...DATE] The Enlightenment and the Atlantic Revolutions Before the Scientific Revolution and the Enlightenment movement in the sixteenth to eighteenth centuries, divine reasoning and superstition were the explanation for unknown events, leadership, and government. Kings and emperors were justified by the gods or God of the people. People were killed due to accusations of witchcraft because there was no other explanation for the peculiar event that took place. Religion was the center of almost everyone’s life, and it explained many unknown elements of the world, such as creation. However, with new ideas and a scientific background, the world went through drastic changes. The Enlightenment, with its new radical ideas, particularly about government and human reason, served as the basis and...
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...Effects of the French Revolution Robert Vincent HIS/114 Western Civilization January 4, 2013 Dennis Burin Effects of the French Revolution The French Revolution was one of the notable events that played an important part in France’s history. Women, common men, clergy, and nobles took drastic steps to secure freedom for a country that was financially ruined. Liberty During the French Revolution, classes of people were fighting for liberty. Surprisingly enough, woman’s participation played a vital role of the French Revolution; they participated in political, social, and military roles (Grout, 2009). For example, the march of French women participated in the French Revolution due to the promise of universal rights, which were never fulfilled. The French Revolution caused France to institute divorce into their legislation in 1792 giving women the right to a divorce. The legislation was revoked under the Restoration when France returned to orthodoxy in 1816 (Commaille, 1983). The revolutionaries claimed that liberty was an inalienable right, especially because the American colonist defeated the British in the War of Independence. On October 5, 1789 six thousand Parisian women marched on toward Versailles forcing the King to make decisions on problems with the bread supply, high prices, and starvation (Geary, Kishlansky, & O’Brien 2010). Equality and Democracy The French citizens not only wanted liberty, but they also wanted equality. The French people were...
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...The American Revolution is a controversial war that caused a chain reaction of revolutions because it was the first revolution of its kind. The American Revolution is believed to be a war that caused a worldly transformation. In reality, the American Revolution was not truly revolutionary. The war did not have any true revolutionary results until years after the war ended. After the American Revolution, America remained as it was before the Revolutionary War in the aspects of social, economic and political issues. The American Revolution was said to have caused equality for the new Americans, but who was truly considered to be an American (Document B)? Being an American was not a birth right, being an American was based off of economic status. Only white men that owned a significant amount of land could vote. In fact, all women, slaves, and poor white men were left without a political voice. Before the...
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...Bonaparte was a great French soldier. Born to a Nobel French family in 1769 on the island of Corsica, he moved to France in 1777 and joins the Royal military School located in Brienne, later helping the country defeat Britain at Toulon during the French Revolution. In reward, he was made a Brigadier General. He later commanded a thirty thousand man French army in Italy, leading them to victory against the Austrians in 1779 (Fremont-Barnes, 2010). After this victory Napoleon negotiated the Treaty of campo Formio, earning him significant popularity upon his return to France. In Paris, the Directory has lost favor with the people because it concentrates more on waging war across Europe rather than addressing the problems facing the citizens mostly unemployment. When Napoleon learns that the Directory is losing power, he quickly returns from Egypt to Paris to cease the opportunity through a military coup, becoming the first Consul in the new government in 1799. The event marks the end of the chaos caused by the French Revolution, and Napoleon stands out as the savior of the country from the chaos of living in Paris in 1799 through his actions both inside and outside France depicted in the events below: July 25th 1799 Napoleon leads the French army to victory over the Ottoman army led by Seid Mustafa Pasha at the battle of Abukir to prevent any attempts by the British to end French rule in Egypt. The act is a clear indication that Napoleon is ready to protect French interests across...
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...Revolution is defined as the replacement of an old system with a new one, usually implemented forcefully. During the period of 1789-1799, the French revolution was revolutionary to an extent. France saw varying dramatic changes socially and politically. Its ideas, driven by the enlightenment movement, (thought which challenged divine right and promoted the use of reason and thinking for ones-self) influenced the global political landscape, and laid the foundations for future revolutions. The declaration of the rights of man was certainly revolutionary for its time, and such a document has been the precursor to modern day human rights. The very idea France, a country so traditionally routed in absolutist rule, had a revolution to challenge...
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...Was Napoleon An Heir to the French Revolution? Of all the Events of European history, the French Revolution of 1789 is without doubt one of the most important and controversial. Similarly Napoleon Bonaparte has to be amongst the most written on and opinion dividing individuals world history has ever seen. Therefore the question as to weather Napoleon was an heir to the revolution, its saviour, hijacker, or simply consolidator is probably the most frequently asked question regarding the revolution and Napoleon. In this essay I will be attempting to answer the question of weather Napoleon was an heir to the French Revolution. This will involve me firstly exploring my definition of the term heir, and my views on the explanations and definitions of the French Revolution. Having done this I will then move on to examine the reign of Napoleon. By doing this I hope to prove my view that, whilst Napoleon may be considered an inevitable consequence of the revolution, he was not its heir. Get help with your essay In my opinion the word heir describes a person's or events natural successor. Therefore the term heir to the revolution would in my opinion be used to describe the next regime, which came to embody the principles and morals of the revolution. The revolution's heir must be the regime that follows on from were the revolution left France, and presides over, or creates the kind of society the revolutionaries of 1789 intended to. It is my belief that...
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...Of all the Events of European history, the French Revolution of 1789 is without doubt one of the most important and controversial. Similarly Napoleon Bonaparte has to be amongst the most written on and opinion dividing individuals world history has ever seen. Therefore the question as to weather Napoleon was an heir to the revolution, its saviour, hijacker, or simply consolidator is probably the most frequently asked question regarding the revolution and Napoleon. In this essay I will be attempting to answer the question of weather Napoleon was an heir to the French Revolution. This will involve me firstly exploring my definition of the term heir, and my views on the explanations and definitions of the French Revolution. Having done this I will then move on to examine the reign of Napoleon. By doing this I hope to prove my view that, whilst Napoleon may be considered an inevitable consequence of the revolution, he was not its heir. In my opinion the word heir describes a person's or events natural successor. Therefore the term heir to the revolution would in my opinion be used to describe the next regime, which came to embody the principles and morals of the revolution. The revolution's heir must be the regime that follows on from were the revolution left France, and presides over, or creates the kind of society the revolutionaries of 1789 intended to. It is my belief that Napoleon and the Napoleonic regime did not either preside over or create this kind of society and as...
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...Joshua Muench July 24, 2014 Western Civ Part 2 The French Revolution The French Revolution began in 1789 and ended in the late 1790’s with the ascension of Napoleon Bonaparte. This period in European history is one of the most bold and iconic periods in the west and through it came many things of significant historic value. During this period, French citizens radically changed and redesigned their country’s political landscape, a system of century old institutions such as absolute monarchy and the feudal system. This revolution first grabbed the attention of the world due to what it promised as its outcome, human rights and broad-based political participation. Its most famous slogan pledged “Liberty, Equality, and Fraternity” for all. (595) Like in the American Revolution, the French Revolution was brought on by the ideas of enlightenment, in specific, the ideas of popular sovereignty and inalienable rights. The movement played a pivotal role in shaping modern nations. Although it failed to achieve all of its goals and at times degenerated into violent bloodbaths, the French Revolution did however show the world something, the power inherent in the will of the people. The beginnings of the French Revolution can be looked at as starting shortly after the American Revolution due to the French’s involvement. The French’s involvement in the American Revolution was a costly one, and piled along with the frivolous spending of King Louis XVI, the country was on the verge...
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...of The French Revolution By Rhiannon Collins When starting this paper the question that was kept in mind was the French Revolution worth the price that was paid and was the revolution a success. My first answer was no due to the amount of violence and the amount of lives lost, also due to the fact that the monarchy in some sense, had been reestablished through Napoleon. Though there was tens of thousands of lives lost the French Revolution played an important role in history. Jeff Goodwin, a professor of sociology at New York University, defines revolution as," any and all instances in which a state or political regime is overthrown and thereby transformed by a popular movement in an irregular extra constitutional and/or violent fashion". The sheer violence of the revolution was something that stood out to me. The French Revolutionary war was certainly violent, especially compared to our own American Revolution in 1775. It is quite possible that the French were encouraged by the American Revolution. They saw the colonies join together in revolt against an overseas king, so why could they not revolt in their own country, against their own monarch for their own rights. In the time leading up to the French Revolution, France was wealthy and extremely powerful. Through my perspective there were a few causes of the historic event of the French Revolution. Let us take a look at some of them. One causes I believe is the rise of the cost of food prior to the revolution. Right...
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...The Role of Women in the French Revolution Sarah A.Butt Western Civilization 3rd March 2010 The French revolution, which began in 1789, was a period of hatred and blood. It was a period of political upheaval of the country, and of world importance in France. Issues of rights and equality has always been a heated debate in the world, however, during the French Revolution, equality was the main exhilarating and impassioned concept that was put into matter and effect. The French Revolution, was the period of revolutionaries revolting for liberty and equality, failed to provide equals rights as French men for the French women. Even though, women played a significant role during the French Revolution, they however did not get the respect in their society, neither were they treated equally as men. In spite of their vibrant contribution throughout the Revolution, their involvements always proved contentious. The eighteen century was a period of revolutionaries, and feministic activities. One of the main causes of the further turmoil in France was the Austrian wife of Louis XVI, Marie Antoinette. In the beginning, Marie Antoinette was loved by the commoners, as she would always help them when they would get accidentally shot by Louis XVI during his hunting. However, after when Antoinette’s frivolous spending habits started to arose, people were extremely infuriated. She would squander their taxes and hard work on gambling, and wearing the most fashionable clothes, subsequently...
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...Quiet Revolution Quebec and Canada have always had a unique province-country relationship since the British North America Act of 1867. The local French-speakers, being a conquered people, have had to deal with the predicament of being a minority in their country and continent, and the years ever since the Quiet Revolution exemplify this notion. As noted by Pierre Anctil, “l'État du Québec servirait de rampe de lancement a partir de 1960, sous l'impulsion dynamique du gouvernement libéral de Jean Lesage, a un ensemble de reformes connu sous le nom de Révolution tranquille.” (189). Due to the changes and sovereign ideas brought about by the “Révolution tranquille”, a unified Canada will only be conceivable once the nationalist movement absolves. A Hartzian approach will aid in understanding the pre-revolution status of Quebec. To be able to comprehend the views of both the Canadian Federalist and the Quebec sovereigntist, a historical overview must be performed. Ever since General Wolf's victory over General Montcalm at the Battle of the Plains of Abraham, the French speaking population of Lower Canada and what is now Quebec, have lived the lives of a conquered people. This fact has, throughout the years, prevented the gelling of the French and the English into one nation. As set out by Lord Durham in 1839, the situation in Quebec has, for the longest time, been seen as "two nations warring in the bosom of a single state". Louis Hartz argues, in his approach, that French Canada...
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...terror of the guillotine – the French Revolution has all of the ingredients of an engrossing drama. Yet to delve beneath the surface of these characters and symbols is to discover the complexity of this transformative era. The events of the French Revolution, transpiring over the span of a decade, were part of a grander Age of Revolutions and at the same time were comprised of a series of smaller stories of individual French citizens becoming politically engaged amidst tremendous poverty, intellectual transformation, and ultimately... violence. A combination of factors including rising expectations spurred by the Enlightenment, massive starvation, and frustration with the mismanagement of an inept monarchy pushed the Revolution’s initial aims. These aims were worn down as political conflicts splintered revolutionary groups and led to a frenzy of executions by guillotine. The special two-hour presentation, The French Revolution, peels through the layers of these remarkable years, from 1789 through the turn of a new century, to reveal an era of intense and lasting political and intellectual change. While the complexity of the French Revolution might seem to present daunting challenges, its significance in shaping international currents merits a careful exploration. Within the course of a decade, the French monarchy was shorn of its political power, a framework was created for a universal understanding of basic human and civil rights, and countless French citizens across class backgrounds...
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...Atlantic Revolutions, 1600-1825 The revolutions of the eighteenth century have their origins in political and cultural developments of the seventeenth century. Of course, they were also products of all of major developments the European conquest of the Americas, the rise of kingdom states and empires, the tremendous wealth that resulted from the expansion of global trade, and the development of colonial cultures and societies in the Americas. Scholars call these cultures and societies creole societies, because they blended elements of European, native American, and African culture and society. Developments in England, 1641-1688 But revolutions are also inspired by ideas, and ideas that we may take for granted today had much of their start in England. Political conflict in Great Britain was a common theme of the seventeenth century. In 1641, a civil war led to the execution of the king (Charles I), and the establishment of a republic, what was known as the Commonwealth. Politics and religion both played a part in the Civil War, with the English nobility and wealthy commoners (whose interests were represented in Parliament, England’s legislature) wanting a greater say in how royal revenues were raised and spent. This republic quickly became a military dictatorship, and the old king’s son (Charles II) was invited back. But when Charles II died, the next king soon ran into trouble with Parliament, who feared that this king, James II, wanted too much power for himself. So in...
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...The American and French Revolutions had a common goal. Compare and contrast the causes and practices of the American and French Revolution. Throughout human history, few have always controlled the lives of many. This case still exists today, as governments consisting of a few hundred people attempt to do what is best for millions of others. However, the public through an electoral process most commonly selects these decision-makers. These decision-making individuals were not always selected by the public, and in some such instances, the few that ruled over others were overthrown after their actions earned the discontent of the people. Both the American Revolution and the French Revolution can be grouped as these events. In both the American and French Revolution, the ruler was regarded as a tyrant and overthrown for the benefit of the public. Although the aims of the two revolutions were quite similar, there were many differences between them. The American Revolution and the French Revolution can be categorized as events where rulers were overthrown due to their actions; however, no matter how similar the causes, there are many differences between the events of the two revolutions. The French-Indian War of 1754 was a war between the British and the French to gain control over North American colonies. The British eventually defeated the French but owed a great debt and expected the colonies to help pay for the cost of the war. The British wished to cut down on costs in its North...
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...violence and political disruption of the French Revolution. From the beginning, the French Revolution was built on conflicting ideas; men could act for their own self-interest, but not if that interest did not support the common benefit of everyone. Driven by this conflict, Edmund Burke and Thomas Paine were two specific English writers that engaged in this debate. With their argument specifically dealing with where the natural rights of men are derived from and the responsibilities of the government to their people. Having conservative views, Burke wanted to see change that respected tradition and happened slowly over time. He certainly did not want to see the state overthrown by the common man. In Reflections on the Revolution in France, Burke wanted to show his concern for the British people based on his reactions to the events in France. Thomas Paine responded to Burke’s theories with Rights of Man. Paine believed the monarchy was unnatural and evil, and the people had the right to take over a government like this at any given time. He saw the revolution as a change that developed a new state which represented the people, even ignoring or justifying the injustice of some of its actions. As the French revolution intensified with the execution of King Louis XVI and the Reign of Terror, Burke’s arguments proved more consistent than Paine’s. Edmund Burke’s interpretation of natural rights better represented the outcome of the French Revolution, ultimately being the factor that makes...
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