French Revolution, Industrial Revolution & Key Figures of 18th-20th Centuries
French Revolution
King Louis XVI and the Estates-General
King Louis XVI summoned the Estates-General but refused to pay taxes. He also involved German states (3 states). The 3rd National Assembly proclaimed the goal to create a constitution.
Stages of the French Revolution
1. The Moderate Monarchy (1789-1792)
Key events included the storming of the Bastille and reforms by the National Assembly. The Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen was adopted, establishing national sovereignty and separation of powers for men over 25 who could vote.
2. Reign of Terror (1792-1795)
The Republic was proclaimed, followed by the Reign of Terror under Robespierre’s dictatorship, leading to numerous executions by guillotine.
3. The Directory (1795-1799)
Five people held power, leading to instability and confrontations between monarchists and revolutionaries. Napoleon staged a coup.
Napoleon Bonaparte
Napoleon became Consul in 1802 and later Emperor, with the support of the French people weary of disorder.
Domestic Policies
Napoleon ended internal unrest, closed most newspapers, schools, and high schools. He also stimulated production and trade and established the Bank of France, with the franc as currency (lasting until 2002).
Foreign Policies
Napoleon aimed to unify Europe under French rule. Absolutist powers formed coalitions against him. He was defeated at Waterloo by a coalition including Great Britain, the Netherlands, and Prussia.
Industrial Revolution
The Industrial Revolution involved a series of social and economic transformations in production processes, starting in mid-18th century England.
Ancien Régime
Manual labor was prevalent, with workshops employing few craftsmen. Energy use was low, product development slow, and production costs high.
Path to Industrial Revolution
- Technological innovations and machinery
- Concentrated factory labor
- Increased use of energy sources (coal, water)
- Rapid population growth
- Reduced production costs
- Rise of the parliamentary monarchy
England became a major economic and commercial power in the late 18th century. Democratic growth was fostered by reduced warfare and plagues, improved diets due to increased food production, and advancements in medicine.
Viva La Pepa
The first Spanish constitution, drafted in the Cortes of Cádiz, was promulgated on March 19, 1812 (St. Joseph’s Day), hence the nickname “La Pepa.” This is the origin of the expression “Viva La Pepa.”
Adolfo Béquer
Adolfo Béquer (1836-1870), born in Seville, moved to Madrid and worked as a journalist and translator. His poetry emphasizes feelings, particularly the memory of lost love. Love and poetry are intertwined in his work.
Imperialism
A rapid race among industrial powers to conquer territories in Africa and Asia unfolded.
Second Industrial Revolution
The need for raw materials and markets to sell industrial goods drove imperialism. Colonies provided investment opportunities. Nationalism fueled expansionist ambitions.
Implications
- Economic: Loss of land, monoculture farming, raw material extraction, dependence on European goods
- Political: Indigenous populations subjected to European rule, artificial borders
- Social: Forced labor, introduction of healthcare (vaccines and medicines), hunger and malnutrition
Marxism
Marxism critiques the capitalist system as unfair, where a minority owns the means of production and profits from the labor of the majority. The state is seen as a tool of the dominant class to oppress workers.
Anarchism
Anarchism posits that humans are inherently good but corrupted by society. It rejects social institutions like laws, police, private property, and the state. Individuals should be free without being subject to any law.
Causes of World War I
- Territorial: Alsace-Lorraine (French claim), Balkans (nationalism and borders), Austro-Hungarian Empire (nationalist independence movements)
- Military: Naval rivalry between Germany and Great Britain, arms race
- Economic: Competition for markets between Germany and Great Britain
- Psychological: Patriotic propaganda
Phases of World War I
- Initial Phase: Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand in Sarajevo, Austria-Hungary declares war on Serbia (backed by Russia), military alliances escalate the conflict
- War of Movement: Schlieffen Plan (1914), Germany attacks France through Belgium
- Trench Warfare: Stalemate, Italy joins the war
- Submarine Warfare (1917): Germany’s unrestricted submarine warfare brings the US into the war, Russia signs a peace treaty after the Bolshevik Revolution
- 1918: Internal revolution in Germany, Weimar Republic proclaimed, armistice signed
Avant-Garde Art
- Fauvism: Use of vibrant, non-realistic colors (Matisse)
- Cubism: Multiple perspectives in a single image, geometric shapes
- Expressionism: Exaggerated reality to evoke discomfort
- Futurism: Emphasis on movement, speed, and technology
- Dadaism: Rejection of traditional art, absurdity
- Surrealism: Depiction of dreams and the unconscious
Antonio Machado (1875-1939)
Key works: “Soledades,” “Galerías,” and other poems. Themes: Childhood, Castilian landscapes, memory of his wife Leonor, philosophical and moral reflections.
Federico García Lorca
Blended tradition and avant-garde. Themes: Mythology, marginalized groups (gypsies, blacks), pain, and the clash between nature and urban life.
Political Figures
- Francisco de Goya (1746-1828): Influential Spanish painter
- George Washington: First president of the United States
- Joseph Bonaparte: King of Spain under Napoleon
- Otto von Bismarck: Unified Germany
- Antonio Cánovas del Castillo: Spanish conservative leader
- Vladimir Lenin: Leader of the Bolsheviks