
Bastille is destroyed
Revolution begins

36. Events Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette beheaded
Reign of Terror (radical phase)
Robespierre executes thousands of “enemies of the Revolution”
Guillotine

37. Events Napoleon Bonaparte – coup d’etat
Economic reforms; education; Napoleonic Code (legal rights); public works; makes peace with Church (Concordat)
At war constantly - neighboring monarchs feared revolution
Invaded Russia – big mistake (“scorched earth”)
Defeated at Waterloo

38. Events
Revolutions in Haiti, Latin America – many nations revolt against Spain
Overall leads to new nations, democratic governments, constitutions, defeat of monarchs, spirit of nationalism

39. The Congress of Vienna Meetings to restore peace and stability
Russia, Prussia, Austria, GB, France
Dominated by Klemens von Metternich (Austria)
Create a balance of power so no one was a threat
Restore royal families to the throne
Legitimacy – restore “legit” monarchs
Limit the power of France
Stop the spread of revolutions

40. Congress of Vienna
Concert of Europe – each pledged to help one another if revolutions broke out
Conservatives happy – return to the old ways
Liberals (wanted democratic change, revolution, etc.) – not happy
Leads to nationalism where countries will demand independence, revolution
Latin America – successful
Europe - unsuccessful