Political Revolutions: Causes, Stages, and Impact

Political Revolutions and Their Objectives

Political revolutions aim to:

• Create a liberal political system based on respect for what are considered natural human rights. To ensure such respect, national sovereignty and the division between the legislative, executive, and judicial branches are necessary.
• Create an open society, without privileges or estates, measured by wealth.

The Causes of the American Revolution

The causes were the settlers' discontent for political, economic, and territorial reasons. The spark that caused the revolution was the attempt by the British monarchy to introduce new taxes and fees. Settlers refused to accept them, and the Boston Tea Party was organized, in which a group of settlers threw a cargo of tea from three British ships into the ocean.

The Causes of the French Revolution

• Political and Ideological: The Enlightenment provided the theoretical basis for ending the absolute monarchy.
• Social:
  • The nobles and clergy had lost power as a result of royal absolutism.
  • The bourgeoisie had no political influence.
  • The townspeople were also unhappy.
• Economic: The outbreak of the revolution was due to a double economic crisis: a food crisis and a financial crisis.

The Stages of the French Revolution

The stages of the revolution include the Estates-General (1789), the Constituent Assembly (1789-1791), the Legislative Assembly (1791-1792), the Convention (1792-1795), and the Directory and the Consulate (1795-1799).

The Consulate

• Internal peace was achieved by eliminating radical opposition and allowing the return of exiled nobility.
• Internal reforms were implemented in economic, social, educational, and artistic areas.

Europe of the Restoration

Objectives:

• The restoration of absolutist monarchs deposed by Napoleon. The monarchs were established on their thrones to prevent revolutions.
• The reconstruction of the map of Europe. France returned to its 1791 limits, and the victorious powers drew borders and divided territories according to their interests.

Two groups formed alliances:

• The Holy Alliance (1815), signed by Austria, Prussia, and Russia, and later by other countries.
• The Quadruple Alliance (1815), consisting of Austria, Prussia, Russia and Great Britain, aimed to defend the established order.