Consequences of the French Revolution and Its Key Influences

Consequences of the French Revolution

Consequences of the French Revolution

1. Political consequences

• The absolute monarchy ended.
• Popular sovereignty was promoted.
• A constitution limited the king’s power.

2. Economic consequences

• Feudal dues were abolished.
• The Church lost land.
• The nobility lost economic privileges.

3. Social consequences

• The estate system was abolished.
• Equality before the law was promoted.
• Social privileges based on birth were abolished.

Key Enlightenment Thinkers

Montesquieu

He defended the separation of powers: legislative, executive and judicial.

Jean-Jacques Rousseau

He defended popular sovereignty: power comes from the people.

Voltaire

He defended freedom of expression, religious tolerance and freedom of thought.

The American Revolution

1774 First Continental Congress: representatives of the colonies met to coordinate their response to Britain.

1775 Battles of Lexington and Concord: the American War of Independence began. George Washington became commander of the Continental Army.

4 July 1776 Declaration of Independence: the Thirteen Colonies declared independence from Great Britain.

1777 Battle of Saratoga: an important American victory that helped persuade France to support the Americans.

1781 Battle of Yorktown: British forces surrendered, effectively ending the main fighting.

1783 Treaty of Paris: Britain recognised American independence.

1787 The US Constitution was written and signed.

1789 The US Constitution came into effect, establishing the new federal government.

2. Main causes

• Taxes: Britain imposed taxes on the colonies.
• No representation: colonists had no representatives in the British Parliament.
• Enlightenment ideas: liberty, equality and popular sovereignty.
• British control: colonists wanted more political freedom.

3. Main consequences

• The United States became independent.
• A republic based on representative government was established.
• Liberal ideas spread and influenced the French Revolution.
• The US Constitution established a system of separation of powers.

Timeline of Revolutions and Key Events (1763–1871)

1763 End of the Seven Years’ War

1765 Stamp Act: taxes on American colonists

1770 Boston Massacre

1773 Boston Tea Party

1775 American War of Independence begins

1776 Declaration of American Independence

1781 British surrender at Yorktown

1783 Treaty of Paris: Britain recognises US independence

1787 US Constitution written

1789 French Revolution begins; Storming of the Bastille

1791 France becomes a constitutional monarchy

1792 France becomes a republic

1793 Louis XVI executed; Reign of Terror begins

1793–1794 Reign of Terror

1799 Napoleon takes power in France

1804 Napoleon becomes emperor; Napoleonic Code

1815 Napoleon defeated at Waterloo; Congress of Vienna

1820 First liberal revolutions

1830 Second wave of liberal revolutions

1848 Springtime of the Peoples: liberal and nationalist revolutions

1861 Kingdom of Italy created

1870 Rome becomes part of Italy

1871 German Empire created