American Revolution

Causes of the American Revolution

The 13 English Colonies

Growing Discontent Early Clashes

• Part of British global trade• Mercantilist policies• Navigation Acts: regulated colonial trade• Colonists felt entitled to the rights of English citizens

The 13 English Colonies

Growing Discontent Early Clashes

• Part of British global trade• Mercantilist policies• Navigation Acts: regulated colonial trade• Colonists felt entitled to the rights of English citizens

•French and Indian War drained British treasury.• Britain passed and enforced new tax law on the colonists• “No taxation without representation.”

The 13 English Colonies

Growing Discontent Early Clashes

• Part of British global trade• Mercantilist policies• Navigation Acts: regulated colonial trade• Colonists felt entitled to the rights of English citizens

•French and Indian War drained British treasury.• Britain passed and enforced new tax law on the colonists• “No taxation without representation.”

• Boston Massacre• Boston Tea Party• Punitive laws passed by British to punish colonists• Continental Congress with representatives from all 13 colonies

Enlightenment Ideas

US Constitution

SeparationOf Powers

Checks & Balances

Gov’t’s power comes

from the people

People have natural rights to life,

liberty and property

Guaranteed Individual Rights

Gov’t’s authority

comes from people

Separation of three

branches of gov’t

Checks &Balances

French Revolution

Key Terms:

• bourgeoisie– In French society – the middle class

•deficit spending– situation in which a government spends moremoney than it takes in

Three Estates in Old Regime:

First estate = Catholic Clergy

Second estate = Nobility

Third estate = Diverse group › (bourgeoisie, laborers, peasants)

Which estate is represented by the man under thestone? What is the picture saying about this estate?

Louis XIV – The Sun King(1643-1715)•Created extensive military

•Built Versailles

•Left France deeply in debt

Louis XV: 1715-1774 Continued

deficitspending Taxed the

third Estate

unmercifully

Louis XVI – The Last King

•Inherited a hugeeconomic crisis

•Third Estate objected tounfair conditions anddemanded reform

1774-1793

Versailles

The Revolution Begins - 1789

Declaration of the Rights of Man & Citizen

Modeled after American Declaration› Freedom of religion› Taxed according to ability to pay

A new constitution created.

Royal family attempts to flee to Austria.› Captured and imprisoned in Paris.

Marie Antoinette“Madam Deficit”•Had little understandingof the conditions of the lower classes

Causes of the French Revolution

Long Term Causes: Immediate Causes:•Enlightenment ideas—libertyand equality•Example furnished by theAmerican Revolution•Social and economicinjustices of the Old Regime

•Economic crisis—famineand government debt•Weak leadership•Discontent of the ThirdEstate

REVOLUTION•Fall of the Bastille•National Assembly•Declaration of theRights of Man and anew constitution