Political Upheavals

Historical Experiences, Ideas, and their Manifestations in British North

America and France, 1763-1800

U. S. and French Revolutions

• Reflected Historical experiences that were influenced by the Ideology of the Enlightenment

• Created new politics informed by the Enlightenment, experience, & practical necessity

• Spurred independence movements elsewhere, including the Spanish Empire in the Western Hemisphere

Historical Experiences & Ideology in American Revolution

• American Revolution grew out of understanding of the “Glorious Revolution”; “salutary neglect”; and the New Imperial Policy Produced following the 7 Years War

• Enlightenment Ideology suggested that good government mediated between Tyranny and Anarchy

• Tyranny was the greatest possibility and was symptomatic of governmental corruption.

17th Century Monarchs

• James I (1603-1625)- tried to collect taxes w/o parliamentary consent.

• Charles I (1625-1649)-religious policies led to Civil War; had ruled without Parliament from 1628-1642.

• Cromwell and Interregnum—need for historical legitimacy.

• Charles II (1660-1685)-found ways to ignore Parliament.

• James II (1685-1688)-His Catholicism and despotism spawned “Glorious Revolution.”

Rights of Englishmen•That the pretended power of dispensing with laws or the execution of laws by regal authority, as it hath been assumed and exercised of late, is illegal; •That the commission for erecting the late Court of Commissioners for Ecclesiastical Causes, and all other commissions and courts of like nature, are illegal and pernicious; •That levying money for or to the use of the Crown by pretence of prerogative, without grant of Parliament, for longer time, or in other manner than the same is or shall be granted, is illegal; •That the pretended power of suspending the laws or the execution of laws by regal authority without consent of Parliament is illegal; •That it is the right of the subjects to petition the king, and all commitments and prosecutions for such petitioning are illegal; •That the raising or keeping a standing army within the kingdom in time of peace, unless it be with consent of Parliament, is against law; •That the subjects which are Protestants may have arms for their defence suitable to their conditions and as allowed by law; •That election of members of Parliament ought to be free; •That the freedom of speech and debates or proceedings in Parliament ought not to be impeached or questioned in any court or place out of Parliament; •That excessive bail ought not to be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted; •That jurors ought to be duly impanelled and returned, and jurors which pass upon men in trials for high treason ought to be freeholders; •That all grants and promises of fines and forfeitures of particular persons before conviction are illegal and void; •And that for redress of all grievances, and for the amending, strengthening and preserving of the laws, Parliaments ought to be held frequently.

John Locke

• No Divine Right Monarchy• Government must protect Life, Liberty &

Property of Subjects or it can be abolished

Experiences and Ideology: 1763-1776

• New Imperial Policy• George III & English Constitution• Trans-Atlantic Misunderstanding

Ideology and Experience informed New Government

• Articles of Confederation—insufficient power to central government

• New Constitution & Bill of Rights—checks and balances among branches of national government, between the states and federal government, between citizen and government

French Revolution

• Enlightenment informed critiques of France’s absolute monarchy.

• Structural inequities in the Ancien Regime• Example of the U. S. Revolution• Financial Crisis

A Cycle of Events

• Louis XVI asked Nobles to pay taxes• Self-interested nobles refuse unless Estates

General “gives them permission”• Estates General meets on May 5, 1789• Third Estate insists on a written constitution• Paris Mob—Sans Culottes—radicalize

revolution• Nobility surrenders privileges in August

Ideological and Structural Movements

• 1791—Constitutional Monarchy (Moderate Phase)• 1792—Monarchy overthrown—France is a

Republic (Radical Phase)• 1793-1794—Reign of Terror under Robespierre• July 27, 1794—Thermidorian Reaction• 1795—The Directory• 1799—The Consulate• 1804—Napoleon Declares himself emperor

Napoleon (1769-1821)

• Spread ideals of Revolution—which proved to be his own undoing

• Code Napoleon• Simplified German State System• Violations of balance of power led to series

of Wars from 1803-1815.

Napoleon embodiedthe ideals and contradictionsof the French Revolution.

Simplified German State System—from 300 to 39

“the saddest and most compassionate piece of rock on earth”-Mark Twain

The Lowendenkmal commemorate the Swiss Guard who diedwhile defending Louis XVI in August 1792