1. Revolutions
Chapter 23

2. Age of Revolution
New ideas helped stimulate a wave of revolutions in the west from the 1770s to 1848
Began roughly with the American Revolution and ended with the French in 1789 and other smaller movements up to 1848
Three forces were at work:
Cultural
Commercialization
Population Shifts

3. Cultural
Enlightenment thinkers – challenged regimes that that did not grant religious freedom
Many called for a greater voice in government
Rousseau argued for a government based on general will and democratic voting
Enlightenment thinkers encouraged economic and technological change

4. Commercialization This stirred the economies of the west
Businesspeople began to challenge the idea that aristocrats hold all the power
Many wanted more commercial techniques put into place to produce
Some might resist such as artisans and craftsmen

5. Population Jump
Western Europe experienced a huge population jump after 1730
France’s population rose 50%
Britain and Prussia rose 100%
This was due to improved nutrition
Population jumps put pressure on people
Upper class families with more children now had more reason to re-assert their power

6. This rise in population also prompted a rapid expansion of domestic manufacturing in western Europe
More jobs meant more money and villagers began wearing urban clothing
This symbolized a shift to a more consumer interest
Pre-marital sex increased
Out of wedlock births rose
Political authority began to decline
Youthful independence
Defiance of authority

7. American Revolution 1775 – rebellion Stamp Act of 1765
Declaration of Independence in 1776
French aided the Americans
Won independence in 1789
Set up a new govt structure based on enlightenment principles

8. French Revolution Enlightenment thinkers challenged govt
Wanted to limit the powers of the church, aristocracy, and monarchy
Middle class wanted a larger political role
The French govt was incapable of reform
Louis XVI – French King – under attack
A book – “The Declaration of the Rights of Man” proclaimed freedom of thought

9. Popular riot – July 14 1789 – storming of the Bastille
A new constitution was written
Monarchs elsewhere feared their power
Louis was killed by Guillotine – decapitation
The new leader was Robespierre
Pushed revolutionary reforms
A new spirit of nationalism spread across France – even got a national anthem – the 1st
The radicals fell to make way for a new leader - Napoleon

10. Napoleon Bonaparte Reduced parliament
Confirmed liberal gains – religious freedom
Centralized education
Expansion was big
An attempt to invade Russia in 1812 proved unsuccessful and Napoleon was removed from power

11. New Ideas
All of this sparked a clear division in thought about how nations should be governed – 3 ideas
Conservatives
Liberals
Radicals

12. Conservatives Opposed revolutionary goals
Defended the church and the kings

13. Liberals
Wanted to limit state interference in individual life

14. Radicals
Accepted most liberal reforms but also wanted to extend voting rights
Wanted social reforms for the lower class
Wanted a movement more towards socialism