Peters Age of Enlightenment and Revolutions Test

What as the historical age of the renaissance (pre-enlightenment) also known as?

Age of Absolutism (totalinarianism)

Why did the Age of Enlightenment happen?

Society was discontent with absolute rule, leaders were self focused and not representative, sci. revolution was inspiring (new confidence in power of reason)

What were natural laws?

Laws that govern human nature and behavior (believed during enlightenment)

What were the core motivators of the Enlightenment?

Utopia and Natural Laws

What were Montesquieu's ideas?

Humans can be good but susceptible to corruption, human nature doesn't change, SEPARATION OF POWERS (multiple branches/checks and balances), both Easterners and Europeans are imperfect

Where was Montesquieu from?

France

What were Voltaire's ideas?

Humans neutral and can choose good or bad, SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE, human equality, reason

Where was Voltaire from?

France

What were Adam Smith's ideas?

Humans inherently self interested but neutral & motivated by social influence (not blank slate), Gross Domestic Product, invisible hand, government role should be limited but necessary

Where was Adam Smith from?

Scotland

What were Immanuel Kant's ideas?

Reason should be used to determine knowledge and how people act (human nature), rational human beings should be treated as an end in themselves and not as a means to something else.

What is Kant's categorical imperative?

you should act in the way that you would want everyone else to act (and you have a moral duty to do so)

Where was Immanuel Kant from?

Germany

What were Hobbes' ideas?

humans inherently bad, absolute government and SOCIAL CONTRACT necessary to control people and prevent chaos

Where was Hobbes from?

England

What were Rousseau's ideas?

humans inherently good and corrupted by society and gov, SOCIAL CONTRACT necessary to prevent gov corruption, wanted small democracy

Where was Rousseau from?

Switzerland

What were Jefferson's ideas?

humans inherently good & capable of making decision to decide good/bad, small govs, NO ABSOLUTISM, separation of federal and state gov (STATE POWER), equal regardless of status

What were Wollstonecraft's ideas?

humans blank slate, women's rights, created feminism, equal rights for men and women

What is Smith's concept of the invisible hand?

a metaphor that describes the unseen forces of self-interest that impact the free market> people basing decisions off self interest helps the economy

What did Hobbes write?

Leviathan (abt social contract). The image of a leviathan represents an absolute leader (Hobbes' idea of the best government).

What were Diderot's ideas?

humans constantly changing, make choices based off natural desires, worked on encyclopedia,

What was the importance of French salons during the Enlightenment?

where philosophes shared ideas and met others, inspired others to meet and started revolutions

Who said the quote "man is born free and everywhere he is in chains"?

Rousseau: everyone must individually obey government because the state represents overall will of people

What is the definition of absolutism?

an unrestrained form of monarchial power (ruler has total power)

What is an Enlightenment philosopher called?

"philosophe", the French word for philosophers (made seem sophisticated)

How were philosophes different from philosophers of previous centuries?

they were more involved with action occurring and more well rounded. tried to change the stereotype of a philosopher, desired religious tolerance and secularism

How is "happiness" an Enlightenment idea?

idea that life in itself is important, not just getting to heaven

Explain Diderot's encyclopedia.

first attempt to collect all knowledge into a book. HUMANISTIC, fueled desire for knowledge

Who were the physiocrats and what did they think?

people who thought that thought and science could make the government better.

How did the Enlightenment ideas push America toward revolution?

optimism and new ideas made people want to become independent with their idea

What's the definition of feudalism?

a social system characterized by a hierarchical structure in which land is owned by a small ruling class and is worked by peasants in exchange for protection and other services

How is the Age of Enlightenment different from the Renaissance/Sci Rev?

Renaissance more on individual improvement, enlightenment used advancements to improve society and gov

What is deism?

a belief system focused on reason, natural laws, and not believing in diving intervention

Why did the enlightenment happen?

coming out of the "age of absolutism" and totalitarianism, there was societal discontent with the absolute rule, leaders were self focused and not representative, sci. rev. was so popular that ppl were confident in REASON

What are natural laws?

laws that govern human nature and behavior (believed to be real during enlightenment)

What were the core motivators of the Enlightenment?

natural laws and their possibility to be used to create a utopia

What's the definition of Imperialism?

when a country extends its power into other territories for economic or political gain

What was the act passed by English Parliament that said American colonists could only buy and sell from England (creating a monopoly)?

Navigation Acts

What happened during the French/Indian War (7 Years War)?

French & Natives vs. British, fought over land, British told Indians they must move across Appalachian mountains (colonies border)

What was the slogan the helped American colonists unite to Revolution?

"no taxation without representatiion"

What year was the American Revolutionary War declared?

1775

When was the Declaration of Independence written?

July 4, 1776

Who wrote the quote "A Prince whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people"

Thomas Jefferson (in dec. of independence)

What were the impromptu civilian army members of the American Revolution called?

militia men, guerrilla warfare

Why did the French, Dutch, and Spanish all fund the colonist side of the American Rev. even though they were weak?

It would help end England's monopoly

What was the treaty called that put an end to the American Rev?

The Treaty of Paris (1781)

What do the words "We the People" imply about the new constitution?

It is a social contract, created by the people and giving people the power to vote/overthrow.

Whose idea was it that government officials should be elected, not hereditary?

John Locke

Who wanted divided power between Federal and State governments?

Thomas Jefferson

Who wanted branches and separation of federal powers? +checks and balances

Montesquieu

Who inspired the Bill of Rights (preserves natural rights)?

John Locke

Who wanted a free market economy and capitalism?

Adam Smith

Who wanted the separation of Church and State?

Voltaire

Who was the first estate made up of?

Clergy (priests and other Church ppl)

Who was the second estate made up of?

the Nobility (gov and court officials, army officers, old money)

Who was the third estate made up of?

1. Bourgeoisie (bankers, merchants, lawyers, doctors, etc)
2. Peasants (mainly rural tenant farmers)
3. Working class (city workers, servants, etc)

When is Bastille Day?

July 14, 1789

Which estate consisted of 98% of population?

Third Estate

Why was there social discontent pre-revolution in France?

unfair taxing, unable to advance in class status, unequal land ownership

Why was France in a poor economic condition at the start of the revolution?

they had given money to US for war, deficit spending, rising food prices due to a famine

Who were the King and Queen of France at the start of the revolution?

Louis XVI (sixteenth) and Marie Antoinette

What was the first representative group called by Louis XVI to come up with a solution the the economic problems?

The Estates General

Why did Louis XVI call the Estates General?

to find a solution for economy downturn, blame won't be on him, gives allusion of giving everyone a voice (only landowners rep.)

What group was created after the 3rd estate broke away from the Estates General?

The National Assembly

What was the first document created by the National Assembly and what did it do?

The Oath of the Tennis Court (agreed to create a new constitution for france)

What was the triggering event of the French revolution?

the storming of the Bastille (Bastille day), Bastille was a prison that represented the control of absolute monarchy, philosophes being held there (Voltaire). 1st violent outbreak of French Rev.

What was "The Great Fear"?

the time in France when rumors were spreading of peasants looting and stealing from homes, created chaos and terror especially within nobility.

What did the "Declaration of the Rights of Man" do? (Aug 4, 1789)

abolished old regime, equality of ALL citizens under law, natural rights, freedom of religion.

How could the National Assembly get away with changing the government?

they had the people's support

Where did Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette try to flee to?

Austria

What did the Constitution of 1791 do?

created a "limited monarchy", no more absolutism, created "Legislative Assembly" with elected reps.

What does this enlightenment idea mean?
"The universe is fundamentally rational, that is, it can be understood through the use of reason alone"

Our understanding of the universe should be based on and proved by reason. This idea is associated with Rene Descartes.

What does this enlightenment idea mean?
"Truth can be arrived at through empirical observations, the use of reason, and systemic doubt"

Truth can be found using reason and questioning authority. This idea is associated with John Locke and Empiricism.

What was the significance of the Constitution of 1791 only allowing taxpayers to vote?

now 3rd estate members without land could vote, prompted 1st and 2nd estates to pay taxes

What happened during the 2nd stage of the French Revolution?

Reign of Terror:

What was the Committee of Public safety?

12 members, back to almost absolute power, got rid of peasant revolts, ordered citizens to contribute to war effort

Who was Maximillien Robespierre?

politician, leadership of Committee of Public Safety, led "Reign of Terror"

What was the Reign of Terror?

1793-1794: many death sentences, thought terror necessary to protect rev, 17,000 executed, many false sentences

Who invented the guillotine?

Joseph Guillotin

What did the Constitution of 1795 do?

set up "5 Man Directory", 2 house legislature, voting by property owning only

Why did France go back to having only property owners vote in the Const. of 1795?

They thought the crazed Reign of Terror was the peasants fault and they needed to give power only to educated

What did the Directory do?

maintained more order and stability, but people weren't happy bc: corrupt in decision making, loss of 3rd estate voting rights after having them, food $ went up

How did Napoleon come into power?

The Directory appointed him when they started losing support because he was popular with people.

What happened during the 3rd stage of the French Revolution?

The Directory: 5 man directory in power, voting taken away from non property, less chaos but still unhappy, rioting started because of discontent

What happened during the 4th stage of the French Revolution?

Napoleon Bonaparte:

What did Napoleon instate to replace the Directory?

the Consulate (3 men)

What is significant about Napoleon naming himself "consul for life"?

He can do whatever he wants and doesn't have to worry about people voting for him again, brings back hereditary gov roles, immune

What did Napoleon do at his coronation to be Emperor of France?

took the crown from the Pope and put it on his own head (symbolizes the church doesn't control him)

What was Napoleon's group that voted on his policies called?

the Plebiscite (lowest roman class=plebians)

How did Napoleon help French society?

modernized france (economy, new industry, new roads +canals, gov controlled edu), peace with catholic church (but still religious freedom), gave peasants right to own land, meritocracy, no more old regime, BUT women lost rights

What was the Napoleonic Code?

"enlightened" legal code: equality under law (except women), religious tolerance, ind. freedom, natural rights, order and authority

Where was Napoleon born?

Corsica (island off coast of Italy)

How did Napoleon revolutionize the art of war?

turned war from "gentleman's game" to more strategic, divide (the other army) and conquer

Why did Napoleon want to conquer Egypt?

to disrupt English trade routes with India and the Middle East

What was the committee created at the start of the 2nd stage of the French Rev. to lead because France was being threatened (1793)?

The Committee of Public Safety

What happened during the 1st stage of the French Revolution?

Moderate Stage: 3rd estate boycotts Estates General, creates National Assembly, Constitution of 1791

What are the four phases of the French Revolution?

1. The Moderate Phase
2. The Radical Phase
3. The Directory
4. The Age of Napoleon

What is the term for a small or weak military force and what is an example of this?

A militia or guerrilla warfare. The American military during the Revolutionary War.

What is the term for a military uprising overtaking a government and what is an example?

A coup d'état. Napoleon Bonaparte.