4.2 Flashcards
Before the American Revolution
-great britain wanted money to pay for the expenses of the 7 years war by taxing the
-colonists (the stamp act caused riots)
colonists declared their independence through the Declaration of Independence and the war started (dun,dun, dun!!!)
Britain’s view of an empire
parliament was the supreme authority and could make laws for EVERYONE INCLUDING THE COLONISTS
Declaration of Independence
- influenced by Enlightenment thoughts
- written by Thomas Jefferson
America’s view of an empire
the king and parliament should not interfere with them and no tax could be forced upon the people without the consent of an assembly where the people were represented
The American Revolution
- the continental army was created, put under George Washington’s command, and had not that great soldiers
- the revolutionary war was also a civil war because of Loyalists
- there were also patriots
- the colonists had help from other countries (france) who wanted revenge
- after General Cornwallis’s defeat at Yorktown, the treaty of paris ended everything
Loyalists
- they were not sure if British policies justified the war
- they were wealthy and were 15 to 30 percent of the population
Treaty of Paris
- recognized the independence of the colonies
- gave them control of land from appalachians to the mississippi
Forming a New Nation after the Revolution
- they did not want a strong central government
- instead of revising the articles of confederation, they created a new constitution
The United States Constitution
- the national government could impose taxes, raise an army, regulate trade, and create a national currency
- the central / federal government controlled the other branches (check and balance)
- executive power: president could execute laws, veto legislature’s acts, supervise foreign affairs, direct military forces,
- legislative power: the Senate (elected by state legislatures) and House of Representatives (elected by people)
- a bill of rights was added which were also the 10 of 12 amendments Congress added
Bill of Rights
- gave freedom of religion, speech, press, petition, assembly, right to bear arms, protection against unreasonable arrests, trial by jury, due process of law, protection of property rights
- influenced by Enlightenment thoughts
Patriots
- they were a minority but were able to convince others to join them
- some were rich and poor people
- because there were rich and poor people in this spectrum, there was an impact on reprsentatie government in the states after the war (the right to vote was broadonede)
Impact of American Revolution on Europeans
- europeans were able to read about the america’s event (books, magazines, newspapers) and believed this signify an era of change
- convinced them that the progressive ideas of the Enlightenment people were not a fantasy, but a reality because the Americans created systems like that?
- Marquis de Lafayette influenced france
- the declaration of man and citizen were influenced by the declaration of independence and constitution
Marquis de Lafayette
- he came back to france with the ideas of individual liberties, notions (idea) of republicanism, and popular sovereignty/ rule and joined the Society of Thirty
- WAS NOT A JACOBIN
The First Estate
- made up of the clergy
- they were exempt from taille and collected taxes and had the best jobs
- the higher clergy were from aristocratic families and parish priests were from the poor
The Second Estate
- made up of the nobility
- held important jobs and controlled many of the industries
- they were divided into the nobility of the robe and sword
- through the Segur law, they were a closed community because they commonly married within their ranks
- they prized their privileges like no taxes and collected taxes
- they were separated by differences in wealth and importance (NO UNIFICATION)
Nobility of the Robe
by office holding, they attained their nobility status and even commoners could get this status
Segur Law
attempted to limit the sale of military officership to fourth generation nobles
Nobility of the Sword
they wanted to expand their privileges at the expense of the monarchy and to gain monopolies in the military, church and government
The Third Estate
- commoners
- the peasants made up a majority of this estate and although there is no more feudalism, they still had obligations to their landowners WHICH THEY DID NOT LIKE!
- wage earners also made up the third estate
The Third Estate: Wage Earners
- consumer prices rose faster than wages and caused them to have a decline in purchasing power
- for they were mad at this, this was an important role in the Revolution
- the example was that when bread prices rose, people rioted, including the unemployed
Bourgeoisie/ Middle Class
- they got security and status by purchasing land
- because nobles monopolized some privileges, the bourgeoisie were excluded from them and did not like the noble’s arrogance and this was a cause to the French Revolution
- there was a difference between wealthy financiers and local lawyers (NO UNIFICATION)
- favored laissez-faire policy (adam smith)
Similarities between Bourgeoisie and Nobility
- the wealthy bourgeoisie could enter the nobility through the nobility of the robe and getting public offices
- the aristocrats were engaging in capitalist activities on their estates and caused the members of the bourgeoisie and nobility in economic function to become one class
- they both like the enlightenment
- both of them were frustrated with the old order and caused them to take action against the king based government
Getting mad at the French Monarchy: Economy
- although there was an economic boots there were economic crisis still happening
- the number of poor was reaching crisis proportions
Getting mad at the French Monarchy: Ideas of the Philosophes
- people criticized the privileges and social and political institutions
- the philosophes ideas were going around the literate bourgeois and nobles
- during economic crisis, the government had no money and had to borrow and now were in debt
Getting mad at the French Monarchy: the royals
louis XV and XVI (marie antoinette) were both bad rulers
Getting mad the French Monarchy: Financial Crisis
- they were in massive debt because of fighting in the 7 years war and the revolutionary war in the colonies and louis XIV”s profligate spending
- charles de calonne, controller general of finance, wanted to revise the revenue system of the state and called for an assembly of notables which was a failure because they didn’t cooperate
- they were then forced to call for the estate general which showed the government was admitting the consent of the nation was required to raise taxes
Causes of the french revolution: political
- absolute monarchy/ ruling by divine right
- ministers were selected on the basis of noble birth and favoritism
- corrupt and inefficient royal government
- censorship of speech and press
- lettres de cachet
- imprisonment indefinitely, without barge, bail, or trail
- no voice of people in government
taille
land tax
corvee
forced labor on roads and bridges
gabelle
tax on salt purchases
Causes of the french revolution: economic
- the third estate had pay: taxes to the government, to the church (tithe), to the lords (feudal dues)
- the bourgeoisie had to pay provincial tariffs, guide restrictions, government mercantilist regulations
Causes of the french revolution: American and English revolution
ben franklin and thomas jefferson were representatives to paris and inspired the french
More immediate causes of the french revolution
- louis XVI brought france into bankruptcy
- they aided the american revolution
- versailles
- didn’t tax the privileged (first and second estate)
- ignorance financial minister turgot and necker
Chaiers
list of grievances
Getting mad at the French Monarchy: Failure to Make Reforms
- the parlements had the option of registering royal decrees or not
- the parelements fought against the monarchy and got power, but they didn’t use this power to make reforms
