Table of Contents
Revolution
Struggles tried to change the system that denied freedom and rights and to establish a new one.
Main factors of a Revolutions
Renaissance
Changes in human thought, views and life
Features of Renaissance:
Renaissance stimulated Humanism, Scientific temper, Spirit of criticism, Spirit of inquiry, Enlightenment
It motivated the people to question irrational beliefs & traditions.
It propagated the ideas like freedom, democracy, equality & nationalism.
It encouraged the people to protest against the autocratic system.
American War of Independence
Causes
Migration
From the sixteenth century onwards the Europeans began to migrate to North America to exploit resources.
Colonies
England had established thirteen colonies in the Eastern coast of North America.The British treated the American colonies as centers for collecting raw materials for their industry and as market for selling their products
Mercantalism
The policy adopted by the British merchants with the help of their motherland in the American colonies is known as Mercantalism.
Mercantalist laws
The goods to and from the colonies must be carried only in British ships.
British stamps must be affixed on all legal papers.
Import tax must be paid for the import of tea, glass, paper, etc.
Products of the colonies like sugar, wool, cotton, tobacco, etc. could only be exported to England.
Meet the expense of British troops.
Boston Tea Party
The high tax levied by the British government on tea fired up strong protest in America. On 16
December 1773, a group of people disguised as the Red Indians, boarded the ships at night in the Boston
Harbor and threw 342 chests of tea into the sea.
Intellectual Thinkers
John Locke - “Everyone has some fundamental rights. No government has the right to suspend them.”
Thomas Paine - “There is something absurd, in supposing a continent (North America) be perpetually
governed by a foreign power (England).”
James Ottis - “No taxation without representation”
Courses
1st Continental Congress
Philadelphia - 1774
To protest against the policies and rules.
Submitted a petition to the King of England, demanding Revocation of the regulations enforced on
industry and commerce and not to impose tax without the approval of the people.
Results - King sent a military force to suppress the people. War started between colonies and English
army.
2nd Continental Congress
Philadelphia - 1775
George Washington: Elected as the commander in chief
Thomas Pain: through the pamphlet titled “Common sense” he declared that it was wise for the
Americans to break the ties with Britain
A Declaration of Independence
4 July 1776.
The declaration was prepared by Thomas Jefferson, and Benjamin Franklin.
Results:
Ended the war in 1781
Treaty of Paris: Ratified the freedom by England to 13 Colonies in 1783.
Framing of the constitution under the leadership of James Madison
George Washington became the 1st president of USA
Consequences
Gave direction and motivation to the later freedom struggles and revolutions all over the world.
Put forward the concept of republican form of government ‘
Prepared the first written constitution.
Contributed the concept of federal system that ensured freedom and authority of states in the union.
French Revolution
Causes
Political Causes
Autocratic rule
Rulers were squanders
Rulers believed the divinity of rule.
Not considered the basic needs of the people.
Louis XV: "After me, the deluge."
Louis XIV: "I am the state." God has given absolute power to the King over his subjects and only god has the
authority to question him.
Mary Antoinette: "If they can't eat bread, let them eat cake."
Social Causes
Not considered Basic Needs of the People
People Led a Miserable Life
The French society was divided into three strata known as estates.
FIRST ESTATE
The Clergy formed the first estate
They held vast land
Exempted from all taxes.
Collected the tax from farmers.
SECOND ESTATE
The nobility formed the second estate
They held vast lands.
Led luxurious life.
Exempted from all taxes
Collected the tax from farmers.
Engaged in military service
THIRD ESTATE
The French middle class (third estate) included traders, writers, lawyers, officials, teachers, bankers,
farmers and craftsmen.
No role in the administration.
Paid land tax namely “taille” to the government
Low social status
Paid taxes to clergy and nobles. So the middle class were dissatisfied with the prevailing social order.
Economic Causes
Nine – Tenths of the population died of hunger and One tenth of indigestion.
Land tax “Taille”
Luxurious life of Bourbon Kings, Clergy, Lords
Frequent Wars
Drought & Crop Failure
Financial Aid to American Revolution
Intellectual Causes
VOLTAIRE
Ridiculed the exploitation of clergy.
Promoted rational thinking, ideals of equality and humanism.
ROUSSEAU
Spelled out the importance of freedom with the statement, 'Man is born free, but everywhere he is
in chains'.
Declared that the people are the sovereign.
MONTESQUIEU
Encouraged democracy and the Republic
Suggested division of powers of the government into legislature, executive, and judiciary
Courses
States General
First and Second estates argued for estate wise single vote.
Third estate argued for individual vote for all.
Oath of Tennis Court
The members of the third estate declared themselves as the national assembly of France.
They assembled in the tennis court nearby and swore not to leave until they had framed a constitution
of France.
This event is known as “THE TENNIS COURT OATH”.
Beginning of Revolution
1789 Jul 14
Slogan :Liberty Equality Fraternity
Demolished : Bastille prison symbol of Bourbon Monarchy.
Passed : 1789 Aug 12 Declaration of the Rights of Man by National Assembly Marched : 1789 Oct
March to Versailles Palace – “Give us Bread.”
Proclaimed : 1792 September :France as a Republic by National Convention
Consequences
Spread the ideas of Equality, Liberty and Fraternity
Threatened autocracy
Growth of the middle class
Emergence of nationalism.
People’s sovereignty.
Paved the way for the end of feudal system In Europe.
Reforms of Napoleon
Farmers became Owners of Land
Control over Clergy
“Sinking Fund” to avoid Public debt
Bank of France
Roads for Transportation
A new Code of Law
End of Napoleon
An autocratic ruler of France for a short period.
He played a crucial role in defeating European alliance which was formed under the leadership of Britain against France after the revolution.
He instituted several reforms in France because of that Nationalism strengthened.
Later he invaded the other European countries.
European countries feared the reforms of Napoleon.
They organized under the leadership of England.
Napoleon was defeated by the European Alliance in the battle of Waterloo and lost his power in 1815.
Russian Revolution
Causes
Political Causes
Autocracy of Tzartist emperors
The landless farmers had to pay huge tax.
Social Causes
The low agricultural production.
Meagre Industrial Production.
Foreigners controlled majority of the Industries.
Intellectual Causes
Writers- Leo Tolstoy, Anton Chekov, Ivan Turgenev[depicted plight of workers and farmers]
Philosophers- Karl Marx, Frederick Engles [supremacy of workers]
Courses
Bloody Sunday
The workers organized a huge march at Petrograd on 9 January 1905 demanding political rights and
economic reforms.
The march was fired at by the soldiers and hundreds of demonstrators were massacred. This event is
known as the Bloody Sunday.
February Revolution
Nicholas II decide to participate in the First World War.
Many soldiers were killed in this war
Food shortage became severe.
Thousands of women and workers were organized march in Petrograd.
Soldiers joined with workers.
The workers captured Petrograd.
Nicholas II was thrown out of power.
A provisional government was formed under Alexander Kerensky
October Revolution
Lenin opposed the provisional government.
He argued that power should be transferred to Soviets.
Bolsheviks and Soviets supported Lenin
In October 1917 the Bolsheviks an armed rebellion against the provisional government.
Kerensky flood from Russia.
Bolsheviks attained power.
Lenin as the head of the cabinet.
This event is known as October Revolution.
Consequences
Russia withdrew from the First World War
Seized out the land and distributed among the peasants. Gave Importance to public sector.
Introduced centralized planning.
New constitution came to force in 1924.
USSR was formed.
Spread the socialist ideas all over the world
Develops in the field of Science technology and Economy
Latin American Revolution
Causes
Looted: Wealth and resources
Propagated: Language [Spanish, Portuguese], religion and customs.
Built: Houses and churches in Spanish style.
Established: Spanish system of education.
Spread: New diseases.
Chinese Revolution
OPIUM TRADE
China Gained Profit by Export
No Import from Europe
British Imported Opium
Chinese Mentally Imbalanced
Weakened China Morally & Economically
OPEN DOOR POLICY
John Hey – American State Secretary – Introduced it “Equal Rights & Opportunities for all Countries in
China.”
China was divided into different Regions
Boxer Rebellion
Manchu Dynasty in favour of Foreigners
Formed Secret Organization in China Revolted against it in 1900
Their Emblem was Boxer’s Fist
It Stimulated the Later Revolution
Kuomintang Party
Revolution Under Sun Yat Sen
Expelled Manchu Dynasty & Imperial Powers
Established Democratic Rule
Control Capital & Equal Land Distribution Reforms by Sun Yat Sen
End of Monarchy & Manchu Dynasty
Republican Govt. by Kuomintang Party
Leader was Sun Yat Sen
Nationalism, Democracy, Socialism were the Ideologies
Nullified the Unjust Treaties with Foreigners
Gave Importance for Agriculture & Industry
Received Assistance from Russia
Chinese Communist Party was Formed
Kuomintang & Communists Co-operated
Chiang Kei Shek became the Head after Sun Yat Sen
Military Autocracy in China
No Co-operation with Communists
Foreign Powers Came back
Communists were brutally Suppressed
Chinese Communist Party
Revolution under Mao Zedong
Unjust Treaties with Foreigners
Non Co-operation with Communists Military Autocracy
1934 -Long March Kiangsi to Yunnan
Seized Agricultural Land from Lords and given to Farmers covered 12000 Km Consequences
Mao & Communist Party became the Symbol of Struggle against Foreigners
1949 - People’s Republic of China under Mao Zedong
0 Comments
Post a Comment