THE COLONIZATION OF COLOMBIA

SOCIAL STUIDES

MICHAEL RICO

FIFTH GRADE

1.Read the following Reading and answer the following questions

The French Revolution

What was the French Revolution?

The French Revolution was a period of time in France when the people overthrew the monarchy and took

control of the government. The Storming of the Bastille The Beginning of the French

When did it take place?

The French Revolution lasted 10 years from 1789 to 1799. It began on July 14, 1789 when revolutionaries

stormed a prison called the Bastille. The revolution came to an end 1799 when a general named Napoleon

overthrew the revolutionary government and established the French Consulate (with Napoleon as leader).

The French Estates

Before the French Revolution, the people of France were divided into social groups called "Estates." The

First Estate included the clergy (church leaders), the Second Estate included the nobles, and the Third

Estate included the commoners. Most of the people were members of the Third Estate. The Third Estate

paid most of the taxes, while the nobility lived lives of luxury and got all the high-ranking jobs.

Revolutionary Government

The French Government was in constant turmoil throughout the revolution. At the start of the revolution,

representatives from the Third Estate established the National Assembly where they demanded that King

Louis XVI give them certain rights. This group soon took control of the country. They changed names over

time to the Legislative Assembly and, later, to the National Convention. After the Reign of Terror, a new

government was formed called the Directory. The Directory ruled until Napoleon took control.

What was the French Revolution?

Why did the French Revolution happen?

How did the French Revolution succeed?
 American Revolution

The American Revolution was a time when the British colonists in America rebelled against the rule of

Great Britain. There were many battles fought and the colonies gained their freedom and became the

independent country of the United States. The American Revolutionary War lasted from 1775 until 1783.

13 Colonies

Before the American Revolution, there were several British Colonies in the Americas. Not all of them

participated in the revolution. There were 13 colonies which ended up rebelling. These were Delaware,

Virginia, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maryland, North Carolina, South

Carolina, New Hampshire, New York, and Rhode Island.

Representation

One of the main reasons that the colonists rebelled against Great Britain is that they felt they were not

represented in the British government. The British government was making new laws and taxes on the

colonies, but the colonies had no say. They wanted to have some say in the British government if they

were going to pay high taxes and have to live by British law.

War

War didn't happen right away. First there were protests and arguments. Then some small skirmishes

between the colonists and the local British army. Things just got worse and worse over the course of years

until the colonies and Great Britain were at war.

Independence

Each colony had its own local government. In 1774 they each elected officials to represent them at the

First Continental Congress. This was the first effort of the colonies to unite and make a single government.

In 1776 the Second Continental Congress declared the independence of the United States from Great

Britain.

What happened on the 4th of July 1776?

Who did America gain independence from 1776?

When did America get independence?

2.How can you compare the French Revolution and the independence of the USA with the
independence of Colombia?