APWH 3.1-3.8

3.1 The Enlightenment

Reason and Empiricism:

 Knowledge comes from observation and experimentation (scientific method)

Natural Rights (John Locke):

 Life, liberty, property.

Social contrast:

 Governments exist to protect rights; people can overthrow governments that fail to do so.

Challenge to Religion:

 Rejected divine right monarchy; promoted secular government.

3.2 Enlightenment→Revolution

American Revolution:

• Influenced by Locke’s ideas.

American Revolution:

“No taxation without representation.”

American Revolution:

• Created a republic, but suffrage limited to white male property owners.

French revolution:

Influenced by Enlightenment + economic inequality.

French revolution:

• Declaration of the Rights of Man: equality before the law, freedoms.

French revolution:

• Overthrew absolutist monarchy.

Haitan Revolution:

• Enslaved people used Enlightenment ideals to demand equality.

• First successful slave revolt → independent Haiti (1804).

Latin American revolution:

• Simón Bolívar led independence movements.

• Criticized Spanish colonial rule; supported republican government (with strong executive).

 

3.3 Reform Movements

Liberalism (19th Century)

• Expanded suffrage (especially in Britain).

• Opposed aristocratic privilege.

Feminism:

• Sought women’s suffrage.

• First country with women’s voting rights: New Zealand (1893).

Abolitionism:

• Slavery criticized using:

  • Enlightenment ideals (natural rights)

  • Religion (Christian morality)

• Abolished gradually worldwide by 1900.

Serfdom:

• Abolished in Russia due to fear of revolt.

• Reflected gradual reform rather than revolution.

3.4 nationalism

• Loyalty to a shared language, culture, history, and territory.

Effects:

• Creation of nation-states.

• German unification under Prussia.

• Weakened multinational empires (Ottoman Empire).