AMERICAN REVOLUTION

POSITION OF AMERICA BEFORE THE

REVOLUTION
CAUSES OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION

• IDEAS AND PRINCIPLES

• NEGLIGIBLE INTERFERENCE BY THE BRITISH
OFFICIALS
• NO AFFECTION FOR ENGLAND IN THE
COLONIES
• DEVELOMENT OF INTELLECTUAL AWARENESS
• DEFECTIVE ADMINISTRATIVE SYSTEM
• IMPACT OF THE SEVEN YEARS WAR
• ECONOMIC EXPLOITATION OF THE COLONIES
(A) NAVIGATION LAWS
(B)TRADE REGULATIONS
(C) INDUSTRIAL REGULATIONS
• STERN POLICY AGAINST THE COLONIES
(A) GREENVILLE’S POLICY
(a) Sugar Act
(b) Stamp Act
(c) Currency Act
(d) Quartering Act

(B) ROCKINGHAMS DECLARATORY ACT

(C) TOWNSHEND’S TAX PROJECT

IMMEDIATE CAUSES:
(A)
LORD NORTH’S TEA POLICY
(B)SUPRESSING LAWS OF LORD NORTH
(C)INTERCONTINENTAL CONFERENCE OF THE CONGRESS

DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE
PARIS PACT (3RD SEPTEMBER 1783)

CAUSES OF THE FAILURE OF THE ENGLISH

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION

 SALIENT FEATURES OF THE AMERICAN
CONSTITUTION
• A SHORT AND WRITTEN CONSTITUTION
• BASED ON POPULAR SOVEREIGNTY
• PRESIDENTIAL FORM OF GOVERNMENT
• A BICAMERAL LEGISLATURE
• SYSTEM OF CHECKS AND BALANCES
• A FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
• THE SUPREMACY OF THE JUDICIARY
• DUAL CITIZENSHIP
• FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS
• BASED ON PHILOSOPHY OF INDIVIDUALISM
 FRENCH REVOLUTION
• CAUSES OF THE FRENCH REVOLUTION
POLITICAL CAUSES:
Despotism in France
Bad Influence of Marie Antoinette
Extravagance of Royal Court
Lack of any Representative Body
Inefficient Administration
Defective Judiciary
Unsatisfactory Military System
Policy of Over centralization
Defective Taxation System
Weak Monarchy
Weakness of Louis XVI
 SOCIAL CAUSES OF THE FRENCH
REVOLUTION
• SOCIAL SET UP IN THE FRANCE: THE NOBLES
FIGHT, THE CLERGY PRAY AND THE PEOPLE
PAY.
1. THE CLERGY
2. THE NOBLES
3. THE COMMONS
 ECONOMIC CAUSES OF THE FRENCH
REVOLUTION
• BAD CONDITION OF AGRICULTURE
• UNNECESSARY RESTRICTIONS ON TRADE
• DEFECTIVE GUILD SYSTEM
• DEFECTIVE SYSTEM OF TAXATION
• HEAVY NATIONAL DEBT
• POVERTY AND INCREASING PRICES IN FRANCE
• SEVERE FAMINE OF 1788
 RELIGIOUS CAUSES
• PROPERTY AND DEGENERATION OF THE
CHURCH
• THE RELIGIOUS POLICY OF THE GOVERNMENT
• RELATION BETWEEN THE CHURCH AND THE
MONARCH
• ANTI CHURCH PROPAGANDA
IMPACT OF THE FRENCH PHILOSOPHERS
AMERICAN WAR OF INDEPENDENCE
NATIONAL MOVEMENT OF IRELAND
IMMEDIATE CAUSE: FINANCIAL CRISIS
OUTBREAK OF THE REVOLUTION
THE FALL OF BASTILLE
 NATIONAL ASSEMBLY AND ITS
ACHIEVEMENTS
• ESTABLISHMENT OF NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
• ACHIEVEMENTS:
• END OF REASONABLE TAXES
• NATIONALISATON OF THE PROPERTY OF
CHURCH
• ASSIGNATES
• EFFORTS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF TRADE
AND INDUSTRY
 ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE NATIONAL
ASSEMBLY
• END OF THE GUILD SYSTEM
• ABOLITION OF SERFDOM AND FREEDOM
• DECLARATION OF THE RIGHTS OF MAN AND
CITIZEN
• REORGANISATION OF THE ADMINISTRATION
OF CHURCH
• REFORMS IN LOCAL ADMINISTRATION
• APPOINTMENT ON MERIT
• JUDICIAL REFORMS
• MILITARY REFORMS
• ACHIEVEMENTS IN THE POLITICAL SPHERE
• ESTIMATE OF THE WORKING OF THE
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY.
 NATIONAL CONVENTION
• PROBLEMS BEFORE THE NATIONAL
CONVENTION
• THE HOME POLICY OF THE NATIONAL
CONVENTION
• THE FOREIGN POLICY OF THE NATIONAL
CONVENTION
• ESTIMATE OF THE WORK OF NATIONAL
CONVENTION
 REIGN OF TERROR
• MEANING
• NEED
• MACHINERY
• JACOBINS AND GIRONDINS
• EFFECTS OF THE REIGN OF TERROR
• ESTIMATE
 NAPOLEON BONAPARTE
• INTERNAL REFORMS OF THE NAPOLEON
1. PRINCIPLE OF EQUALITY
2. REFORMS IN THE LOCAL ADMINISTRATION
3. ECONOMIC REFORMS
4. CODES OF NAPOLEON AND THEIR
ASSESSMENT
5. SETTLEMENT WITH THE POPE
6. EDUCATIONAL REFORMS
 REFORMS OF NAPOLEON
• CENSORSHIP ON PRESS
• REORGANISATION OF COURTS
• WORKS OF PUBLIC UTILITY
 CONTINENTAL SYSTEM
• WHAT WAS THE CONTINENTAL SYSTEM?
• CAUSES OF ADOPTING CONTINENTAL SYSTEM
• BEGINNING AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE
CONTINENTAL SYSYTEM
• EFFORTS TO ENFORCE THE CONTINENTAL
SYSTEM
• EFFECTS OF THE CONTINENTAL SYSTEM
• CAUSE OF ITS FAILURE