The Enlightenment and Political Revolutions
The period of Enlightenment was a revolution questioning the Divine Right of the monarchs. Many philosophers helped put input into ideas of making a better society. Based on these enlightenment ideas, the best ones would be chosen by Popular Sovereignty. Because of this, people started to take action and start rebelling against the colonizers. This is how the American and French Revolutions started in the first place. As a result from these revolutions, more colonies were inspired and did the sam thing.
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Major ContributionsDuring the Enlightenment, there were many thinkers and philosophers. John Locke believed that the government should protect the natural rights of the people. Thomas Hobbes believed that the government should maintain peace to the people. Charles Montesquieu believed that the government should be separated into three branches. Voltaire believed that the government should have freedom of religion.
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French RevolutionIn the French Republic, Absolutism was a very important fact to the people. There was three social classes in the French monarchy, upper class, bourgeoisie, and the lower class. The third estate was angry at the other two estates for them having more than they did. With this, the French Revolution began and they overthrew the King and Queen. They also launched a reign of terror for the first estate.
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Effects of the French and American RevolutionsBoth the American Revolution and the French Revolution were successful and they received their independence. Word must have gone around that America and France received their independence, so other countries tried to do the same thing. Inspiration struck!
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Vocab:
Absolutism: The belief of political and philosophical, ethical matters.
Divine Right: The belief that God gives the authority for someone to rule.
Reign of Terror: A period of time of remorseless bloodshed.
Popular Sovereignty: When the people control the government.
Bourgeoisie: A person from the middle class.
Absolutism: The belief of political and philosophical, ethical matters.
Divine Right: The belief that God gives the authority for someone to rule.
Reign of Terror: A period of time of remorseless bloodshed.
Popular Sovereignty: When the people control the government.
Bourgeoisie: A person from the middle class.