Conflict, Crisis, and Reaction in the Late 18th Century
Global markets were opened and expanded, with growth of the Atlantic economy, as well as expansion into India and the West Indies.
Britain became the most major European power, overtaking France.
The French Revolution challenged a lot of the European systems, leading to the Haitian Revolution and to questions being raised about the status of women in society
The art styles of romanticism and methodism grow as a reaction to the Enlightenment.
Growth of the Atlantic Economy came out of the Columbian Exchange. The Atlantic Economy would lead to commercial rivalries. As countries started sending out ships to the Atlantic there was a growth of maritime competition, as well as a rise in piracy.
War of Spanish Succession: Peace of Utrecht gave Britain more control of the Atlantic, and Spain had to give up their West Indies slave trade.
Seven Years War: Treaty of Paris allowed France to keep most of its colonies in the Caribbean.
In Asia, rivalries also grew. There was a growth of Dutch power in Asia during the early 1600s. The Dutch East India Company gained control of Indonesia from Portugal, giving the Dutch much more power in the world of trade with Asia.
In India the Mughals granted trade privileges to the English East India Company. The Battle of Plassey ended with the British taking control of the Bengal province, giving them even more power in the region.
The Treaty of Paris, at the end of the Seven Years’ War, saw France give up all claims to India to Britain.
The Seven Years’ War was fought over multiple continents. It started in Europe with the War of Austrian Succession. During this time, England joined Prussia, and France joined Austria.
France and Britain fought over access to trade with the Mughal in India, over the Ohio River Valley during the French and Indian War in North America, and over control of the sugar trade for colonial economic power in the Caribbean.
The Treaty of Paris:
Causes:
Louis XIV’s absolutist rule in France ignored many long underlying tensions that existed during this time.
The Third Estate was very underrepresented in Estates-General. Feudal hierarchies protected the birthright of the nobility, also leading to the lower classes having less rights than those of higher classes.
Louis XVI was not a strong enough leader to make the decisions that were in the best interests of France.
Marie Antoinette spent money very lavishly, which challenged the priorities of the monarchies.
The natural rights of liberty, equality, and fraternity that came from the Enlightenment represented what the people from France wanted
The king was unable to pay the heavy debt that he had. The taxes fell on the Third Estate.
Food shortages led to protests from the lower classes.
Events:
The revolution started when, in 1788, Louis had to call the Estates-General to pay the debts he had come upon.
The National Assembly was created during the Tennis Court Oath, after the Third Estate was locked out of the meeting houses at Versailles because of their demands and complaints.
The Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen guaranteed the people of the National Assembly their natural rights, like security and liberty.
The constitution was enacted in 1791, establishing a constitutional monarchy, taking away much of Louis’ power.
Bastille was stormed when the people of Paris demanded to show their support of the revolution movement. Eventually beheading the mayor.
Women of Paris were heavily involved in the bread riots. Women march on Versailles because they believe that it is the King’s duty to feed his subjects.
As the revolution grew in France the ideas of liberty, equality, and fraternity were thought they should exist outside of France.
Consequences:
After the Republic was formed in 1793, Louis XVI was executed because they no longer needed a king.
The Reign of Terror was a response to the issues of the opposition. The National Convention suspended the constitution and put a tribunal into place to reduce chaos. Led by Maximilien Robespierre. His goal was to preserve the revolution at all costs, so he put restrictions into place:
The guillotine was extensively used, and became a defining symbol of the French Revolution.
After the Civil Constitution of the Clergy was put in place, the Counter Revolution began. The Counter Revolution pushed back against the French internally as they started to make changes in the Church.
The war of the First Coalition began, it was a war fought between the major powers of Europe and France, as they are pushing back against the revolution because they don't want the idea of taking away power from the monarchy to spread outside of France.
The French Revolution ended as Napoleon declared himself First Consul.
The French Revolution also spread across the Atlantic to Haiti:
Napoleon joined the army in 1785. He had a series of great victories, he became very well known and popular for that fact, and rose through the ranks of the French army.
Napoleon and other co-conspirators decided that they would overthrow the Directory through a coup.
Napoleon dominated much of Europe by 1812. He was extremely popular with his troops, and he mastered negotiation and military strategy.
He created citizen armies, who moved quickly, traveled large distances, and lived off the land.
Napoleon viewed himself as a liberator, but his actions sparked nationalism within the areas he annexed or tried to conquer
He expected his allies and dependent states to support his Continental System, which was a blockade designed to destroy British trade
Examples of nationalistic responses brought by Napoleon.
The Congress of Vienna was a response to Napoleonic rule by multiple nations coming together thinking about what to do with Europe. Major goal was to maintain the balance of power.
After the war ended:
Jean Rousseau - The Social Contract
John Wesley:
Methodism and Pietism saw a revival especially among people of the lower class.
These movements were seen as a departure from the Enlightenment.
Enlightenment focused on:
Romanticism focused on:
Romantic thought was not an exact opposite of Enlightenment thought, but it was a reaction.
The French Revolution fundamentally challenged the existing European political and social order.
During his reign, Napoleon imposed a variety of enduring domestic reforms in France
Romanticism marked a return to nature and the rejection of societal norms
AP Euro Final Project - Tovi Lieberman
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