France returned Madras to Britain after the War of Succession
jockeying for power in Asia continued
Robert Clive led British forces to victory in India through persistence
by the Treaty of Paris 1763, France withdrew & left India to British
The French and Indian War
The French and Indian War
greatest conflict of Seven Years’ War was in North America
points of contention
Gulf of St. Lawrence
unsettled Ohio River valley
French moved south along the Mississippi & established forts from the Appalachians to the Mississippi River
French movement threatened British expansion
French found allies among the Native Americans
Indians saw French traders as less threatening than British settlers
initial French success
several British naval victories in 1759, gave Britain an advantage, since France’s success depended on naval reinforcement
British victories followed, went on to seize Quebec, Montreal, the Great Lakes region, & Ohio Valley
Settled by Treaty of Paris (1763)
France lost Canada & all holdings east of Mississippi R.
Spain ceded Florida to G.B., France gave Louis. Terr. to Spain
Beginning of the Revolutionary Era: The American Revolution
After Seven Years’ War, British looked for ways to obtain new revenues from 13 colonies to pay expenses for defending the colonists (ex. Stamp Act 1765)
Basic Policy Problem:
Britain envisioned single empire w/ Parliament as supreme authority
only Parliament could make policy for all people in empire
Colonists had their own representative assemblies
believed king & Parliament had no right to interfere w/ internal affairs or levy taxes w/o consent of the representative assembly
July 4, 1776 – Second Continental Congress approved Thomas Jefferson’s Declaration of Independence
affirmed the Enlightenment ideas of natural rights of “life, liberty, & the pursuit of happiness”
declared the colonies to be “free and independent states absolved of all allegiance to the British crown”
American War for Independence
2nd Cont. Congress authorized a Continental Army under George Washington
Washington logical choice as commander in chief
military experience in French & Indian War
political experience in Virginia
a southerner brought balance to effort that had been focused in New England
War was not simple choice for colonists
15-30% of pop. Loyalists – questioned the rebellion
15-30% were Patriots – pushed rebellion
most colonists were apathetic at beginning of the war
Foreign support from enemies of Britain important from the beginning
France gave money & arms to rebels as revenge for previous British defeats
Cornwallis surrenders to Washington at Yorktown 1781
Treaty of Paris signed 1783
Americans now control the western territory to the Mississippi River
Forming a New Nation & Impact on Europe
Forming a New Nation & Impact on Europe
fear of concentrated power and concern for individual interests caused little enthusiasm for a united nation
1781 – Articles of Confederation ratified
1787 – delegates meet to revise A. of C., scrap it & devise new constitution
1788 - United States Constitution approved
1789 – Congress proposed 12 amendments to Constitution
will only be ratified if “certain liberties” can be guaranteed
first 10 approved became Bill of Rights
many of the rights were derived from the natural rights philosophies of the Enlightenment
Europeans saw the A.R. as embodiment of the Enlightenment theories
premise of the Enlightenment seemed confirmed
a new age & better world could be achieved
many Europeans received information about America from returning soldiers
Govt. borrowed so much money, by 1788 – ½ govt. spending was to loan interest
1789: needed to raise taxes, called Estates General (had not met since 1614)
crown essentially admitted that it needed permission of estates to raise taxes
The French Revolution
From Estates-General to National Assembly
opened on May 5, 1789, had not met since 1614
1614: each estate had 300 delegates & each estate had 1 vote
Split from beginning about how to vote (by estate or by individual)
Louis XVI agreed to double # of 3rd Estate delegates, but didn’t say how voting would take place
1st & 2nd Estates wanted to vote by Estate, 3rd wanted individual votes
Ceremonial annoyances begin to perturb 3rd Estate
Can not sit in king’s presence
Can not wear hat in king’s presence
Only ½ of a set of French doors open for 3rd Estate delegates
Louis gave no indication to E.G. how to function or what to do
3rd Estate refuses to begin unless all delegates meet in 1 hall & vote by head
Higher Estates blame “commoners” for “holding things up” (52 day stand-off)
June 17th, 1789 – 3rd Estate voted itself a National Assembly and draw up a constitution
On June 20, 3rd Estate arrives at meeting hall to find it locked, move down street into nearby indoor tennis courts & vow to keep meeting until they finish a constitution. (Tennis Court Oath)
The revolution essentially began w/ Tennis Court Oath
The revolution essentially began w/ Tennis Court Oath
mainly driven by 3rd Estate lawyers
3rd Estate had no authority to form National Assembly
Louis prepared to use force to “end nonsense”
Revolts in urban & rural areas drew Louis XVI’s attention from the 3rd Estate during July and August
Common people used the name of the 3rd Estate to wage war on the rich
Paris: mob activity was so bad, the people of Paris the “Permanent Committee” to keep order
Needed weapons, so organized a popular force & took the royal armory
July 14th, attacked the Bastille (former state prison used as an armory)
only contained 7 prisoners when it was stormed
more symbolic than important, but saved the National Assembly
