The Political Revolution

• The Declaration of Independence states three basic ideas:

  • God made all men equal and gave them the rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness
  • The main business of government is to protect these rights
  • If a government tries to withhold these rights, the people are free to revolt and to set up a new government
• Political Revolutions:

  • Is a revolutionary era of government changes during the modern periods that emphasized on equality, liberty, and justice
• American Revolution:

  • The American Revolution was a time when the British colonists in America rebelled against the rule of Great Britain
  • The war broke during the famous Boston Massacre of 1770 when English soldiers fired and killed 5 Americans
  • As a sign of protest, the Americans threw 340 chests of Tea (English's favorite) into the sea, known as the Boston Tea party
  • The 13 colonies in America revolted against the Englishmen by choosing George Washington as their general
• • After seven years of war, concluded with Great Britain withdrawing its control in the colonies and the United States of America was born under the Declaration of Independence of 1776
• 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 Three Estates:
  • First Estate: clergy (church leaders)
  • Second Estate: nobles
  • Third Estate: commoners or laborers, making up 98% of the total population
  • The Third Estate paid most of the taxes, while the clergy and nobles lived lives of luxury and got all the high-ranking jobs
• 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.
• 1. the Navigation Acts are laws that forbade American colonies to sell their significant products except for Great Britain.
• 1. and the Stamp Act that placed heavy taxes on America's legal documents, newspapers, and other printed materials.
• The war broke out during the famous Boston Massacre of 1770 when English soldiers fired and killed 5 Americans.
• As a sign of protest, the Americans threw 340 chests of Tea (English's favorite) into the sea. This was known to be the Boston Tea party. 
• The 13 colonies in America revolted against the Englishmen by choosing George Washington as their general. 
• 13 Colonies were Delaware, Virginia, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, New Hampshire, New York, and Rhode Island
• The American revolutionaries asked for help from France, a long-time enemy of Great Britain which the French gladly helped. French provided supplies, arms and ammunition, uniforms, and, most importantly, troops and naval support to the beleaguered Continental Army. The French navy transported reinforcements, fought off a British fleet, and protected Washington's forces in Virginia.
• Years of war concluded with Great Britain withdrawing its control in the colonies and the United States of America was born. 
• The Declaration of Independence states three basic ideas:

  • (1) God made all men equal and gave them the rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness;
  • (2) the main business of government is to protect these rights;
  • (3) if a government tries to withhold these rights, the people are free to revolt and to set up a new government.
• The French Revolution was a period of time in France when the people overthrew the monarchy and took control of the government.
• Before the French Revolution, the people of France were divided into social groups called the  "Three Estates." The First Estate included the clergy (church leaders), the Second Estate included the nobles, and the Third Estate included the commoners or laborers. 
• Most of the people were members of the Third Estate, 98% of the French population in fact. The Third Estate paid most of the taxes, while the clergy and nobles don't and lived lives of luxury and got all the high-ranking jobs.
• The entire nation's economy went down because of the war between Great Britain and France during the Seven Year's War. which resulted in France's defeat and France's support to the Americans in the American Revolution. 
• France was ruled by an incompetent King named Louis XVI and his ostentatious wife named Marie Antoinette. 
• 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, demanding that King Louis XVI give them certain rights. This group soon took control of the country. They beheaded their King and Queen. They changed names over time to the Legislative Assembly and, later, to the National Convention. 
• The French Revolution resulted in the abolishment of the French Monarch and the establishment of the French Republic. The now-powerful National Assembly agreed on abolishing the First and Second Estates. This time, even the commoners not only the clergy and nobles have a say in the government.