Debate 1 - Was the American Revolution actually that revolutionary?

You may use any of these documents, as well as information from your textbook or Ch 21 packet as evidence in your debate.

Docs:

Source A – Excerpts from English Bill of Rights, 1689     "The pretended power of suspending [ending] of laws. ... by [the king's] authority without consent of Parliament is illegal. ... It is the right of the subjects to petition the king. ... The levying of money for ... the use of the crown ... without grant of Parliament ... is illegal. The raising and keeping of a standing army within the kingdom in time of peace unless it be with the consent of Parliament is against the law. The speech and debates ... in Parliament ought not to be ... questioned in any court or place out of Parliament. ... Excessive bail ought not to be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel or unusual punishments inflicted."

Source B – Excerpt from US Declaration of Independence

WHEN in the Course of human Events,it becomes necessary for one People to dissolve the Political Bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the Powers of the Earth, the separate and equal Station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent Respect to the Opinions of Mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the Separation.

WE hold these Truths to be self-evident, that all Men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness – That to secure these Rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just Powers from the Consent of the Governed, that whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these Ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its Foundation on such Principles, and organizing its Powers in such Form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient Causes; and accordingly all Experience hath shewn, that Mankind are more disposed to suffer, while Evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the Forms to which they are accustomed.

Source C – Excerpts from US Constitution

Article 1 Section 9The Migration or Importation of such Persons [SLAVES] as any of the States now existing shall think proper to admit, shall not be prohibited by the Congress prior to the Year one thousand eight hundred and eight, but a Tax or duty may be imposed on such Importation, not exceeding ten dollars for each Person.

Article 4 Section 2No Person held to Service or Labour in one State [RUNAWAY SLAVES], under the Laws thereof, escaping into another, shall, in Consequence of any Law or Regulation therein, be discharged from such Service or Labour, but shall be delivered up on Claim of the Party to whom such Service or Labour may be due.

Source D – Political Cartoon

Source E – “Remember the Ladies” Abigail Adams (wife of John Adams) 1776

I long to hear that you have declared an independancy—and by the way in the new Code of Laws which I suppose it will be necessary for you to make I desire you would Remember the Ladies, and be more generous and favourable to them than your ancestors. Do not put such unlimited power into the hands of the Husbands. Remember all Men would be tyrants if they could. If perticuliar care and attention is not paid to the Laidies we are determined to foment a Rebelion, and will not hold ourselves bound by any Laws in which we have no voice, or Representation.

That your Sex are Naturally Tyrannical is a Truth so thoroughly established as to admit of no dispute, but such of you as wish to be happy willingly give up the harsh title of Master for the more tender and endearing one of Friend. Why then, not put it out of the power of the vicious and the 

Lawless to use us with cruelty and indignity with impunity. Men of Sense in all Ages abhor those customs which treat us only as the vassals of your Sex. Regard us then as Beings placed by providence under your protection and in immitation of the Supreem Being make use of that power only for our happiness.

Debate 2 - Was the French Revolution a total waste?You may use any of these documents, as well as information from your textbook or Ch 21 packet as evidence in your debate.

Source A

Source B The Declaration of Rights of Man and Citizen

Article 1 – Men are born and remain free and equal in rights. Social distinctions may be based only on considerations of the common good….

Article 4- Liberty consists in being able to do anything that does not harm others; thus, the exercise of the natural rights of every man has no bounds other than those that ensure to the other members of society the enjoyment of these same rights. These bounds may be determined by Law…

Article 6 – The Law is the expression of the general will. All citizens have the right to take part, personally or through their representatives, in its making. It must be the same for all, whether it protects or punishes. All citizens, being equal in its eyes, shall be equally eligible to all high offices, public positions and employments, according to their ability, and without other distinction than that of their virtues and talents…

Article 11- The free communication of ideas and of opinions is one of the most precious rights of man. Any citizen may therefore speak, write and publish freely, except what is tantamount (equivalent) to the abuse of this liberty in the cases determined by Law…

Source: The Declaration of Rights of Man and Citizen

Source C

I can understand how it was that men worn out by the turmoil of the Revolution, and afraid of that liberty which had long been associated with death, looked for repose under the dominion of an able ruler on whom fortune was seemingly revolved to smile. I can conceive that they regarded his elevation as a degree of destiny and fondly believed that in the irrevocable they should find peace. I may confidently assert that those persons believed quite sincerely that Bonaparte, whether as consul or emperor, would exert his authority to oppose the intrigue of faction and would save us from the perils of anarchy. None dared to utter the word "republic," so deeply had the Terror stained that name; and the government of the Directory had perished in the contempt with which its chiefs were regarded. The return of the Bourbons could only be brought about by the aid of a revolution; and the slightest disturbance terrified the French people, in whom enthusiasm of every kind seemed dead. Besides, the men in whom they had trusted had one after the other deceived them; and as, this time, they were yielding to force, they were at least certain that they were not deceiving themselves. The belief, or rather the error, that only despotism could at that epoch maintain order in France was very widespread. It became the mainstay of Bonaparte; and it is due to him to say that he also believed it. The factions played into his hands by imprudent attempts which he turned to his own advantage. He had some grounds for his belief that he was necessary; France believed it, too; and he even succeeded in persuading foreign sovereigns that he constituted a barrier against republican influences, which, but for him, might spread widely. At the moment when Bonaparte placed the imperial crown upon his head there was not a king in Europe who did not believe that he wore his own crown more securely because of that event. Had the new emperor granted a liberal constitution, the peace of nations and of kings might really have been forever secured.

SOURCE: Memoirs of Madame de Remusat, early 19c.

Source D

Source E

Debate 3 - Was Napoleon an “enlightened” emperor?

You may use any of these documents, as well as information from your textbook or Ch 21 packet as evidence in your debate.

Source A“The benefits of the Code Napoleon (Napoleonic Code), public trial, and the introduction of juries will be the leading features of your Government. And to tell you the truth, I believe these things will help you consolidate (strengthen, secure) your rule over the Germans more than the most resounding (dramatic, decisive) military victories. I want your subjects to enjoy a degree of liberty, equality, and prosperity never before known to the German people. And they will love you for this.”

Source: Napoleon Bonaparte, in a letter to his brother Jerome. Napoleon appointed Jerome as the new King of Prussia after conquering the Prussians

Source B

Answer: Christians owe to the princes who govern them, and we in particular owe to Napoleon I, our emperor, love, respect, obedience, fidelity, military service, and the taxes levied for the preservation and defense of the empire and of his throne. We also owe him fervent prayers for his safety and for the spiritual and temporal prosperity of the state.

Question: Why are we subject to all these duties toward our emperor?

Answer: First, because God, who has created empires and distributes them according to his will, has, by loading our emperor with gifts both in peace and in war, established him as our sovereign and made him the agent of his power and his image on earth. To honor and serve our emperor is therefore to honor and serve God himself. Secondly, because our Lord Jesus Christ himself, both by his teaching and his example, has taught us what we owe to our sovereign. Even at his very birth he obeyed the edict of Caesar Augustus; he paid the established tax; and while he commanded us to render to God those things which belong to God, he also commanded us to render unto Caesar those things which are Caesar's.

Question: Are there not special motives which should attach us more closely to Napoleon I, our emperor?

Answer: Yes, for it is he whom God has raised up in trying times to reestablish the public worship of the holy religion of our fathers and to be its protector; he has reestablished and preserved public order by his profound and active wisdom; he defends the state by his mighty arm; he has become the anointed of the Lord by the consecration which he has received from the sovereign pontiff, head of the Church universal.

Question: What must we think of those who are neglecting their duties toward our emperor?

Answer: According to the apostle Paul, they are resisting the order established by God himself, and render themselves worthy of eternal damnation.

SOURCE: An excerpt from The Imperial Catechism, April, 1806.

Source C“I have always considered Louis XVI’s death to be a crime, and I thought so before I became a ruler myself. Since I have worn a crown I have shown clearly enough that I mean to close the door on revolution (stop it from happening). The sovereigns (kings) of Europe are indebted to me for stopping the revolutionary storm that threatened their thrones.”

Source: Napoleon Bonaparte, December 1812

Source D “I have always been of the opinion that the sovereignty (power to rule) should lay with the people. In fact, my imperial government was a kind of republic. I was called the head (leader) of it by the voice of the people. My policy was that careers should be open to talent. No one should get special treatment based on birth or fortune, and this system of equality is the reason that your English monarchy hates me so much.”

Source: Napoleon, in a conversation with Barry O’Meara in 1817. O’Meara was Napoleon’s doctor on the island of St. Helena following Napoleon’s final defeat and exile.

Source E