The Age of Enlightenment and Revolutions: A Historical Overview

Ancien Regime

The Ancien Regime was a social and political system characterized by an absolute monarchy, a stratified society, and an economic system based on agrarian subsistence. Religion held significant influence during this period.

Louis XIV

King Louis XIV of France, a member of the Bourbon dynasty, was a staunch supporter of absolute monarchy. He centralized legislative, executive, and judicial powers under his rule.

The Enlightenment

The Enlightenment, an intellectual movement that emerged spontaneously in 18th-century France, championed several key ideas:

• Trust in reason
• Faith in progress
• Belief in the power of education
• Nature as a guide for morality
• Criticism of the Ancien Regime, particularly its lack of separation of powers

The movement spread through salons, contemporary media, and the publication of the Encyclopedia.

Encyclopedia

Edited by Diderot and d'Alembert, the Encyclopedia was a groundbreaking collection of initially 28 volumes that aimed to compile all available knowledge at the time. It became a symbol of the Enlightenment.

Enlightened Despotism

Enlightened despotism emerged as a form of absolute monarchy in the 18th century where rulers, influenced by Enlightenment ideals, sought to improve the lives of their subjects. However, they did so without granting them political participation.

Liberal Revolutions

The 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries witnessed profound changes brought about by liberal revolutions, often led by the bourgeoisie. These revolutions did not always result in full democracies. While some expanded suffrage, it was often limited by factors like age and income (census suffrage), as opposed to universal suffrage.

Liberalism

Liberalism advocated for individual liberty, enshrined in citizens' rights, equality before the law, and the abolition of privileges. It also promoted constitutional regimes founded on national sovereignty and the separation of powers. Liberal ideology resonated strongly with the bourgeoisie and commoners in major cities.

Nationalism

Nationalism emphasized the nation—a community with shared historical experiences, language, and culture—as the fundamental unit of public life. It aspired for each nation to have its own state, aligning national borders with state boundaries.

Cultural Nation vs. Political Nation

A cultural nation refers to a large group of people united by common cultural elements such as language, religion, ethnicity, territory, economic model, and history. In contrast, a political nation denotes a large group of people who collectively hold sovereignty.

American Revolution

The American Revolution encompassed the struggle for independence of the 13 colonies in North America, culminating in the formation of the United States.

French Revolution

Estates General

The Estates General, a medieval French parliament, was convened in 1789 after a hiatus since 1614. It comprised three estates: the nobility, clergy, and bourgeoisie. Each estate received a single vote, effectively granting control to the privileged first two estates.

National Assembly

Dissatisfied with the structure of the Estates General, the bourgeoisie formed the National Assembly in 1789. From 1789 to 1791, it was known as the Constituent Assembly and was responsible for drafting the first French constitution.

Right and Left Wing

The terms"righ" and"lef" in politics originated from the seating arrangement in the Constituent Assembly. Deputies who supported the king's right to veto laws sat on the right, while those opposed to this power sat on the left.