Early Contemporary Age (1789-1900)

Early Contemporary Age (1789-1900)

• The Early Contemporary Age is a period in history that saw significant transformations in politics, society, economics, and culture.

Politics

• Political Revolutions reshaped power structures:
  • The British Civil War (1642-1688) led to the establishment of a Parliamentary Monarchy.
  • The American Revolution (1776-1787) resulted in US independence and the birth of a nation based on liberal principles.
  • The French Revolution (1789-1799) was a violent revolution against Absolutism, leading to various phases:
    • Constitutional Monarchy through national and legislative assemblies.
    • Republican Conventions, including the Girondin Convention (1792-1793) and the Jacobin Convention (1793-1794), which implemented The Terror.
    • The Directory (1795-1799), a conservative period ruled by five members.
    • Napoleon’s Consulate (1799-1804), a government ruled by three consuls, with Napoleon being the most prominent.
    • Napoleon’s Empire (1804-1815), established after Napoleon crowned himself emperor and expanded the French empire through war.
    • The Congress of Vienna (1815), where Absolutist powers attempted to restore monarchical power after Napoleon’s defeat at Waterloo.
  • Revolutions of 1820, 1830, and 1848: a wave of revolts across Europe, including:
    • Greece’s independence from the Ottoman Empire (1820).
    • Belgium’s independence from the Netherlands (1830).
    • France’s transition from Absolutism to a Constitutional Monarchy under Louis Philippe (1830).
    • The establishment of the Second French Republic (1848), which later transitioned to the Second French Empire under Napoleon III (1852-1871).
• Nationalism: A powerful ideology that emerged during this period, emphasizing the right of people with shared identities to establish their own states.
  • Unifying Nationalism: Brought territories with shared identities together to form a single state (e.g., German and Italian Unification).
  • Separatist Nationalism: Advocated for independence from existing nations, often fueled by feelings of oppression (e.g., the Irish struggle for independence).

Economy

• The Industrial Revolution: A period of rapid technological and economic advancements, transforming production methods and societies.
  • The First Industrial Revolution (1850-1870): Marked by innovations in textile production, iron and coal industries, steam technology, and development of railways and steamboats.
  • The Second Industrial Revolution (1870-1945): Focused on oil, electricity, automobiles, airplanes, and the rise of multinational corporations.
  • Social Transformation: The Industrial Revolution led to a shift from the Old Regime society, characterized by social divisions and limited mobility, to Industrial Class Society, marked by new social groups, such as the bourgeoisie and proletariat, and greater social mobility, at least in theory.
• The Bourgeoisie: Played a crucial role in driving the Industrial Revolution. As they gained economic power, they also sought political influence, often becoming conservative forces.
• The Industrial Working Class (Proletariat): Experienced limited improvements in their lives despite political freedoms. This disparity led to the Worker’s Movement, which aimed to improve working conditions and secure greater economic justice for workers.
  • Reformist Workers' Movements: Sought to change the capitalist system from within, without seeking its complete elimination.
  • Revolutionary Workers' Movements: Believed that capitalism was inherently unjust and could only be replaced through radical revolutionary processes.

Social Transformation

• Marxism: A revolutionary ideology that called for workers to seize state power and build a communist society.
• Anarchism: Advocated for the abolition of the state and capitalism, promoting self-organisation and direct democracy within worker communities.

Imperialism

• European Imperialism: Driven by industrial needs for resources and new markets, European powers expanded their influence and control over vast territories around the globe.
  • Causes of Imperialism:
    • The need for cheap raw materials to fuel industrial production.
    • The quest for new markets to sell manufactured goods.
    • Political Nationalism: Competition among nations for prestige and power.
    • Racist ideologies: Justification for asserting European dominance over other cultures and ethnicities.
  • Effects of Imperialism:
    • Exploitation and abuse of Indigenous populations.
    • Imposition of Western culture and suppression of local traditions.
    • Political instability and conflict in colonized regions.

Spain in the Early Contemporary Age

• Spain experienced a tumultuous 19th century:
  • War of Independence Against France (1808-1815): Resulted in the adoption of the first Spanish constitution ("La Pepa") in 1812.
  • Periods of Absolutism and Liberalism: Alternated between periods of absolute monarchy and liberal reform attempts.
  • Carlist Wars (1833-1876): Three wars fought between supporters of absolutism (Carlism) and liberal reformists (Isabela II), reflecting the ongoing struggle for power and political direction in Spain.
  • The Glorious Revolution (1868): Marked a brief period of greater liberalism and led to the reign of Amadeo of Savoy (1871-1873).
  • The First Spanish Republic (1873): Established after Amadeo abdicated, it eventually collapsed due to internal divisions and a Carlist rebellion.
  • The Restoration of the Monarchy (1874-1923): Return of the monarchy under Alfonso XII (1875-1885) and Alfonso XIII (1886-1931).
  • The "Turn of the Century" in Spain: Characterized by a slow and uneven Industrial Revolution and incomplete liberal reforms, setting the stage for greater political and social instability in the 20th century, culminating in the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939).

Explore the transformative events of the Early Contemporary Age, focusing on the significant political revolutions that reshaped societies. From the British Civil War to the French Revolution, this quiz covers the key phases and outcomes that defined this pivotal period in history.