This unit covers Absolutism, English Civil War and Glorious Revolution, French Revolution, American Revolutions, and the Rise and Fall of Napoleon. It ends with the rise of Nationalism, which we see in the next unit, and the limits of Liberalism, which we see throughout. The Enlightenment is the unifying theme, so we examine this “Age of Revolutions” through a political lens, with the focus on why Enlightenment thought fails can’t completely contend with racism, violence,and the rise of mass politics.
Questions:
What is a Revolution and what is its goal? Why are so few Revolutions successful?
Why is the American Revolution considered a success, while the French Revolution a failure?
How did England achieve Revolutionary change without doing anything particularly revolutionary?
Why are absolute monarchs and emperors a constant and popular feature of history?
NOTES: SCIENTIFIC REVOLUTION
BFU: Absolute Power
BFU: ENGLAND IS EXCEPTIONAL
BFU: Gimme Tha Power
BFU: FRENCH REVOLUTION PART 1
BFU: FRENCH REVOLUTION PART 2
BFU: LATIN AMERICAN REVOLUTIONS