Absolutism/Enlightenment thinkers - History

Natural Laws

Unchanging principles discovered through reason, that govern human conduct

Philosopher

People who discuss politics and ideas

Salon

Where enlightenment thinkers met

Natural Rights

The theory of government holds that a monarch receives the right to rule directly from God, rather than from the people.

Social Contract

When people agree to give up some of their rights in exchange for law and order

John Locke

Advocated for self-government/democracy and the protection of people's natural rights

Thomas Hobbes

Absolute Monarchy because he thought people were naturally selfish and wicked

Baron de Montesquieu

• Advocated for branches of government and checks and balances 

Voltaire

• Advocates for freedom of religion and speech 

Mary Wollestonecraft

• Advocated for woman to enter male dominated fields 

Cesare Beccaria

• Advocated for the rights of those accused of crimes such as a right to a trial and no cruel and unusual punishment 

Baron de Montesquieu

• Advocated for branches of government and checks and balances 

Voltaire

• Advocates for freedom of religion and speech 

Mary Wollestonecraft

• Advocated for woman to enter male dominated fields 

Cesare Beccaria

• Advocated for the rights of those accused of crimes such as a right to a trial and no cruel and unusual punishment 

Baron de Montesquieu

Advocated for branches of government and checks and balances

Voltaire

Advocates for freedom of religion and speech

Mary Wollestonecraft

Advocated for woman to enter male dominated fields

Cesare Beccaria

Advocated for the rights of those accused of crimes such as a right to a trial and no cruel and unusual punishment

Reign of Terror

Courts conducted hasty trials for those suspected of resisting the revolution

Many people were the victims of false accusations; 17,000 were executed by guillotine.

“The Committee of Public Safety” written to help the country; it would later bring an uprising to the revolution

Maximillian Robespierre

Led the Committee and was chief architects of the Reign of Terror

Napoleon Bonaparte

Napoleonic Code

Limited liberty and promoted order and authority over rights (limited freedom of speech and press, women’s rights)

Restored slavery in France’s colonies

Peninsular War

6 year war

Invaded Portugal b/c they weren’t following Continental System

Removed Spanish king which caused riot

Continental System

Attempted to defeat Great Britain economically through a trade blockade

Causes and effects.

Glorious because of no bloodshed and they kept the royal family line while gaining Protestant rulers.

English Bill of Rights

Articles that showed the influence of Enlightenment philosophers

13 articles in total

William and Mary

Agreed to rule as Constitutional Monarchs and instituted England’s Bill of Rights

They gathered an army and moved toward England

James II

Monarch of England; overly Absolute and Catholic
Fled to France

Bourgeoisie

• A.K.A the middle class

• Include people that were; Bankers, Manufactures, Doctor, Lawyers, Merchants, Jounialists, and Professors

3 Estate Classes

 1st Clergy

2nd The nobles

3rd The majority of the population (the poorest)

Peninsulares

Government officials ( at the top)

Creoles

Born in the colonies in America (2nd because they weren’t born in spain)

Mestizos

Mixed Native/European Descendants

Mulattos

Mixed; ½ European + ½ African

Native Americans

Free blacks

Slaves

Peninsular War (role of Napoleon in Haitian and Latin American Revolutions)

6 year war’

Invaded Portugal b/c they weren’t following Continental System

Removed the Spanish king which caused riot

Put his brother up to rule Spain

What enlightenment ideas were MOST impactful in the revolutionary period as evidenced by revolutionary acts and documents?  

One of the enlightenments with the most impactful idea was John Locke's idea of Life. Liberty, and Prosperity advocated for self-government/democracy and the protection of people's natural rights. To delve deeper he focused on individual freedom. With the Haitian, and French revolution because of the social structure and another example is the social contract which meant groups with an even higher status must follow rules.

Storming of the Bastille

• The beginning of the French Revolution 

• The night symbolized the inequalities and injustice of the old wats 

• Marked the end of absolute monarchy and a time for freedom

Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen

• The Declaration has 17 articles. 

• Similar to the English and American bill of rights

• Helped people be more equal

Haitian Revolution - Causes

• Slaves were treated poorly and forced to work long hours

• Saw Frances' new ideas on freedom and encouraged them to rebel against the government

Haitian Revolution - Effects

• Slavery was abolished

• Haiti became an independent country

Toussaint Louverture

• The revolution was led by Toussaint L’Ouverture

• L’Ouverture’s army fought against Britain, Spain, and France

Tennis Court Oath

• 3rd state was going to write a new constitution 

• “We’re not disbanding until a new constitution is drafted”

Haitian Constitution

• establishing permanent abolition of slavery, universal emancipation, equality, and defining Haitian nationhood as a Black, free, and independent republic, fundamentally breaking from French colonial rule and its slave system. They enshrined radical principles of citizenship, land rights, and a unified Black identity, distinguishing Haiti as the world's first free Black republic and challenging global slaveholding societies. 

Old Regime - French Revolution

• France's pre-revolutionary political and social system, characterized by an absolute monarchy, a rigid hierarchy of Three Estates (Clergy, Nobility, Commoners), and deep social inequality

French Revolution - Causes and Effects

• People were faced with inequity and injustice, and wanted to have some say in their rights and freedom. Wanted to end the  absolute monarchy and call it a time for freedom

•  A new and improved France occurred after many years of war and poverty

What is common to ALL revolutions? What commonly causes revolutions and what are some common outcomes/ changes? 

Social Status Inequality, Power Status Inequality, and Lack of Rights for lower classes were significant issues, as seen in Old Regime France where the 1st and 2nd estates held power. Influential strict rulers like Louis in France, along with Enlightenment ideals, fueled discontent. This led to a shift toward constitutional monarchy, where power was more balanced, rights were gained, and civil wars occurred to overthrow kings, implementing Enlightenment ideas into government.