Unit 3: Revolutions and Reaction

Lesson B: Out with the Old World and in with the New

Lesson Overview

Artist's Depiction of France's 1789 Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen ^[1]

The Glorious Revolution and the Enlightenment ushered in an era of change in the early modern world. Shifting perspectives on individual rights and the power of government placed new pressure on the old social order. War among the great powers of Europe and America accelerated the pace of change. Support for democracy and the growth of nationalism resulted in popular constitutions, patriotism, and changes in social organization. The results of revolutionary wars for independence in colonial North America and France created an example for the rest of the world. These ideas became the basis for more modern forms of government.

Key Questions

1. How do trade and migration patterns cause intellectual and cultural transformations?
2. What social, political, and economic conditions lead to the overthrow of established ideas?
3. How does nationalism impact countries and people?

Student Outcomes

1. Analyze how the Seven Years War, Enlightenment thought, the American Revolution, and growing internal economic crisis affected social and political conditions in Old Regime France and other parts of the world.
2. Compare the causes, character, and consequences of the American and French Revolutions, including ideas of social equality, democracy, human rights, liberty, constitutionalism, and nationalism.
3. Analyze cause-and-effect relationships and multiple causation, including the importance of the individual and the influence of ideas. (Historical Thinking Skill)
4. Consider and compare multiple perspectives in primary and secondary sources. (Historical Thinking Skill)

Key Terms

• constitutional monarchy
• revolution
• social class
• taxes

Student Resources

• Perspectives on Conditions in France (doc)
• Perspectives on the Causes of the American Revolution (doc)
• Historical Investigation — A French Revolution (doc)
• U.S. and French Constitutions Comparison (doc)
• French Revolution Brief Constructed Response (doc)

Chart of Activities

Lesson Completion Time

The total estimated time to complete this lesson is 160 minutes.

Page Notes:

^[1] Source: This image from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Declaration_of_Human_Rights.jpg is in the public domain because its copyright has expired.