1. Identify the main points of the French Revolution.
- Economic and social inequalities and the French absolute monarchy’s poor financial decisions fueled the French Revolution.
- Radical ideas inspired by the American Revolution and Enlightenment thinkers motivated many revolutionaries to challenge feudal privileges, hereditary authority, and the power of the Roman Catholic Church.
- The National Constituent Assembly drafted the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen, which stated that all men were equal in natural rights (liberty, property, security, resistance to oppression) and established a constitutional monarchy in France.
- The revolution took a more radical turn as King Louis XVI was executed and the Reign of Terror began.
- The revolution concluded with the rise of Napoleon Bonaparte, who sought to spread the ideals of the Revolution across Europe.
2. Explain the causes of the American Revolution.
- The root cause of the American Revolution was the colonists’ perception of British injustice, specifically in taxation without representation.
- The Stamp Act, the Boston Massacre, and the Boston Tea Party were significant events leading to the Revolution.
- Britain was determined to maintain control over its American colonies and enforce trade regulations and taxation policies, even if they were unpopular among colonists.
3. Discuss the effects of the Industrial Revolution.
- The Industrial Revolution brought about transformative effects, including increased productivity and efficiency in manufacturing.
- It improved living standards and led to urbanization, population growth, and increased agricultural productivity.
- However, the Industrial Revolution also resulted in crowded and unsanitary conditions in cities, as well as poor working conditions and widespread pollution.
4. Summarize the key points of the Enlightenment.
- The Enlightenment was an intellectual movement that emphasized the importance of reason, science, and human progress.
- Enlightenment philosophers believed that knowledge could dispel superstition and ignorance, and that human reason could solve social and political problems.
- The Enlightenment influenced political revolutions in America and France and inspired modern concepts of republican government and individual rights.
Assessment Activity: Comparing Revolutions
1. Answer the questions for each column in the chart:
| Characteristics & Impacts | American Revolution | French Revolution | Haitian Revolution |
|:----------------------:|:----------------------:|:----------------------:|:----------------------:|
| Causes or motivating ideals | Taxation without representation and injustice from the British government | Economic and social inequality; inspired by the American Revolution and Enlightenment ideas | Inspired by the French Revolution and the ideals of liberty, equality, and fraternity; oppression and exploitation by French colonists and the slave system |
| Events that led to the revolution | Stamp Act, Boston Massacre, Boston Tea Party, battles of Lexington and Concord | Financial crisis, Estates-General, The Tennis Court oath, storming of the Bastille | Slave revolt led by Toussaint Louverture; French Revolutionary forces involvement |
| Major results | Declaration of Independence, establishment of a new republican form of government in the United States | Overthrow of the monarchy, proclamation of the Republic, Reign of Terror, rise of Napoleon | Toussaint Louverture's constitution of 1801, independence from France in 1804 |