Questions 1-5
How did Voltaire use his writings during the Enlightenment?
Voltaire used his writings during this period to promote free speech and religious toleration.
Explain what a theocracy is and which of the enlightenment philosophers support it.
A theocracy is a government that is run by religious leaders and enforces religious ideology. Of the enlightenment philosophers, it was the protestant reformer John Calvin who was a big supporter of theocratic government.
Explain what factors contributed to the beginning of an independence movement in America.
The various parliamentary acts and the lack of colonial political representation in parliament were major factors that contributed to the start of an independence movement in the American colonies.
Explain how a middle class that doesn't have representation contributed to the American and French Revolutions.
In both France and America, the middle class lacked political representation in government. In America, the colonists had no representation in the British Parliament to argue against the various acts passed on the colonies. In France, the middle class had no political say in their lives under the absolute monarchy.
Explain the purpose of the Congress of Vienna and its impact on Central Europe following Napoleon Bonaparte.
The Congress of Vienna convened to restore a balance of power in Europe. Napoleon had taken control over most of the continent and had replaced many political figures with family members. Nationalism was on the rise due to this and the Congress wanted to prevent its further spread and created/recreated many monarchies. Central Europe was affected by the Congress because of the new Confederation of German states, which eventually would fully unite into Germany.
Explain Thomas Hobbes' ideas on the social contract.
Hobbes' social contract contained the idea that in order to have a strong stable government, citizens would exchange their rights.
Explain what Montesquieu's idea of separation of power is and how it influenced future revolutions.
Montesquieu's ideas on separation of powers was about breaking up political power into three branches in order to prevent tyranny. The influence of this idea is that during and after future revolutions, new governments are created with separation of powers added to their constitutions like the United States.
Explain the impact of the Magna Carta, the English Bill of Rights, and the U.S. Bill of Rights in the United States.
The Magna Carta and the English Bill of Rights impacted the United States because they set a precedent for the protection of individual rights. The U.S. Bill of Rights guarantees citizens specific legal protections.
How was the economic situation of both the American colonies and France different at the beginning of their revolutions?
The American colonies were in fairly good economic shape at the outset of the American Revolution. The British Parliament had needed to raise money and partly because of the decent colonial economy, it raised new taxes.
France however, was in terrible economic shape. They were heavily in debt from the Seven Years' War. The monarch was deficit spending driving the kingdom further into debt. Inflation was on the rise due to crop failures, making dietary staples like bread far more expensive.
What is nationalism and how it expand during the Napoleonic War?
Nationalism is a strong feeling of pride in and devotion to one's country. Napoleon helped to spread this as he began taking over the vast majority of Europe. As kingdoms were taken over, the people had pride in being Spanish, Portuguese, Germanic, etc. They had no interest in being ruled or controlled by someone that was not from their same nationality.
What are the characteristics of an absolute monarchy.
An absolute monarchy is characterized by the monarch (king/queen) having all political power and this power is from divine right.
Explain what natural rights are and what influence it has on the future.
Natural rights are rights that are given to all humans because they are human. The enlightenment philosophers that supported this idea will help to inspire future revolutions that used natural rights as a justification.
What influence did the English Civil War, the Glorious Revolution, and the English Bill of Rights have on the English monarchy?
These events helped to create a constitutional monarchy in England with the monarch (king/queen) being given limited powers.
Explain how the result of both the American and French revolutions were similar.
The end result of both revolutions in France and America were similar in that new representative governments were created. Citizens in both nations gained more political rights from their respective revolutions.
Explain what Enabled colonies in Latin America to start their revolutions.
Particularly the Spanish colonies in Latin America were able to rebel and begin revolutions against overseas Spanish authority because Spain itself was preoccupied fighting Napoleon during the Napoleonic Wars. Spain would not be able to send a military force to the Americas to quell any revolutions that break out.
How should laws be created according to Rousseau?
Rousseau believed that laws should be created by the general will of the people.
How was democratic-republican government influenced by the Enlightenment?
Democratic-republican government was influenced by the Enlightenment by the support of Enlightenment philosophers helped to start new ideas about individual rights.
Explain what differences there were between why the Americans and French were fighting revolutions.
The Americans were fighting for independence from an overseas colonial power. The French were fighting to replace the existing social and political order.
What was the justification of France and America for their revolutions when they issued their independence declarations?
They justified their revolutions by stating the purpose of government was to protect citizens rights. The governments of both nations had failed to do so, leading the people to feel they had the right to create political change.
What influence did the American and French Revolutions have on leaders, like Simon Bolivar, in Latin America?
Both revolutions incorporated somewhat successfully many of the enlightenment ideas that Simon Bolivar would adopt when he began revolutions against the authority of Spain. The American Revolutions showed that colonies could be successful in overthrowing their more powerful overseas mother countries. The French Revolution will impact Latin America because it ultimately ended with Napoleon becoming emperor and in his attempt to take over Europe, created a distraction for Spain and Portugal.
What are the natural rights of John Locke and Thomas Jefferson?
John Locke said that natural rights were life, liberty, and property. Thomas Jefferson on the other hand called natural rights "unalienable rights" and said they were life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
How was the precedent that no leader is above the law established?
King John was forced to sign the Magna Carta, where he acknowledged the rights of his subjects and the idea that no leader is above the law, not even the king.
What influenced the revolutionaries to create the Declaration of the Rights of Man?
The writings of the American Revolution, specifically the Declaration of Independence were major influences on why the Declaration of the Rights of Man was created.
Explain why the American Declaration of Independence was written.
The Declaration of Independence was written to explain the grievances the colonies had with what the British Parliament had been doing to them. These grievances were the justification on why the colonists felt they had no other option other than to become an independent state, free from British control.
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