Enlightenment
the idea that government should exist only by the consent of the governed
popular sovereignty
an act of the British Parliament that imposed taxes on legal documents and other printed materials in its North American colonies in 1765
Stamp Act
a period of the French Revolution during which the revolutionary government adopted repressive measures to prevent dissent
Reign of Terror
a mix of Roman Catholic and indigenous West African religious practices popular in Haiti
Vodou
Which of the following was not true of European coffeehouses in the eighteenth century
a. They served as important outlets for news and information.
b. They enabled people from a variety of social backgrounds to acquire an informal education.
c. They were centers of royal power and tightly controlled by monarchs.
d. They had their origins in the cities of the Islamic world.
c. They were centers of royal power and tightly controlled by monarchs.
What was a principal cause of the American Revolution?
a. desire to abolish slavery
b. growing support for the enfranchisement of women
c. British efforts to consolidate control over its colonies
d. refusal of colonists to expand westward beyond Appalachia
c. British efforts to consolidate control over its colonies
What was a cause of the French Revolution?
a. an economic crisis
b. decolonization
c. the threat of Spanish invasion
d. the acquisition of equal rights for women
a. an economic crisis
What was a key difference between the Haitian Revolution and those in British North America and France?
a. The Haitian Revolution directly addressed racial inequality.
b. Haiti did not issue a written constitution.
c. The Haitian Revolution was fought by foreign mercenaries.
d. Only Haiti experienced violent battles during its revolution.
a. The Haitian Revolution directly addressed racial inequality.
What did the concept of natural rights mean to John Locke?
Locke argued that everyone is born with the right to life, liberty, and property, and that the purpose of government is to protect these rights. He also introduced the concept of popular sovereignty, which means that a government only has power because the people give it consent to govern. If a government violates the natural rights of its citizens, Locke argued that the people have the right to overthrow that government.
To whom were the principles of natural rights actually extended as a result of the American Revolution, and who was omitted from the extension of such rights?
After the American Revolution, natural rights were mostly extended to white men, especially those who owned property. However, women, enslaved people, and Indigenous groups were left out and didn’t get the same rights.
Who achieved full rights of citizenship as a result of the French Revolution, and who did not?
After the French Revolution, male citizens gained full rights, including voting and equality before the law.However, women and enslaved people did not get the same rights. Women, for example, were still excluded from voting and political power.
What was Saint-Domingue’s relationship with France prior to the Haitian Revolution?
Before the Haitian Revolution, Saint-Domingue (now Haiti) was France’s richest colony, producing 40% of Europe’s sugar and half of its coffee. However, the economy depended on the brutal labor of 500,000 enslaved people, who were treated terribly by the white colonists in charge.
What role did coffeehouses play during the Enlightenment, and why did monarchs like King Charles II try to shut them down?
Coffeehouses were spaces where people could freely discuss politics, science, and philosophy, fostering Enlightenment ideas. Monarchs like Charles II viewed them as dangerous because they allowed citizens to criticize authority and spread revolutionary ideas, threatening royal power.
What was the significance of the Declaratory Act of 1766, and how did it escalate tensions between Britain and the American colonies?
The Declaratory Act asserted that Parliament had the right to impose laws and taxes on the colonies "in all cases whatsoever", reminding colonists they were under British control. This act deepened colonial resentment and resistance, leading toward revolution.
How did the Reign of Terror reflect both the ideals and contradictions of the French Revolution?
The Reign of Terror aimed to protect revolutionary ideals by eliminating "enemies" of the revolution, but it also contradicted those ideals by using extreme violence and repression. Thousands, including revolutionaries, were executed under Robespierre's leadership, revealing the tension between liberty and order.
How did Toussaint Louverture’s 1801 constitution reflect revolutionary ideals, and what controversial aspect limited the freedom of the population?
The 1801 constitution granted citizenship to all, regardless of race, embracing equality. However, it controversially continued forced labor on sugarcane plantations, keeping the economy dependent on the same system that had oppressed enslaved people.
What role did the Republic of Letters play in spreading Enlightenment ideas, and what were the challenges faced in maintaining intellectual exchanges across different regions?
The Republic of Letters was a network of intellectuals exchanging ideas through letters and publications across Europe and the Atlantic. However, language barriers, reliance on Latin, and limited access to printed materials restricted participation to wealthy, educated elites, excluding many people.
How did the Articles of Confederation reflect the ideals of the revolution, and what challenges did they present that led to the creation of the U.S. Constitution?
The Articles of Confederation reflected revolutionary ideals by creating a weak central government to prevent tyranny, giving most power to the states. However, the inability to raise taxes or regulate commerce created economic instability, leading to the Constitutional Convention and the adoption of a stronger federal system in 1787.
How did the Directory attempt to stabilize France after the Reign of Terror, and why was it ultimately unable to maintain control?
The Directory sought to stabilize France by curbing extremism and balancing power between radicals and conservatives, but it was weakened by corruption, internal unrest, and external threats. Its inability to maintain order paved the way for Napoleon Bonaparte’s rise to power in 1799.
What were the motivations of Britain and Spain in supporting white colonists during the Haitian Revolution, and how did these foreign interventions complicate the conflict?
Britain and Spain aimed to weaken France by supporting the white colonists and opposing the revolutionary forces. However, their intervention prolonged the conflict, forcing the revolutionaries to fight on multiple fronts while navigating the shifting alliances and geopolitical interests of competing colonial powers.