Embedded Files
1. Liberalism: The New Ideology
The liberal revolutions were a historical process that developed throughout the 18th and 19th centuries. Their goal was to put an end to the Old Regime and establish a new political, social, and economic system based on the principles of liberalism.
The basic principles of liberalism were:
National sovereignty: Power resides in the nation, that is, in the citizens, and not in the king. This principle materializes in the existence of a parliament elected by the people.
Separation of powers: Proposed by Montesquieu, to prevent the abuse of power, it should be divided into three branches:
Legislative power: makes the laws (Parliament).
Executive power: enforces the laws and governs (government or king).
Judicial power: ensures laws are upheld (courts of justice).
Individual rights and freedoms: These are set out in a constitution. Freedom of thought, expression, press, association, and equality before the law are guaranteed.
Census suffrage: Initially, the right to vote was not universal. Only men with a certain level of wealth could vote (census suffrage).
New economic system: Based on private property, free trade and industry, and free competition. This system is known as capitalism.
2. The Pioneering Revolutions
A. The American Revolution (1776)
The Thirteen British Colonies in North America rebelled against the King of England. The reasons were high taxes and a lack of representation in the British Parliament.
Key event: Declaration of Independence of the United States (July 4, 1776), drafted by Thomas Jefferson.
Result: After winning the War of Independence, the United States of America was created, the first nation with a constitution (1787) that applied liberal principles: a federal republic, separation of powers, and national sovereignty.
B. The French Revolution (1789)
It was the most important revolution and the model that other countries would follow. It began as a rebellion against the absolute monarchy of Louis XVI and the Old Regime.
Key events:
National Assembly (1789): The representatives of the Third Estate proclaimed themselves the National Assembly and swore not to dissolve until they had given France a constitution.
Storming of the Bastille (July 14, 1789): The symbol of the revolution's beginning.
Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen (1789): Proclaimed liberty, legal equality, and national sovereignty.
Phases:
Constitutional Monarchy (1789-1792): A constitution (1791) was established, limiting the powers of the king.
Jacobin Republic (1792-1794): A radical phase led by Robespierre. The king was executed, and universal male suffrage was established.
The Directory (1795-1799): A moderate phase that ended with the coup d'état of Napoleon Bonaparte.
3. The Revolutionary Waves of the 19th Century
The example of France and the United States spread across Europe in waves of revolution.
Revolutions of 1820: They began in Spain with the pronouncement of Colonel Riego to restore the Constitution of 1812. They spread to Italy and Greece. They were suppressed by the Holy Alliance.
Revolutions of 1830: They emerged in France (overthrowing Charles X) and spread to Belgium (which gained its independence from the Netherlands) and other countries. The more moderate bourgeoisie triumphed.
Revolutions of 1848 ("The Spring of Nations"): These were the most widespread and had a more democratic character. In addition to liberal ideas, they incorporated demands for nationalism (the right of peoples to have their own state) and improvements for the working classes. Although many failed in the short term, they spread liberal ideas in the long run.
4. Nationalism
It was a political force that emerged alongside liberalism. It defended the right of peoples (nations) with a common language, culture, and history to have their own independent state.
Unifications: Nationalism led to the unification of fragmented states:
Unification of Italy (1870): Led by the Kingdom of Piedmont-Sardinia, with figures such as Cavour, Garibaldi, and Victor Emmanuel II.
Unification of Germany (1871): Led by Prussia through a powerful military policy ("blood and iron") of Chancellor Bismarck. William I was proclaimed Kaiser.
5. Consequences of the Liberal Revolutions
These processes changed the map of Europe and the form of government forever:
End of the Old Regime: The privileges of the nobility and clergy were abolished.
Rise of the bourgeoisie: It became the dominant social class.
Establishment of liberal regimes: Although with advances and setbacks, the constitutional and parliamentary system was imposed.
New map of Europe: New states such as Germany and Italy emerged, and others like Belgium and Greece gained independence.
Seed of democracy: Despite census suffrage, the foundations were laid for the subsequent struggle for universal suffrage.
Suggested Comprehension Activities
Suggested Comprehension Activities
Define in your own words: Liberalism, national sovereignty, separation of powers, census suffrage, nationalism.
Complete a timeline with the key dates of the French Revolution (1789, 1791, 1792, 1799).
Explain the difference between the American Revolution and the French Revolution in terms of their main objective.
Compare the waves of 1820, 1830, and 1848. How did they differ?
Match each figure with his achievement: Napoleon, Bismarck, Garibaldi, Jefferson.
Reflection: Do you think any liberal principle is still valid today? Give examples.
Exam: Liberalism and Nationalism (18th-19th Centuries)
Exam: Liberalism and Nationalism (18th-19th Centuries)
Instructions: Read each question carefully and select or write the correct answer.
Part 1: Multiple Choice (4 points)
1. Which of the following was NOT a basic principle of liberalism?
a) National sovereignty.
b) Separation of powers.
c) Feudal rights and privileges.
d) Census suffrage.
2. The statement "Power resides in the nation, that is, in its citizens" defines the principle of:
a) Separation of powers.
b) National sovereignty.
c) Equality before the law.
d) Free competition.
3. The American Revolution was primarily caused by:
a) The execution of its king.
b) The influence of Robespierre's ideas.
c) High taxes and a lack of representation in the British Parliament.
d) A goal to unify independent territories.
4. The period of the French Revolution known for its radicalism and the leadership of Robespierre is called:
a) The Directory.
b) The Constitutional Monarchy.
c) The Jacobin Republic.
d) The Napoleonic Empire.
Part 2: True or False (2 points)
Mark T for True or F for False. Briefly justify your answer for the false statements.
5. ( ) The U.S. Constitution (1787) is an early example of the application of liberal principles like the separation of powers.
6. ( ) The 1848 Revolutions, known as the "Spring of Nations," were characterized as purely liberal movements, without any social or nationalist demands.
Justification for the false statement: __________________________________________________________
Part 3: Matching (2 points)
7. Match each concept with its correct definition.
Concept
Definition
1. Census Suffrage
a) An economic system based on private property and free competition.
2. Separation of Powers
b) The right to vote restricted to men who owned a certain amount of property.
3. Capitalism
c) A process led by Prussia through a policy of "blood and iron."
4. Unification of Germany
d) The division of state power into legislative, executive, and judicial branches.
*Answers: 1-, 2-, 3-, 4-*
Part 4: Short Answer (2 points)
8. Name the THREE main phases of the French Revolution as described in the text.
9. Besides liberal ideas, what two other types of demands were incorporated into the 1848 Revolutions?
a) _________________________
b) _________________________
10. Complete the following sentence:
Nationalism defended the right of people with a common culture, history, and language to form their own _________________________. Two unifications driven by this ideology were those of _________________________ and _________________________.
Good Luck!
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse