American and French Revolution Flashcards
What was the Enlightenment period?
Period during the 18th century in which philosophers introduced new ideas about knowledge, social structures and power.
MORE DETAILED: It was an intellectual and cultural movement driven by thinkers, called philosophers in France, who believed in the power of reason to bring people out of the darkness and toward the light. The ideas advanced by Enlightenment thinkers brought about a new philosophy.
In the 18th century, the Political Regime in most European countries was an absolute monarchy. What does an absolute monarchy mean?
All power was held by a king or queen.
What was the one European country that did not have this type of political regime and what was this type of political regime called?
Great Britain, which had adopted a constitutional monarchy in 1689.
What are Fundamental rights and what was the name of the philosopher who advanced this idea?
John Locke was the philosopher who advanced the idea that all humans are born with fundamental rights (he called them “natural rights”), meaning the most important rights that must not be taken away.
Name two examples of fundamental rights.
Possible Answers:
- The right to life
- The right to equality
- The right to liberty
- The right to representation in government
- The right to own property
Why did philosophers criticize absolute monarchy?
It was a political regime that did not respect fundamental rights.
What type of political regime did philosophers propose instead of absolute power? Describe what it is.
They proposed Separation of Powers, which is a principal that requires the powers of government (legislative, executive, and judicial) to be held by separate bodies, or branches
How did Enlightenment philosophers spread their ideas?
Encyclopedias. They were distributed in Europe and America. They also gathered in the salons of the bourgeoisie to discuss their ideas.
What was the Political structure in Great Britain?
THE KING (MONARCH): held executive power
AND
BRITISH PARLIAMENT: held legislative power
How did Great Britain impose their decisions on the Thirteen Colonies politically?
In each of the Thirteen Colonies, the British governor (appointed by the king) had the right to oppose any decisions made by colonial legislative assemblies.
What did the Thirteen Colonies want, but Great Britain refused.
They wanted representation in that British parliament.
What was the Boston Tea Party?
It was a protest against the Tea Act. Dressed as Mohawk people, the colonists boarded British ships in the Port of Boston and threw entire shipments of tea overboard.
Who had the power to impose legislation in the Thirteen Colonies without their consent?
King and Parliament
