Revolutions

French Leaders:

Maximilian Robespierre

  • French Statesman known for leading the Reign of Terror. He was beheaded in 1794 because he wasn’t fair to others rights.

Napoleon Bonaparte

  • French Emperor who took over after the French Revolution. 

  • He attempted to conquer Europe

Louis XVl

  • King of France before the fall of monarchy. 

  • He involved France in the American Revolution

  • Restored the civil rights to French Protestants 

  • Was not fair to lower classes because he wanted more money and power

Marie Antoinette 

  • French Queen who said “Let them eat cake” and overthrew the monarchy. She was married to Louis XVi and she was not fair to the lower classes because she and her husband wanted more money and power. 

French Government: 

National Assembly:

  • AKA The Tennis Court Oath 

  • Gave the 3rd estate rights in government 

  • Wanted to make a new constitution

Declaration of the Rights of Men:  

  • Constitution mostly about human rights and freedom for men 

  • Guaranteed freedom of speech, press, religion, property rights, fair trial, and rights to create laws. 


Committee of Public Safety: 

  • Ran by Robbispiere and Danton during the reign of terror 

Directory: 

  • Created by Constitution of the Year 3 

  • 5 directors appointed, had a legislature, and 2 different representation groups

Enlightenment Thinkers: 

John Locke: 

  • Natural Rights (Life, Liberty, and Property)  and that people are born good. Also believed in social contract. 

Thomas Hobbes: 

  • Believed humans were naturally evil. Wrote Leviathan. Governments are to protect people from their own selfishness. 

Baron De Montesquieu: 

  • Believed too much power in one person’s hands will lead to tyranny. Wrote The Spirit of Laws. Wanted to divide power among 3 branches of gov. 

Voltaire 

  • Freedom of speech

Cesare Beccaria 

  • Called for fair treatment of criminals. Speedy trial and no unusual punishment. 
    Documents from the French Revolution:

Declaration of the rights of man- french document discussing equality and nature of citizens (men). Marquis de Lafayette wrote it.

Declaration of Independence- document that officially separates the 13 colonies. Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence.

Constitution of 1791-  document that limited the power of voting to no tax powers and the offices were reserved for property owners. It was a limited monarchy. It was inspired by the Enlightenment theorists like Montesquieu, and Louis XVi accepted it.

People involved in the Latin American Revolutions

Toussaint Louverture- He was the leader of the Haitian Revolution and he led the capture of France and Napoleon's armies. 

Jean- Jacques Dessalines- After Tossaint, declared independence in 1804. He named the nation Haiti and abolished slavery. 

Creoles- people who were born into the New Word to Spanish parents. 

Peninsulares- people born in Spain and the only ones allowed to hold high government offices.

Mestizos- people who were of mixed European and Native American ancestry. 

Old Regime: 

Estate System: 

  • Divided the french people into 3 different classes 

  • The First Estate: Clergy. Collected tithe. Didn’t pay taxes. 

  • The Second Estate: Nobility. Collected taxes. Owned land. 

The Third Estate: Peasants. Taxed heavily with no say in gov.