Industrial Revolution
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Manchester, England was the world's first industrial nation. Unlike China and other European countries, England was able to have an industrial revolution due to many factors. Firstly, England had numerous resources such as coal, iron, tin, copper, limestone, water power, and lead. England was also advanced in agriculture. For instance, they had many new inventions, such as the spinning jenny and the water frame, which improved farming. Also, Bakewell introduced the "Breeding Animal Husbandry". Bakewell wanted to "create" the best animal that will do the most labor. Another important agricultural inventor was McCormick. He invented the reaper which threshed grained as it was being harvested. Another major cause of the industrial revolution in Manchester, England was the increased population and urbanization. Many people began to move from the rural farmlands to the urban cities due to the Enclosure Movement. The Enclosure Movement was a government action that closed down many farms causing many farmers and peasants to move to the cities in search of employment. Newfound energies also led to the great revolution.
This revolution led to many of our modern day technologies. For example, both the car and the airplane were invented during this revolution. Another important invention was the telephone which was invented by Alexander Gram Bell. Radios were also invented during this time period. There were also new methods of production such as the assembly line and interchangeable parts. Therefore, without this revolution many of our modern day technologies would not exist!
This revolution led to many of our modern day technologies. For example, both the car and the airplane were invented during this revolution. Another important invention was the telephone which was invented by Alexander Gram Bell. Radios were also invented during this time period. There were also new methods of production such as the assembly line and interchangeable parts. Therefore, without this revolution many of our modern day technologies would not exist!
Protestant Reformation
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The Protestant Reformation dramatically changed Europe, and it was considered to be the first reformation that occurred in history. There were many causes for this rebellious reformation. For instance, the church was rather corrupt as well as extremely secular. They were very unfair to their naive society by selling them indulgences. The people of Europe thought that it was necessary to buy these indulgences in order to shorten their time in purgatory. However, little did they know that the church was corrupting them for their money and that the indulgences were nothing but a small piece of paper with writing imprinted on it. Additionally, Christian humanism in the northern renaissance also influenced the Protestant Reformation because people began to question the sincerity of their supposedly "trustworthy" church. One individual in particular that questioned the church greatly was Martin Luther. He is considered one of the most important European figures of all time because he not only created a new religion; he affected the new beginnings of so many other events as well. His breakaway from the church at the Diet of Worms and the nailing of the 95 Theses on the church doors in Wittenberg allowed him to create his own religion which to this day is known as Protestantism. Furthermore, this reformation was not only the beginning of a new religion but it created a "new" and diverse Europe. Before the reformation, almost all of Europe was Roman Catholic but that immediately changed once the rebellion occurred. Also, during the Middle Ages, the church had more control over their citizens than the kings/monarchies. However, that all changed once the reformation occurred because the religious revolt diminished the church's power and thus handing the power over to the monarchies. Monarchies then started to be Europe's new form of government.
Enlightenment
The Enlightenment caused the beginnings of many events in Europe. For instance, this movement was definitely one of the causes for the French Revolution by making people question the sincerity of their government. In addition, it led to Enlightened Despotism. Enlightened Despotism is when the monarchy rules in favor of their citizens. They would still have all of the power but they used their power kindly. In addition, they respected the rights of their people and tried to reform the government a little bit. Many of the philosophers of the enlightenment preferred monarchies and opposed democratic governments. The Enlightenment also led to religious tolerance in many kingdoms like Joseph II in Austria. Joseph II of Austria was definitely trying to reform for the better for his people. He eliminated serfdom and feudal dues as well as taxing people equally. Another Enlightened Despot was Peter the Great in Russia. Before Peter the Great, Russia was in its "own little world". They were in contact with much of Western European culture and they were very behind in their technology department. However, Peter the Great immediately changed that by "westernizing" and modernizing Russia.
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French Revolution
"1st. What is the third estate? Everything.
2nd. What has it been heretofore in the political order? Nothing.
3rd. What does it demand? To become something therein."
~ Abbé Sieyès, What is the Third Estate? (1789)
2nd. What has it been heretofore in the political order? Nothing.
3rd. What does it demand? To become something therein."
~ Abbé Sieyès, What is the Third Estate? (1789)
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There were many causes for the French revolution within France as well as outside the country. For instance, more and more people in France started to believe in very liberal ideas. The quote of the revolution was "Liberty, Quality, and Fraternity". People wanted to be part of the government, and they started to believe that a republic was possible due to the American Revolution in America. They thought that since America rebelled against the English monarchy, so can they. Also, the Enlightenment caused the French Revolution because the philosophers' (Voltaire, Montesquieu, and Rousseau) writings caused numerous amounts to people to revolt against their king, Louis XVI. There were many economic dilemmas within the government as well. For instance, there was unfair taxing on popular goods such as salt and bread. The salt tax known as the Gabelle tax angered many because people needed salt to preserve their food, and the increased price of bread infuriated many poor families because bread used to be their only food source. Furthermore, the most vital cause was their unfair government system known as the Three Estates. The First Estate was the clergy which made up 1% of the French Population, and they did not have to pay any taxes to the monarchy. The Second Estate was the nobility which made up 1-2% of the population, and like the clergy, they didn't have to pay taxes either. However, the Third Estate had the burden of paying all the taxes to the monarchy. The Third Estate consisted of EVERYBODY else in France. This was unjust because the extreme poor and lower class had to pay taxes while wealthier classes did not have to pay anything. This greatly angered the citizens France and thus causing them to revolt against their monarchy.
This revolution led to France's first republic. Although it was not very successful, it still changed France's government and affected many others as well. For example, other countries started to worry about rebellious citizens because they didn't want a revolution to occur within their country like what happened in France.
This revolution led to France's first republic. Although it was not very successful, it still changed France's government and affected many others as well. For example, other countries started to worry about rebellious citizens because they didn't want a revolution to occur within their country like what happened in France.