UNIT 8 TEST REVIEW
CAUSES OF THE AMERICAN
REVOLUTION
• Enlightenment ideas
– Personal freedoms and equality
• Britain’s policy of mercantilism and lack of
understanding of its colonies
• Debt incurred during the Seven Years War
caused Britain to increase taxes in the
colonies
• Taxation without representation
KEY PLAYERS:
• King George III – King of Great
Britain
• Thomas Jefferson – penned the
Declaration of Independence
• George Washington –
Commander-in-chief of the
American army
• General Cornwallis – leader of the
British forces during the revolution
RESULTS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION
• Creation of a new democratic nation with a
constitution based on enlightened principles
• Freedom from British oppression
• Inspiration to other nations seeking
enlightened ideals and freedom from
absolutism
1781 - Articles of Confederation
• FIRST CONSTITUTION OF THE U.S.
• Because the states feared concentrated power, the
Articles did little to provide for a strong central
government
• Weaknesses – it did not provide for the ability to
–
–
–
–
collect taxes
Raise an army
Regulate trade
Create a national currency
CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION
• Summer of 1787
• 55 delegates met to revise the Articles of
Confederation
• Ended up creating a new constitution which provided
for:
– 3 branches of government
– Power to levy taxes, raise an army, regulate trade, and
create a currency
– Had to be ratified by 2/3 of the states to go into effect
1789 – Constitution adopted
• Ratified by 9 states
• Based on the idea of federalism. Government
in which power is shared between the central
government and the states.
• Provided for a Bill of Rights with the 1st 10
amendments
CAUSES OF THE FRENCH REVOLUTION
• Enlightenment ideals – personal freedoms,
equality
• Financial crisis – national debt, food shortages
• Poor leadership – an indecisive and unpopular
king who was not ready to rule a country
SOME KEY EVENTS OF THE FRENCH
REVOLUTION
• The Tennis Court Oath – the Third Estate resolved
to write a constitution in which they would be
represented
• The Storming of the Bastille – the first violent act
of the revolution
• The Declaration of the Rights of Man and the
Citizen – provided for rights for all citizens, based
on the U.S. Constitution and Declaration of
Independence, excluded women
Events continued…
• The trial of Louis XVI for treason and his
subsequent beheading
• The Reign of Terror – tried to rid France of all
opposition to the Committee of Public Safety
CAUSES OF THE RUSSIAN REVOLUTION
• Political – involvement in WWI and a lack of
confidence in the czar
• Economic – financial problems brought on by
the war, food shortages, inflation
• Social – inequality of social classes, workers
strikes
IMPORTANT LEADERS AND THEIR
INFLUENCE
• Czar Nicholas – a weak autocratic leader who
used the military for control. Stumbled
through a series of military and economic
disasters. Allowed his wife (influenced by
Rasputin) to make decisions while he was
fighting the war
• Alexander Kerensky – head of the Duma.
Decided to remain in the war which was a
costly mistake.
Cont.
• V.I. Lenin – leader of the Bolsheviks. Led the
political take over of Russia from the
provisional government by the Red Forces
• Leon Trotsky – Commissioner of War for the
Red Forces. Reinstated the draft and rigid
discipline. Largely responsible for the success
of the Red Forces
HOW MUCH DID RUSSIA CHANGE AFTER
THE REVOLUTION?
• A LOT!
Russia was transformed into a communist state
The people of Russia were oppressed by the
government.
Lenin executed thousands of people
Russia became hostile toward Allies and a threat
to democracy