UNIT 2-The Early Modern World
I.The Renaissance (1350-1600)
-period during which western Europeans experienced a profound cultural awakening, signaling the
beginning of modern times; rebirth of Greek/Roman culture.
A. Foundation of the Renaissance
1. Centered around the city-states of Italy, (see map on page 365) like Florence, Rome, and Venice,
important Mediterranean trade centers, serving as the gateway to and from the East.
2. Wealthy merchants, scholars, and diplomats patronized the arts (e.g.-the most famous merchant family to
do this was the Medici family.)
B. Humanism-movement influenced by ancient Greek and Roman literature that emphasized non-religious
concerns; a belief that a person could enjoy life without offending God, enjoy material luxuries, music, and
food, and enjoy classical texts.
1. Learning encouraged people to think for themselves and question authorities (political, spiritual, scientific,
and literary). They challenged long-accepted traditions, assumptions, and institutions, especially Church
traditions.
2. Humanists found the classical idea of seeking fulfillment in daily life more appealing than the medieval
belief that people should expect little comfort from life on earth.
3. The Greek idea of an ideal person: one who participated in a variety of activities: politics, sports, art,
literature, and music.
4. Universities relating to the study of humanity were started (schools of history, philosophy, Latin, and
Greek).
5. Humanism inspired new forms of writing/literature, especially about the daily life and feelings of people.
New ways of making paper came about. Libraries developed.
a.
Sonnets-short poems (Francesco Petrarca or Petrarch wrote love poems about Laura who had died
in the Black Death.)
b.
Auto-biographies: describing one’s life with their own hand (Benvenuto Cellini).
c.
Writings in political science: The Prince analyzed Renaissance Italy by Niccolo Machiavelli. He
advised rulers to be prepared to use force and deceit to maintain power.
d.
Drama-William Shakespeare wrote MacBeth & Julius Caesar.
e.
Epic Poems-Dante Alighieri wrote The Divine Comedy, discussing medieval ideas of life after
death by describing an imaginary journey from hell to heaven.
f.
Narrative Poems/Comedy-Geoffrey Chaucer wrote The Canterbury Tales, a series that described a
group of pilgrims, representing various classes and occupations of people, who told stories to
amuse one another on their way to a shrine at Canterbury, England.
g.
Johannes Gutenberg discovered a revolutionary printing technique using movable metal type,
causing books to be published more quickly and less expensively-the first printing press. This
increased literacy among people. He translated a version of the Bible where more people could
read it for themselves.
C. A new social order developed in which wealth and ability mattered more than aristocratic titles and ownership
of land. Wealthy merchants and bankers replaced the landed nobility as the most powerful social and political
group-the upper class. Shopkeepers and artisans formed a moderately prosperous middle class. At the bottom
were the peasants who worked on the estates of the upper class.
D. Scientific Discoveries
1. Nicolaus Copernicus proposed that Earth revolved around the sun; the previous thought was that Earth
was the center of the universe.
2. Galileo Galilei invented the telescope, proving Copernicus was correct.
3. Francis Bacon experimented with steam, which would later lead to the making of the steamship,
automobile, and airplane.
4. Leonardo da Vinci-wrote books on astronomy, mathematics, and anatomy. Illustrations showed designs
for parachutes, flying machines, mechanical diggers, and artillery.
E. Spiritual Discoveries/Political Questioning
1. Martin Luther questioned the authority of the Roman Catholic Church, starting the Protestant
Reformation.
2. Henry VIII started the Church of England, combining Catholicism with the Protestant belief.
F.
Architecture-During the Middle Ages, cathedral architects had pointed soaring arches and spires heavenward
for the glory of God. During the Renaissance, there was a return to the classical style with use of domes and
columns. Comfort and beauty was sought as buildings were adorned with tapestries, paintings, statues,
furniture, and glass windows. (e.g.-Filippo Brunelleschi designed the Cathedral of Florence in 1436.)
G. Sculpture: Free-standing statues of nude figures sculpted in bronze or marble.
1. Donatello-David from the Bible.
2. Michelangelo Buonarroti-David from the Bible; La Pieta which shows the dead Jesus in the arms of his
mother, Mary.
3. Lorenzo Giberti-created 10 New Testament scenes on bronze doors for Florence’s cathedral baptistry.
H. Painting-portrait painting was popularized. Objects had the appearance of distance-perspective. Fresco
painting developed: painting on wet plaster that showed life-like emotions. (Show transparencies.)
1. Leonardo da Vinci-portrayed the subjects’ personalities, thoughts, and feelings.
a. Mona Lisa-a portrait of a strangely smiling young woman of Florence.
b. The Last Supper-a wall painting of Jesus’ last meal with his disciples.
2. Michelangelo was hired by Pope Julius II in 1505 to paint the Sistine Chapel (in the Vatican) with scenes
from the Bible.
I. Fashion-New ideas and trends flowed over to the way people dressed.
1. Women’s Clothing-The basic garment was a robe/gown: high waist, low neckline, tight (wanted stomach
to protrude, padding, skirt (long like a train), corsets.
2. Men’s Clothing-pourpoint; shirt with high collar, opened at center to flare out, padded for warmth and
shaping; men wore hose and knee length robes.
3. Accessories-hats; shoes with long pointed toes (women wore platforms-helped in their walking); large
necklaces; belt with dangled keys; rings with mysterious powers (mood rings).
J.Hairstyles-tall hair; hair pieces; the ideal woman was blonde with a high forehead (bleaching was common); later,
hair was more simple-parted in the middle; lots of makeup and perfume.
K. Ideal Being
1. Ideal Man-“Renaissance Man” was educated in the classics, had manners, was charming and witty, and
athletic (a skilled rider, wrestler, etc.). In the Middle Ages, the ideal man was expected to please women
and no more.
2. Ideal Woman-well educated in music, dance, and writing; inspired poetry but did not write it; had no part
in public life; less political, economic, and social influence than medieval women, and expected to please
men.
II.
The Reformation-Renaissance values caused widespread criticism of the Catholic Church’s extravagance,
thus, called for a reformation, or change, in the Church’s ways of teaching and practicing Christianity. In
Germany, church reform led to a split in the Church that produced a new form of Christianity known as
Protestantism.
A.
Protestant Reformation
1. -begun by a German named Martin Luther, who in 1505, was nearly struck by lightning in a
thunderstorm. Terrified that this was God’s way of punishing him, this law student prayed to
Saint Anne, promised to become a monk, and entered a monastery. As a young monk, Luther
struggled to ensure his soul’s salvation, confessing sins for hours at a time, but still worried
that he was not acceptable before God.
a. Upon reading Paul’s epistle to the Romans, he came to an understanding of the Bible in a
way that he was assured of his salvation. (Romans 1:17-See p. 443 in The Western
Experience: To 1715.) He interpreted this passage to mean that a person could be made
just, or good, simply by faith in Christ. This idea became known as justification by
faith-salvation can be achieved, not by works, but by faith in Christ alone.
b. Luther became a priest and a professor in Wittenberg, and preached against the sale of
indulgences, and said the Church was corrupt. Pope Leo X raised money to rebuild St.
Peter’s Basilica in Rome by selling church offices, or positions, to his friends, and also
authorized sales of indulgences-certificates issued by the pope that were said to reduce or
even cancel punishment for a person’s sins, assuring them admission to heaven. John
Tetzel, the Church’s agent in northern Germany, promised peasants that indulgences
would relieve them of guilt for future sins. He also encouraged people to buy
indulgences for the salvation of their dead relatives.
c. In 1517, Luther nailed on the door of the Wittenberg Church a plaque with 95 theses, or
statements, criticizing the sale of indulgences and attacking other Church policies.
Printed copies spread throughout Europe. Pope Leo X tried to persuade Luther to recant,
which Luther refused, thus was excommunicated from the Church in 1521. In Worms,
Germany, Luther made his final recant and formed the first Protestant faith:
Lutheranism.
d. Teachings of Martin Luther:
1.
Salvation by faith alone-no amount of good works can win God’s approval for
salvation, only trust in God’s love and mercy through Jesus Christ.
2.
Religious truth and authority lie only in the Bible.
3.
The Church was not a hierarchy of clergy, but a community of believers, in
which all could serve God through whatever vocation, or calling, they were in.
2.
John Calvin-Born in France in 1509, Calvin studied Latin, logic and philosophy at the
University of Paris. In 1533, Calvin (known as the father of Presbyterianism) became
convinced of the truth of Reformation ideas which stressed man’s direct relationship with
God. The cornerstone of his theology was the belief that God possessed all-encompassing
power and knowledge, directing all of history-past, present and future. He argued that God
determines the fate of every person-a doctrine called predestination (God preordains
everything, including who will be saved). In 1536, he visited Geneva, Switzerland, and was
asked to lead the Protestant Reformation there. His influence grew when the Council of
Geneva accepted his “Articles.” Geneva became the center of the Reformation in Europe.
Calvinism required citizens of Geneva, Switzerland to attend Reformed church services
several times each week. Homes were inspected to make sure no one broke laws that forbade
drunkenness, gambling, card playing, and dancing. Calvinism gave the local church control,
later encouraging moral people to overthrow tyrannical rulers and contributing to the
revolutionary movements of the 1600s and 1700s.
3.
Huldreich Zwingli-a Swiss priest who broke with the Catholic Church traditions completely,
who believed in salvation by faith alone.
4.
In western Europe, Anabaptists (rebaptizers) initiated the practice of baptizing only adult
members. They believed that only people who could make a free and informed choice to
become Christians should be allowed to do. Catholics and other Protestant beliefs baptized
infants. Anabaptists denied the authority of local governments to direct their lives. They
refused to hold office, bear arms, or swear oaths, but lived separate from a society they saw as
sinful. They were often persecuted, but remained peaceful, but fanatical in their beliefs. In
1534, radical Anabaptists seized power in Germany and burned books, seized property,
practiced polygamy (practice of more than one spouse), and were crushed by Lutherans and
Catholics. Many then left for North America during the 1600s promoting two ideas that
would become crucial in forming the United States of America:
a.
Religious liberty.
b.
Separation of church and state.
B.
Reformation in England
1.
Reformation ideas were introduced in the 1500s, when a serious quarrel broke out
between King Henry VIII and the pope over the succession to the throne.
a.
Henry’s wife Catherine of Aragon had only 6 children, with only one, Mary
surviving. Henry wanted to leave a male heir.
b.
Believing that Catherine could not have more children, the king decided to
marry Anne Boleyn, and asked the pope for a divorce between himself and
Catherine. Her nephew was Charles V, the Holy Roman Emperor, and did not
want Catherine to lose her influence, thus, encouraged the pope to deny the
request.
c.
Henry broke ties with the Catholic Church; in 1534, Parliament created the
Church of England and declared Henry the head. The new church granted the
divorce.
d.
Henry married Anne Boleyn. After she gave birth to a daughter, he had Anne
beheaded for treason.
e.
Henry’s third wife, Jane Seymour, gave birth to a son, Edward, but she died 12
days after his birth.
f.
Henry married 3 more times.
2.
Edward VI succeeded his father at 9 years old, but was sickly, and died young.
3.
In 1553, Mary, Henry’s Catholic daughter, became queen and tried to restore Catholicism
by burning hundreds of Protestants at the stake, hence her name, “Bloody Mary.”
4.
In 1558, Mary’s Protestant half-sister took the throne, becoming Queen Elizabeth I,
making the English church Protestant, with Catholic features, known as Anglicanism.
Other Protestants insisted on removing all Catholic rituals, becoming known as Puritans.
C.
The Catholic Reformation
1.
Feeling a threat of Protestantism, in 1536, Pope Paul III established a reform movement
with three goals:
a.
Introduce a rebirth of faith among its followers.
b.
Reassess the Church’s principles.
c.
Halt the spread of Protestantism.
2.
In 1542, the Church held an Inquisition, a church court based in Italy, to find, try, and
judge heretics, especially Protestants. The purge was to restore the pope’s authority.
3.
At the Council of Trent, official doctrine was defined:
a. Salvation, could not be achieved by faith alone, but only by faith and works
together.
b. The Latin Vulgate translation of the Bible was made the only acceptable
version of scripture.
c. The church hierarchy alone could interpret Scripture.
d. Selling of indulgences were forbidden.
e. Seminary training was required for the proper education of priests.
f. Renewed religious enthusiasm for the arts, sparking a new style of art and
music called baroque, employing asymmetry and exaggeration for dramatic
effect, whereas Renaissance art demonstrated symmetry, order, and
restraint.
4.
The Church became involved in a missionary effort. Ignatius Loyola, founded the
Society of Jesus, later known as Jesuits, who pledged three things:
a.
Absolute obedience to the pope.
b.
Wear the black robes of monks.
c.
Live simple lives but not withdraw from the world.
Results of the Reformation-By 1545, Europe was divided between a Protestant north and a
Catholic south, causing tensions that would lead to religious wars from 1545 to 1600.
D.
III.
Age of Exploration (late 1400s-mid 1600s)
A.
Three effects the Renaissance had on Exploration.
1.
The Quest for Spices-Remember, the Crusades had introduced Europeans to spices from
other lands. Italian merchants had a monopoly on the spice trade and controlled the
Mediterranean area, causing western Europeans to seek new routes to Asia and get a
share of the profits from the spice trade.
2.
The Spread of Christianity-This was one of the goals of the Crusades. Europeans
continued the effort of conquering Muslim territory of Northern Africa.
3.
The Use of new technology made exploration possible.
a.
caravel-new ship with three features.
i.
Triangular sails for sailing into the wind.
ii.
Square sails for faster traveling.
iii.
Ship built to allow sailing through stormy waters.
b.
astrolabe-determined the location of stars/sun and marked degrees in altitude.
c.
Compass-used to indicate direction, developed by the Chinese.
d.
Maps-Cartographers are mapmakers: early on, they knew very little, but in
1400, they knew Europe and Southern Asia. By 1700, practically the entire
world had been mapped. Before maps, the myth was that the earth was flat with
the possibility of falling off. See p. 395.
B.
Financial System of 1600s
1.
Mercantilism-policy of European nations of accumulating wealth, establishing colonies,
and developing industry to achieve power.
a.
used bullion (gold and silver)
b.
created a balance of trade (they exported more than they imported; bullion
received from exports was greater than paid for imports.)
2.
Explorers once relied on a nation’s government to pay expenses; later, they relied on
wealthy families and bankers.
a.
Needed money to pay for goods/supplies of the journey (to last over a period of
years).
b.
Needed money to pay for the captain and crew.
c.
Ship’s expenses.
3.
Joint-stock companies were created. Wealthy individuals combined money. They sold
shares (stock) in the venture, then shared the wealth/loss. This allowed numerous people
to invest.
4.
Entrepreneurs were created. (Entrepreneur-a single person who raised capital (money)
for a voyage, organized and assumed the risk for a business venture hoping to make a
profit.)
C.
Where did they explore?
1.
Portuguese (leaders in exploration) explored the east coast of South America and the
coast of Africa.
2.
Spain-North America and the coast of South America.
3.
France-east coast of North America.
4.
England-east coast of North America.
(After areas were explored, colonies were formed.)
D.
Trade
1.
2.
3.
Slave Trade-Colonies based their economy on agricultural products, needing labor,
resulting the use of enslaved Africans.
Triangular Trade-This was used to describe the slave trade. Ships sailed a triangle
formed by Europe, Africa, and the Americas. (Ships left Europe carrying goods,
reaching Africa and trading goods for slaves, then bringing enslaved Africans to the
Americas to be sold; money was used to purchase sugar and tobacco. Ships then returned
to Europe with the goods.)
Middle Passage-The middle leg of the triangular trade, covering 3,000 miles. Slaves
were packed together as tightly as possible. Each slave had a space of 5 feet long and 3
feet high. They were chained together, not standing, but lying at full length. Conditions
were dark and hot. Many died of suffocation and disease; 1 in 5 did not survive. Many
committed suicide by jumping overboard. Once in America, they were auctioned for a
life of hard labor (worked long hours and had a short life). Europeans thought Africans
were well-suited for the job of hard labor in hot, humid conditions.
E.
Empires-Monarchs were strengthened, practicing absolutism-a political theory stating that
monarchs hold supreme (unlimited) power and are responsible for their actions to God alone
(divine rights theory).
1.
Spain-most powerful monarch in Europe: Hapsburgs. Philip II was Catholic and an
enemy of Protestants. At one time, he had supported Elizabeth, but became jealous and
planned to invade England with a force of 130 ships and 33,000 sailors, known as the
Spanish Armada. The English had faster ships and defeated the Spaniards. Then, the
Hapsburg power declined.
2.
England-Tudor dynasty used Parliament rather than an absolute monarchy. Henry 7 th
was the first Tudor; then, Henry 8th: Daughter, Mary, married Philip II of Spain (she died
childless). Elizabeth took throne (not married). England’s victory after being attacked
by the Spanish Armada established England as a power. With no heir, James of Scotland
became king, becoming James I, founding the Stuart dynasty, uniting Scotland and
England.
3.
France-Bourbon family.
a. Louis XIII inherited the throne at 9; his mother, Marie de Medici, convinced him to
give power to Cardinal Richelieu, who sought to make France the supreme power in
Europe, strengthening the army and the economy.
b. Louis XIV was the most powerful monarch, reigning 72 years, known as the Sun
King, around whom the nobility of Europe revolved. His extravagances ruined the
country financially.
c. Seven Years’ War-1756 to 1763-a worldwide conflict in which Great Britain was in
competition with France for an overseas empire (involved Prussia, Austria, and
Russia.)
d. French and Indian War was the struggle between Great Britain and France in North
America. (They also fought in India.) At the Treaty of Paris in 1763, France gave
up most of its lands east of the Mississippi River to Great Britain.
4.
German states (Austria/Prussia): Hapsburgs were the ruling monarchs.
a. 1618-Thirty Years’ War began in Bohemia, a continuation of conflict between
Protestants and Catholics. 1635-France (Richelieu) took up arms against the
Catholic Hapsburgs to keep them from becoming too powerful. After 13 years, the
war ended in 1648, with France emerging as Europe’s leading power.
b. First woman ruler: 23-year-old Maria Theresa succeeded Charles VI, Holy Roman
Emperor with no political training, but introduced services such as public health,
prisons, and roads.
5.
Russia-was rather isolated.
a. The most powerful of the tsars was Ivan IV (1533-1584), known as Ivan the Terrible
for killing thousands for treason. He assumed the throne at 3 years old. Later, he
used his army to expand Russia’s borders.
b. Peter I (1689), known as Peter the Great, nearly 7 feet tall. Since Russian knowledge
of the outside world was quite limited, he took an 18 month study tour of England,
then tried to Europeanize Russia. He sent Russians abroad to study shipbuilding;
invited foreign experts to train Russians; and built a new capital called St.
Petersburg. A split occurred among Russians as some accepted European ways, but
many clung to traditional values.
c. Catherine the Great(1762), born Catherine II; seized the throne from her husband,
Peter III. Common people of Russia had fewer rights than those in any other part of
Europe. She allowed nobles to treat serfs as they pleased. She continued to expand
Russia’s borders. By the end of her reign, new ideas of liberty and equality had
spread throughout western Europe, bringing an end to absolute monarchs.
II.
The American Revolution
Colony-an area of the world that is owned and controlled by a major country located elsewhere in the world.
The first successful PERMANENT English settlement in the New World was Jamestown, Virginia (1607).
Over the next 150 years, England established 13 colonies in the New World.
1. Massachusetts
2. Connecticut
3. Pennsylvania
4. New York
5. Virginia
6. New Jersey
7. Delaware
8. North Carolina
9. South Carolina
10. Rhode Island
11. Maryland
12. New Hampshire
13. Georgia
13 Original Colonies:
Citizens living in these 13 colonies were citizens of England as much as if they had been living in London, England3,000 miles away across the Atlantic Ocean.
Government Structure for each of the 13 colonies:
1.
2.
The King of England appointed an official to rule or govern each colony-Governor.
The Governor appointed a group of advisers to help him rule each colony called a Council.
This council played 2 important roles in the government of each colony:
A.
They served as the highest court of each colony.
B.
They served as one (1) house (i.e. group of officials) of each colony’s lawmaking body.
*The other house in each colony’s lawmaking body was called a legislative assembly which the people of
that colony elected. *This was the group of officials that the people truly respected and saw as being the
true government having the right to rule them.
Colony’s Government Structure
Governor-appointed by the King
Governor’s Council-1 house of lawmaking body
Legislative Assembly
The English colonists have very different ideas about the role and function of government. They brought these ideas
and principles with them to the New World.
Four (4) Main Principles/Ideas About Government Transplanted from England to the 13 colonies.
I.
Limited Government-Rulers or leaders in government should NOT have total control over people and their
freedoms. Most Kings/Queens in England’s history wanted to be absolute monarchs; however, powerful &
rich citizens of England, such as the nobles, wealthy landowners, etc.-the aristocracy, constantly fought to
keep this from happening and even forced some kings into granting “contracts” of freedom to the people.
(e.g.: in 1215, nobles forced King John into granting certain freedoms in a contract called “Magna Carta”e.g.: guarantees trial by a jury of peers.)
II.
Representative Government-This means that the citizens themselves should have the right to pick their own
leaders. This idea is very much represented by the formation of England’s lawmaking body born in the
1200s called Parliament. There are 2 houses: the House of Lords and the House of Commons. The
House of Lords started out as a group of advisers to the King. The Knights and townspeople used to come
and watch the meetings, and over time, this group of spectators developed into the House of Commons.
*Today in the U.S., this principle of representative government is very evident. Representative
Government in the U.S.-We elect almost all of our officials in the U.S. (National-President, Congress;
State-Governor, General Assembly; Local-Mayor, County Judge Executive, etc.) Most of our lawmaking
bodies, like Congress, the General Assembly, etc., are patterned after Parliament-the 2 house structure
(bicameral legislature). (e.g.: Congress is divided between the U.S. Senate (patterned after the House of
Lords) and the U.S. House of Representatives (patterned after the House of Commons).
III. Rule By Law-the people (citizens) would rather live under a government system with laws passed by officials
they have elected, rather than live under a government system where rulers can pass their own laws to keep them in
power and do their own thing. The second point is that people would rather live in a justice system set up &
established by laws of lawmaking bodies, than leave decisions to one ruler.
IV.
Individual Liberty-Each person has rights.
e.g.: Magna Carta-one cannot be imprisoned without being found guilty in a trial by a jury of peers.
e.g.: 1628 Petition of Rights-King cannot tax unless approved by Parliament.
e.g.: 1688 English Bill of Rights-guarantees many personal freedoms=one has the right to bear arms, a
speedy and public trial, the right to bail (it must not be excessive), the right to petition, etc.
Really, for 150 years, the English citizens in the 13 colonies “had it made.” Being 3,000 miles away from England,
these colonists enjoyed a lot of self-governing freedom, paid little tax to England, but yet, enjoyed the protection
from England. (This situation existed all the way up to the 1760s.)
*”Salutary Neglect”-a policy of England toward the 13 colonies before the 1760s. This policy did 3 things.
England pretty much “let the 13 colonies rule themselves” as long as they:
1.
Kept sending raw materials/resources over to England’s factories;
2.
Kept buying England’s products; and
3.
Remained loyal English citizens.
*What happened to ruin this 150 year peaceful relationship and cause tension to grow between the 13 colonies and
their mother country of England?
1.
1754-“French & Indian War”-in the New World. The French and Indians together were fighting
the British for the control of territory. The war spread to Europe (“Seven Years War”). England
eventually won, but these wars drained England’s treasury.
2.
England won the war against France and a treaty was signed: Peace Treaty of Paris of 1763.
This ended the war between England & France. The treaty gave the French land in the New
World as well as some land from France in other parts of the world to England. This was both
good and bad for England. It was bad because it would take more money to protect and rule this
new territory.
3.
Citizens living IN England were complaining to Parliament and the King about how the 13
colonies were NOT paying enough taxes. They were not paying their way.
*4.
In the 1760s, a harsh 22-year-old King ascended to the throne of England. King George III
encouraged Parliament to pass tougher laws and policies over the 13 colonies which they would
detest.
In the 1760s, the 13 colonies had no representatives serving over in Parliament. The colonists (English citizens)
didn’t believe Parliament had the right to tax them. The only government officials that colonists believed had the
right to tax them was their elected legislative assembly.
Policies/Acts by King George III & Parliament which infuriated the 13
Colonies
A.
Stamp Act of 1765-placed a tax on most printed material (e.g.: marriage licenses, calendars, newspapers,
playing cards, letters, etc.)
*Colonists protested saying they had no representatives serving in Parliament, thus, they couldn’t
be taxed. What they had was “taxation without representation.” (“we have no representatives
in Parliament.”)
13 Colonies Response to Tax
1.
They had a meeting in New York called the Stamp Act of Congress.
*2.
They decided to place a BAN on England’s products.
Ban-means one refuses to buy or use a product as a form of protest.
*The BAN worked; caused English storeowners (i.e. merchants) to complain to Parliament and
King George III about their sales being cut in half (1/2).
*Parliament repealed (did away with) the Stamp Act.
***Lesson learned by the Colonists: If the 13 colonies united together as one, they could resist what they
saw as abusive, unfair policies coming over from England.
B.
Townshend Acts of 1767-Parliament placed a “Sales Tax” on a variety of goods such as glass, paint, tea,
etc.
The Colonists’ Response:
1.
They tried another BAN on England’s products.
2.
Officials from Massachusetts sent a protest letter to Parliament and King George III.
Response from Parliament and King George III: This time, England did not back off. King George III sent
more British soldiers over to the 13 colonies, especially to Boston, Massachusetts.
1770-Tension was growing between the colonists and the patrolling soldiers. The tension came to a climax
in Boston, Massachusetts-what is known as the Boston Massacre: Five colonists were killed by British
soldiers being threatened by the mob. The violence of the Boston Massacre helped ease tension between
England and the 13 colonies. Parliament repealed all of the Townshend Acts for sales tax on all products
except one-the tax on tea. The Colonists lifted the BAN on England’s products.
C.
Tea Act of 1773-This granted special rights to only one tea company (the East India Company of London)
to be the only one that had the right to sale tea in the 13 colonies. (This angered the colonists, especially in
the port cities.)
The Colonists Reaction: This is known as the Boston Tea Party. About 60 colonists dressed up as Indians,
boarded 3 East India Company tea ships, and dumped over 300 crates of tea into Boston Harbor.
The Response by England to the Boston Tea Party: King George III were INFURIATED.
Parliament passed a series of punitive (means to punish) acts/laws to punish the colonists in
Boston; Colonists thought they were so abusive, they called them the INTOLERABLE ACTS.
D.
Intolerable Acts
1.
They passed the Quartering Act-housed soldiers in colonists’ homes against their will.
2.
They closed the Boston Harbor until the tea was paid for.
3.
They suspended the Massachusetts legislative assembly.
Colonists Response to the Intolerable Acts:
1.
2.
3.
They had a meeting (1774)-the First Continental Congress placed a BAN on England’s products.
They sent a major protest letter to Parliament and King George III demanding a repeal of taxes
and more rights for the colonists.
They even sent representatives over to England to meet with Parliament and King George III.
Many were ridiculed and many were denied an audience.
*1775-King George III sent over more British troops to Concord and Lexington, Massachusetts to accomplish two
tasks:
1.
They arrested John Hancock & Samuel Addams.
2.
They confiscated the colonists’ weapons.
April 1775-A group of Massachusetts militia (citizens’ army) came out to intercept and stop the British soldiers.
Gunfire broke out. This was the first battle of the American Revolutionary War-the war the 13 colonies fought with
England to become a free country. (The war lasted from 1775 to 1781.)
Advantages of Great Britain:
1. They outnumbered the colonists.
2. They had a well-trained army.
3. They had more money.
4. They had more supplies-goods, ammunition, weapons, food, clothing.
5. They had more experience; they were professionally trained.
Advantages of the Colonists:
1.
They were familiar with the home territory and knew the land.
2.
George Washington, Commander of the Continental Army, had fighting experience from the
French and Indian War. (He married into a wealthy Virginia family.)
3.
The French aided the colonists, seeking revenge against the British.
4.
Colonists were fighting for what they believed in-independence.
May 1775-3 Weeks later-Delegates met from all 13 colonies (in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) to decide what to do
about the terrible conditions with England. This group of delegates became known as the Second Continental
Congress. (This group will actually serve as the first government of the U.S.) ***This group made major decisions
that led to the formation of the United States and its form of government. The president of the Second Continental
Congress was John Hancock.
Major Decisions by the Second Continental Congress
*1.
2.
The Congress decided to break away from England and have the 13 colonies form one united country.
They appointed a Committee of Five to write a document explaining why the colonies felt “forced” to
break away and thus announce our independence from England. Thomas Jefferson wrote most of the
Declaration of Independence. This document is the Declaration of Independence-the document which
declared the 13 colonies to be a free independent country (issued July 4, 1776-the day our nation was
born). 13 Colonies are now 13 States.
The Declaration of Independence is often referred to as “Birth Certificate of America.”
Revolutionary Thinkers:
1.
Thomas Paine-wrote “Common Sense.” He said it was silly for a continent to be ruled by an
island.
2.
Thomas Jefferson-wrote the “Declaration of Independence.” All men have rights: life, liberty,
and the pursuit of happiness.
3.
John Locke-influenced Jefferson with his Social Contract Theory, which said that all men have the
right to life, liberty, and property.
4.
Jean-Jacques Rousseau: Frenchman whose political theory saw the relationship between the ruler
and subjects as a contract that could be broken if the subjects were not happy.
Turning Point in the American Revolutionary War:
1777, New York: Battle of Saratoga. With this victory, colonists began winning more battles with French
aid. At Yorktown, Virginia, Great Britain’s troops under Lord Charles Cornwallis surrendered.
Treaty of Paris, 1783: The United States received unconditional independence with boundaries being drawn:
North-Great Lakes; South-Florida; West-Mississippi River; and East-Atlantic Ocean.
While the Declaration of Independence was a great document, it was NOT a plan of national government.
*As the American Revolutionary War was being fought, the Second Continental Congress appointed yet another
committee to write the first plan of national government for the United States. This first plan of government was/is
called the Articles of Confederation (1781-1789) and it failed!
(King George III and the events of the day were on the writer’s mind; he represented a strong central government
(that is, power at one place, in one person’s hand). They feared creating a strong centralized government that could
rule the 13 states. (The Articles of Confederation was a terrible plan of national government, particularly regarding
national unification.)
Remember, the Articles of Confederation was being written as the colonists were fighting the American
Revolutionary War. These events surrounding them had a definite influence on its writers. Because we were
fighting King George III who represents CENTRALIZED POWER (i.e. power at one point). The writers wanted to
assure that the first plan of national government for the United States would be nothing like a king (monarchy) or
centralized power in one groups’ hands like Parliament.
Weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation
1.
The country had no President or national leader (because one would remind them of King George
III).
2.
Congress had no power to tax (because citizens would be reminded of the Stamp Tax and the
Sales Tax).
*3.
Congress nor any national government agency had the power to regulate (control) trade among the
states. (This caused the new states to be involved in many trade disputes.)
*4.
There was no national army. (Each state had its own militia.)
5.
There was no uniform currency system. Each state made its own money.
6.
Congress had little power to pass laws. (Each state had 1 vote & 9 states had to agree to pass a
law)-very difficult to pass laws.
1.
There was no national court system.
2.
There were no law enforcement officials (no U.S. Marshals, FBI, etc.)
***Under the Articles of Confederation, our nation was more like 13 little separate countries living side by side,
rather than 1 united country.
Why did the Articles of Confederation fail as our first plan of national government?
***It did not give the officials on the NATIONAL LEVEL of government the power necessary to run the 13 states
as one unified nation.
By 1787, many of the states were involved in disputes. Several of our founding fathers were afraid our new nation
might fall apart or end up in civil war, etc., if something wasn’t done to strengthen the Articles of
Confederation.
The Second Continental Congress approved the idea for a meeting to be held at Independence Hall in Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania from May to September of 1787, with the purpose of revising and strengthening the
Articles of Confederation as a more effective plan of national government. The name of this
famous 1787 meeting was the Constitutional Convention.
Only 12 states sent delegates to the Constitutional Convention. There were 55 delegates in all. (Rhode
Island, suspicious of the possible changes of the government form, refused to attend.) Here, the delegates
made 3 Quick Major Decisions at the Constitutional Convention.
1.
They picked George Washington to preside over the meeting.
2.
They agreed to a code of secrecy on all discussions; nothing left the building.
***3. They abolished (did away with) the Articles of Confederation and decided to write a
brand new more effective plan of national government for the United States and UNITE
all 13 states.
***In a very short time, these 55 delegates composed the world’s most successful plan of government for a
democratic REPUBLIC. The second plan of national government for the United States, written in 1787 and still in
effect today, is the United States Constitution. Our government was established as a federal system-a form of
government in which power is divided between a central authority and a union of states that retains some power.
Three branches of government were created: legislative, executive, and judicial.
The U.S. Constitution was written in 1787, however, it did not begin operating as our 2 nd plan of government until
1789. It took 2 years to get enough states to officially approve or ratify the U.S. Constitution. 9 out of 13 states
had to approve it.
1787-Constitutional Convention is held; U.S. Constitution is written.
1789-Year the U.S. Constitution began operating as the 2 nd plan of government.
Why the 2 year delay?
1.
It took that long to get enough states to ratify it;
2.
*Original form of the U.S. Constitution (7 articles) did NOT have a list of guaranteed
freedom for citizens-no bill of rights. Some states refused to ratify the U.S. Constitution
until a list of rights were added. By 1789, 9 states ratified the U.S. Constitution with the
promise that a list of rights would be added quickly.
***1791-The first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution which contain the majority of civil rights for all U.S.
citizens were ratified and added to the U.S. Constitution. These are the BILL OF RIGHTS. The Bill of Rights
contain the majority of the civil rights we have today.
*The main result from the American Revolution: a government with its source of power coming from the people.
III.
The French Revolution
While the American colonies were struggling in their fight for independence, the absolute monarchy in
France was at its height.
A.
Old Regime-time period before the French Revolution before 1700. All French people were
divided into 3 estates.
1.
First Estate-Roman Catholic Clergy (1% of the population)-controlling 5 and 10% of the
land and enjoyed many privileges. (Some of the lower clergy, the parish priests,
identified themselves with the Third Estate and resented the higher clergy.)
2.
Second Estate-Nobility (2% of the population)-controlled about 25% of the land.
3.
Third Estate-the largest social group (97% of the population)-peasants and artisans, the
bourgeoisie (middle class; professionals); these worked hard, but had no political rights.
Their cost of living increased while wages stayed the same, causing unhappiness and
angry feelings.
B.
King Louis XVI (1774-wife, Marie Antoinette) inherited a love for very extravagant living.
1. Due to a growing financial crisis (country was in debt due to previous wars, as well as
providing support for the American Revolution), he felt his only choice was to tax the nobility
and the clergy; both refused.
2. By 1786, banks began to refuse to lend money to the ailing government. Crop failures caused
bread shortages in 1788 and 1789. The economy was hurting.
3. When the privileged classes refused to aid the government, Louis summoned the EstatesGeneral (made up of delegates representing each estate), which had not met since 1614. The
king hoped they would agree to new taxes for the 1 st and 2nd estates.
C.
Estates General’s support leaned toward the Third Estate, rather than the king. Delegates wanted
to do three things:
1.
weaken the king’s power;
2.
protect the rights of those in the Third Estate;
3.
gain more control in the government.
Refusing the king’s demands, the Third Estate members were eventually locked out of the EstatesGeneral. They named themselves the National Assembly and gathered at a nearby indoor tennis
court demanding a written constitution for France and vowed not to disband until they had itTennis Court Oath.
D.
This spirit of rebellion resulted in the king increasing the number of soldiers around the Versailles
palace.
1. Fearing that the king planned to put down the rebellion and halt reforms, citizens focused on
surrounding the Bastille, a Paris prison, in order to capture weapons stored there in order to
defend themselves against government troops. This occurred on July 14, 1789, the beginning
of the French Revolution.
2. After this, “Great Fear” spread throughout France as peasants’ fear turned into violence,
causing them to break into manor houses, rob granaries, and destroying feudal records
swearing to never again pay feudal dues.
E.
Constitutional Government-the National Assembly worked to create a new French government.
On August 4, 1789, the nobles gave up their privileges. In a session that lasted until 2 a.m. the
National Assembly did away with feudalism in France.
1.
Created the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen (inspired by the
Declaration of Independence) said that all men were created equal under law.
Guaranteed 4 things:
a.
speech
b.
press
c.
religion
d.
protection against unfair arrest and punishment
2.
Assumed responsibility of the national debt.
3.
Confiscated all lands belonging to the Church and assumed Church expenses (supporting
clergy and aiding poor). The Civil Constitution of the Clergy allowed each parish elect
their own priest.
4.
The Constitution of 1791
a.
kept the monarchy (king) but limited his powers.
F.
G.
H.
I.
J.
K.
L.
b.
Set up a unicameral (one-house) legislature, elected by the people.
c.
Allowed voting by men who owned land and paid taxes.
5.
Capitol moved to Paris.
As political groups became more divided, France entered a tumultuous period.
1.
Royalists-supported the king, wanting the king to have all power.
2.
Moderates-favored a limited monarchy, limiting the powers of the king.
3.
Radicals-wanted a Republic, with no king; took the extremist view of a republic where all
males could vote regardless of property or taxes.
Moderates prevailed for a time. Louis XVI tried to flee to Austria, but was recognized and the
escape plan foiled, being brought back to Paris and forced into the limited monarchy.
Birth of a Republic
1.
1792-1795: the National Convention met in Paris to create a republic (new government)
and end the monarchy, writing the first democratic constitution in France, creating:
a.
a single legislature (lawmaking body).
b.
A system where all males could vote.
c.
A system of weights and measurements known as the metric system.
2.
They also decided the fate of Louis XVI.
a.
charged him with being an enemy of the people.
b.
Beheaded on the guillotine-a killing machine the revolutionaries had adopted as
a humane means of execution. This caused much rejoicing for there was no
turning back; the republic would remain.
Debate about the Republic
1.
Jacobins (JAK uh bins) formed the Mountain, so called because its members sat on high
benches at the rear of the hall-defenders of the people, led by Maximilien Robespierre.
2.
Girondists (juh RAHN duhsts) came from a region in southwestern France, the Gironde;
wanted to protect the wealthy middle class.
3.
Plain-seated between the two rivals on the main floor; undecided; eventually supported
the Jacobins.
Republic faced opposition from the monarchs of Great Britain, the Netherlands, Spain, Sardinia,
Austria, and Prussia, as they worried about democratic revolutions in their own countries resulting
in the end of their own monarchy.
1.
The Committee of Public Safety formed to deal with opposition against the Revolution.
This committee adopted conscription-the draft; forcing all men (1 million) between the
ages of 18 and 45 to serve in the military. This had 2 results:
a.
many were killed, many being peasants and common people.
b.
People did not trust the government.
2.
Robespierre is the dominant leader, a radical, who set out to crush all opposition within
France, killing 17,000, including Marie Antoinette; this most violent period is known as
the Reign of Terror. It only ended after Robespierre was beheaded by his followers, who
started to fear for their own lives.
Accomplishments of the National Convention:
1.
stabilized the value of money.
2.
Abolished slavery.
3.
Established a system of national education.
4.
Land confiscated from the Church was given to the poor.
5.
Passed the most democratic constitution ever in France.
6.
Enabled the French Revolution to go on.
1795-a new constitution was written, ending slavery and stated that only citizens who owned
property could vote. This constitution brought the government under the control of the wealthy
middle class.
1.
The Directory was established-an executive council of five men called directors, who
ruled over a two-house legislature; ineffective, and was overthrown.
2.
Overthrown by a Coup d’etat (kud-a-ta), a sudden take over of power by a group of
people led by the French army who were tired of war and revolution.
Napoleon Bonaparte-a young general in the French army (26), who ordered the coup and
proclaimed a new constitution in 1799 theoretically establishing a republic, but actually setting up
M.
a dictatorship, becoming First Consul among a group of three, later naming himself emperor
(1802).
1.
Napolean’s Reforms-domestic policy was very good.
a.
Napoleonic Code-a system of laws that protected individual rights; property and
religion.
b.
System of education-started the University of France.
c.
Government and the Church shared power.
d.
Established a banking system that helped business, especially the middle class.
e.
Public works-built roads and buildings.
2.
Personal characteristics:
a.
ambitious
b.
intelligent
c.
great military leader
3.
Within 15 years, Napolean conquered all of Europe except England, but by 1815, he lost
everything. Why?
a.
Too ambitious.
b.
Napolean’s Continental System (meant to discourage trade with England) failed
because of Great Britain’s aggressive control of the seas.
c.
People living under Napolean’s rule resented paying taxes to France igniting a
feeling of nationalism, the yearning for self-rule and restoration of their own
customs and traditions.
d.
Invasion of Russia-May, 1812; long French march toward Moscow began, but
Russians refused to give up, adopting a scorched-earth policy; if Napolean
conquered anything, it would be worthless because it had burned (Moscow was
destroyed). Napoleon’s efforts beset by the harsh Russian winter in which the
Russians took advantage of. 4/5 of Napoleon’s army, about 500,000 men died
in battles or blizzards.
4.
March, 1814-Napoleon forced to surrender, abdicating the throne, and exiled to the island
off the coast of Italy, Elba.
a. He returned to France on March 1, 1815 for the Hundred Days, trying to regain his
rule, but was defeated at the Battle of Waterloo by the armies of Prussia, Great
Britain, and the Netherlands, who placed Napoleon under house arrest on the island
of St. Helena in the South Atlantic.
b. He died of stomach cancer in 1821 at the age of 52.
Congress of Vienna met in Austria (September 1814) to restore Europe to the way it had been
before the French Revolution; led by Austria’s chief minister, Prince Klemens von Metternich.
However, the spirit of nationalism among European people would not die, setting the stage for a
world at war.