Unit 3 - Revolutions (2024-2025)

Unit Overview

Absolutism

  • Definition: Monarch who claims exclusive power to make and enforce laws.

  • Governance: Rules by divine right without any checks and balances.

  • Key Ideas:

    • Divine Right to Rule: Belief that monarchs derive authority from God.

    • Centralized Control of Government: All decisions made by the sovereign, limiting legislative power.

    • Lack of Checks and Balances: Absence of institutional restraints allows unchecked power.

Notable Absolute Monarchs

  1. Louis XIV of France

  2. Catherine the Great of Russia

  3. Peter the Great of Russia

  4. Yongle Emperor of Ming China

  5. Elizabeth I of England

  6. Henry VIII of England

  7. Suleiman the Magnificent of Ottoman Empire

  8. Akbar the Great of Mughal Empire

  9. Abbas the Great of Safavid Empire

  10. Emperor Meiji of Japan

Causes of Revolutions

  • Definition: A major change in the political, economic, or social structure often achieved through violence.

  • Reasons for Revolt:

    • Lack of rights/freedoms

    • Unequal wealth distribution

    • Heavy taxation on specific populations

    • Denial of basic human needs

    • Desire for equal opportunity.

  • Requirements for a Revolution to Start:

    • At least two opposing sides with clear goals.

    • Competent leaders capable of rallying support.

    • Access to weapons and socio-political grievances.

Stages of Revolutions

  • Stage Reaction: Return to quiet times often involves repression of radicals.

  • Aggressive Nationalism: Radical factions may seize control after a financial breakdown; symbolic actions often trigger dramatic events.

  • The Thermidorian Phase: Emergence of a more conservative regime post-radical control.

Enlightenment Influencers

  • Core Ideas:

    • Trust in reason over miracles for societal improvement.

    • Advocacy for natural laws regulating society.

    • Emphasis on happiness and progress through sociopolitical structures.

    • Promotion of liberty, personal freedoms, and religious toleration.

Key Philosophers

  • Thomas Hobbes: Advocated for a strong monarch to ensure peace and order; believed in social contracts.

  • John Locke: Emphasized natural rights (life, liberty, property) and the people's right to revolt against unjust rulers.

  • Voltaire: Championed tolerance, especially concerning religion.

  • Montesquieu: Proposed the separation of powers across branches of government to create checks and balances.

The French Revolution Overview

  • Long-term Causes: Influence of Enlightenment; social injustices and financial crisis.

  • Phases of Revolution:

    1. Old Regime to National Assembly (1789-91)

    2. Moderate Phase (Legislative Assembly 1791-92)

    3. Radical Phase (National Convention 1792-95)

    4. The Directory Phase (1795-99).

Events and Outcomes of the French Revolution

  • Emergence from the Old Regime to the radical ideas defined in the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen.

  • Louis XVI's execution established the transition to radical governance under the Jacobins.

  • Repercussions: Radical reforms, significant violence during the Reign of Terror, and subsequent emergence of Napoleon.

Napoleon's Rise and Fall

  • Napoleon as a Leader: Initially an army officer; supporter of the Revolution leading to political ascension.

  • Semi-military governance with plebiscites to validate his power.

  • Consolidation of Power: Established the Napoleonic Code emphasizing merit and religious toleration.

  • Mistakes Leading to Downfall:

    • Failed invasions, reliance on continental systems, and overreach in governance.

  • Final Exile: Defeated in 1815 at the Battle of Waterloo, exiled to St. Helena.

Reflection on Napoleon

  • The debate continues on whether Napoleon should be viewed as a hero for spreading revolutionary ideas or a villain for his authoritarian rule.