1. Why did political revolutions occur across Europe and in Latin America
Why did political revolutions occur across Europe and in Latin America? Notes #18

2. In France, poor economic conditions and a weak king resulted in an increasing dissatisfaction of the Third Estate . . .

3. Signing the Declaration of Independence
. . . and ideas from the Enlightenment and American Revolution inspired the Third Estate to revolt, which caused the French Revolution to begin.
John Locke
Signing the Declaration of Independence

4. During this revolution, the Declaration of the Rights of Man was adopted, which stated that “men are born and remain free and equal in rights” . . .
Declaration of
Independence
(1776) 
Declaration of
the Rights of Man
(1789) 

5. . . . and a new government was created to limit the power of the king.

6. Austria and Prussia invade France (1792)
In response, other European nations began wars with France because they feared France’s revolutionary ideas would spread.
Austria and Prussia invade France (1792)

7. France’s King Louis XVI executed
As a result, radicals, led by Maximilien Robespierre, took control of France and the Reign of Terror occurred.
France’s King Louis XVI executed

8. Eventually, popular general Napoleon Bonaparte took control of France, and named himself “Emperor”.

9. The French people supported Napoleon because they hoped he would provide stability for France.
Napoleonic Code (1804)

10. Napoleon’s military failures (particularly in Russia) caused him to lose power and be exiled from France, as the French Revolution ended.
Napoleon exiled to
St. Helena
(December 1815)
Napoleon dies
(May 5, 1821)
Napoleon’s invasion
of Russia (June –
December 1812)

11. Following the defeat and end of Napoleon, the Congress of Vienna met to establish a balance of power in Europe.

12. However, the French Revolution had inspired the rise of nationalistic movements in many European nations.

13. Nationalism led to: the unification of Italy (under Count Camillo di Cavour and Giuseppe Garibaldi) . . .
Count Camillo di
Cavour
Giuseppe Garibaldi

14. . . . and the unification of Germany (under Otto von Bismarck).

15. The unifications of Italy and Germany resulted in upsetting the balance of power in Europe.

16. In Latin America, ideas from the Enlightenment and the American and French Revolutions inspired their people to revolt.

17. This led to Latin American nations winning their independence, led by individuals such as Toussaint L’Ouverture, Simón Bolívar and José de San Martín.
Simón Bolívar and
José de San Martín