Absolutism, Enlightenment, and Revolution

• The slides discuss Absolutism, Enlightenment, and Revolution, focusing on the distribution of power in government.
• It explores the spectrum of governmental power from none to total, prompting consideration of where different governments lie on the scale.

Absolute Monarchies in Europe

• Absolute Monarchies in Europe existed between 1500-1800.
• An absolute monarch is defined by being a single ruler who has complete power over the government and the people, examples are Kings, Emperors, and Czars.
• Feudalism shifted to nation-states that had centralized governments.
• Ruling Dynasties of this area included Spain's Hapsburgs and France's Bourbons.
• Divine Right was frequently cited as the justification for a ruler's authority.

France's Monarchy Under Louis XIV

• Cardinal Richelieu weakened the power of the Nobles by dismantling their private armies and castles, who served as Chief Minister to King Louis XIII.
• Cardinal Richelieu weakened the power of the Huguenots or Protestants by dismantling their city walls and outlawing their armies.
• Louis IV never went to Estates-General meetings.
• Louis XIV had appointees called Intendants who served as personal bureaucrats in government positions.
• Louis XIV appointed middle-class men to government positions to form alliances and check the power of the nobles.
• His rule included maintaining a strong, well-trained army of 300,000 men that checked the power of the nobles.

France's Economy

• Pursued mercantilism.
• The goals of mercantilism are for France to become self-sufficient, which strengthens Louis' control.
• Mercantilism was achieved by exporting more than importing, establishing tariffs, and acquiring colonies.
• France became the wealthiest nation in Europe as a result of mercantilism.
• The Palace of Versailles symbolized power.
• Louis XIV held elaborate ceremonies to emphasize his importance.
• He created enemies and alliances against France due to extensive war involvement.
• The French economy was battered by the cost of war.

The Enlightenment

• The Scientific Revolution (1600-1800) encouraged thinkers to use reason to develop perspectives on natural law, which are principles to govern human conduct.
• Thinkers proposed new reforms intended to alleviate society's problems.

Philosophers

• Hobbes believed that the state of nature for humans is brutal, requiring a social contract where people give up freedom for order, achieved through absolute monarchy.
• Locke thought humans are rational and moral, possessing natural rights, and that the government should be limited to protect these rights, advising overthrow if it doesn't i.e a representative democracy.
• Montesquieu advocated for the separation of powers.
• Voltaire supported freedom of speech and religion.
• Rousseau believed society corrupts people and promoted following the "General Will".
• Wollstonecraft advocated for women's rights.
• Diderot advocated the abolishment of slavery.
• Beccaria supported the abolishment of torture.

Economics

• Laissez Faire economics means letting businesses operate without government interference, promoting free trade and the natural creation of economic growth through supply and demand.
• The Enlightenment lead to the American and French Revolutions.
• Currently, 74 representative democracies are in the world.

The French Revolution Begins

• France's Old Regime society had the 1st Estate of clergy, who owned 10% of the land, collected tithes, paid no taxes, and had a separate legal system.
• France's Old Regime society had the 2nd Estate of nobles who were largely tax exempt, had high positions in government and the military, and owned family landholdings.
• France's Old Regime society had the 3rd Estate of the middle and lower class who were heavily taxed and largely landless.
• French Revolution context includes circulating Enlightenment ideas, and the successful American Revolution.
• France's economy was tanking, had continuing inequality, and a lavish monarchy lifestyle.

Economic Crisis in France, 1788

• France's royal treasury was deeply in debt.
• The French population paid higher prices for food and other goods.

Commencing a Revolt

• The storming of the Bastille involved a mob storming the fortress prison that held prisoners
• "The Great Fear," involved famine and resentment that leads to violent attacks on nobles.
• Radical factions called Jacobins added fuel to the fire.

National Assembly

• The National Assembly ended privileges for the noble class and affirmed natural rights for all male citizens via The Declaration of Rights of Man.
• The National Assembly took over and sold church lands, placing the church under state control, which brought church reforms.
• The New Constitution included a limited monarchy, and the Assembly had powers to make laws, collect taxes, and declare war.

The Radical Phase

• The Jacobins used newspapers to spread the revolution.
• The Assembly declared war on Prussia, Austria, and Britain.
• The Assembly abolished the monarchy and established a republic, the King and Queen were executed for treason.

Reign of Terror

• The Reign of Terror involved hasty trials against suspected traitors with no due process of law.
• Approximately 300,000 people were arrested and 17,000 people were executed via the guillotine.
• The Reign of Terror ended when Robespierre was executed -- He was the Committee of Public Safety leader.
• The Revolution transformed France as nationalism grew, fostering loyalty to the country and state schools replaced religious ones.

The Age of Napoleon

• Napoleon was a successful general during the French Revolution.
• Napoleon took power after a coup d'état to overthrow France's weak government.
• Later, Napoleon assumed the title of Emperor.
• Plebiscites or popular votes gave Napoleon legitimacy to take bold action.
• Reforms enacted under Napoleon's rule included infrastructure development, government schools, and a merit-based job system.
• The Napoleonic Code was rolled out, and it revoked women's rights.
• Napoleon's leadership was crucial for he was "worth 40,000 troops.”
• Napoleon annexed Belgium, Netherlands, and parts of both Germany and Italy.
• Napoleon abolished the Holy Roman Empire and cut Prussia in half.
• Napoleon practiced nepotism, placing relatives in positions of power in annexed territories.

Decline of Napoleon's Empire

• The British navy was able to endure France's Continental System, winning the battle of Trafalgar.
• Nationalism led to guerilla warfare resistance in Spain.
• The invasion of Russia failed as 600,000 soldiers were reduced to 20,000.
• Russia, Great Britain, Austria, and Prussia united against France.
• The final defeat of Napoleon's army was at Waterloo.
• Napoleon was subsequently exiled to St. Helena.

The Congress of Vienna

• After Napoleon, Europe's leaders gathered to restore the order.
• Metternich planned to contain France, and promote what he considered "legitimate" governments.
• Europe sought hereditary monarchies.
• France was surrounded by stronger states.
• The Concert of Europe was organized between major powers to keep the peace.

Agricultural Revolution

• Before the Agricultural revolution, there was largely rural and subsistence farming.
• After, there was urbanization, commercial farming, and increased production.
• The causes were consolidation of small farms into large ones, enclosure, crop rotation, and fertilizer.
• The effects were a Farmer migration to cities, population growth, and the industrial revolution.
• Population rapidly increased due to the agricultural revolution.
• Britain had ports and rivers, coal, and iron.
• The Agricultural Revolution led to a population boom which meant more workers.
• There innovators who were entrepreneurs with excess money, and inventors with additional time.
• Poltics and economics favored a stable government that supported business.
• New types of energy such as coal & steam powered trains and steamships.
• There where more textiles like Cotton Gin, Power Loom.
• More canals were dug out for transportation.

New Inventions

• Energy: There was a switch to electricity.
• Assembly line based production was brought in.
• Automoble based transportation.
• Telegraph and phones for communication.

Social Impact of the Industrial Revolution

• The Urbanization led to factories and jobs but created more over crowding.
• The social divisions that arose due to an increase in middle class with comfortable lives who were entrepreneurs, inventors etc., and growing unskilled labors working more for less with horrible living conditions.
• Because to long hours and low pay and the mining operations being dangerous, it made labor cheap as women and children were forced to work.
• There was benefits of the Standard of Living and the industry increased but not to the workers.

Explore Absolutism, Enlightenment, and Revolution, focusing on governmental power distribution. Learn about absolute monarchs in Europe from 1500-1800, such as the Hapsburgs and Bourbons, and France's monarchy under Louis XIV.