Midterm Study Guide Flashcards
What type of government was used before the Enlightenment?
Monarchy
What institution was even more powerful than the royalty during the Dark Ages?
Catholic church
How was science treated at the time?
Because they went against official church teachings, any science that the church didn’t agree with was criticized, tortured, or killed.
What is the Enlightenment?
The enlightenment is a time period of immense change. It contained an explosion of ideas that focused on individual happiness and rights through logic and reason.
What are the three largest effects of the Enlightenment?
Less religious outlook
Belief in Progress
Importance on the Individuals
What undermined the power and influence of the Catholic Church?
Scientific advances
During the Dark Ages, whose happiness was the most important? Afterwards?
Kings and Queens, The common people
What is the social contract?
An agreement between the citizens and the government to follow rules in return for safety
What are the three Natural Rights?
Life
Liberty
Property
According to John Locke, what is a government’s main concern?
To protect the natural rights of its citizens
How was the French and Indian War important in bringing about the American Revolution?
The war left the English in debt, which made them try to erase by taxing the colonists. The Colonists were upset about paying taxes AND not have representation.
What is Mercantilism?
The policy of linking national security to national wealth. This made the English view the colonies as nothing more than money makers
Why did the British occupy Boston, and pass the rest of the Intolerable Acts?
This was done in response to the Boston Tea Party, and were meant as a punishment for the colonists
What were the Intolerable Acts?
Occupying Boston and shutting down its harbor
Disbanding the colonial government and installing a dictator
Forcing colonists to house and feed the English troops
Allowing loyalists to be tried for crimes in England
Explain how the Enlightenment ideas inspired the American Revolution.
John Locke thought that a government was only supposed to be around to protect natural rights, and if it didn’t it should be overthrown. England was only trying to make itself richer, and wasn’t protecting our rights (the Navigation Acts, the Stamp Act, not allowed us to govern ourselves, forcing us to house their troops, etc.)
In what ways can you still see the impact of the Enlightenment on the United States government?
We have a government that focuses on protecting its citizens’ happiness. Voting rights, freedoms of speech religion, press, etc. 3 branches of government, trial by jury, no illegal search and seizure, capitalism
What things did the first and second estates (France) have in common?
All had political power, paid no taxes, were wealthy, and there were very few of them
What is the only quality that all 3rd estate members shared?
All lacked political power, and paid taxes
How large was the 3rd estate, and what kind of people did it encompass?
97% of the population. Included everyone from rich business owners, merchants and artisans to peasants and poor unskilled city workers and the homeless
Describe the living conditions for the peasants. Give specific examples.
Were small farmers who grew just enough food to survive on, gave half to the king. Lived in a one room house, with no windows or heat, ate anything they could find. Were very close to starvation all the time. Had no rights, were used only to make the king richer and more powerful
What are four economic problems that France had before the Revolution?
Raising taxes on the citizens caused an economic collapse
Droughts killed crops and made food too expensive to buy
France spent too much money help the colonists in the American Revolution
General overspending by the king and queen on themselves
In what two ways did the American Revolution help to bring about the French Revolution?
France spent so much money helping us, that they ruined their own economy
The successes of our revolution, and the government that followed were an inspiration to France
How did Enlightenment ideas helped bring about the French Revolution?
John Locke thought that a government was only supposed to be around to protect natural rights, and if it didn’t it should be overthrown. French peasants were only used to make the king richer, and the government was taking away the rights of the peasants. (Taking their food, no freedoms of speech or religion, executing peasants without a trial for small crimes.)
Which Estate took power in the French Revolution?
3rd