Fundamental Rights and Revolutions

Chapter 3

Democracy
Todays democratic regimes are based on freedom and equality of individuals. These principles were developed by 18th century thinkers They were recognized and applied partly as a result of two great revolutions in Europe and in the Americas. Today, freedom and equality are fundamental rights guaranteed and protected by laws, charters and democratic institutions.

The Age of Revolution

The Age of Revolution

During the 17th and 18th century, the great powers of Europe became immensely wealthy as a result of the new territories they had discovered and colonized. The common people were beginning to challenge the rulers power and demanding more equality and freedom. In North America and France, these protest movements turned into Revolutions.

The 13 Colonies
In the mid-18th century, Great Britain had several colonies in North America
They were located along the Atlantic coast, and the oldest among them were called the 13 Colonies. In 1763, at the end of the 7 Years War, Britain also took possession of New France. The British Empire exercised, political, economic and military rule over the colonies. However, the 13 colonies challenged this rule. Little by little, they revolted against measures imposed by the British and demanded their independence. This was the context in which the American Revolution started in 1776.

Meanwhilein France
At the same time, a protest movement was growing in France. The country had been ruled for years by Kings who held all of the power and stamped out all opposition

Many French people were increasingly critical of the monarchys authority and the special privileges awarded to certain social classes.
They got together to make their claims heard, and led the kingdom into the revolution of 1789.

Meanwhilein Russia
Russia was another European power that expanded in the 17th and 18th centuries. Its population rose sharply during this period. Its territories stretched all the way from Eastern Europe to the Pacific Ocean. However, Russia did not become involved in the revolutions of the 18th century. Some Russian monarchies were inspired by Western Europe to modernize the state, but continued to exert absolute control over the people and their territory.

The Attainment of Rights

The Attainment of Rights

In the early, 18th century, the great forces of Europe were ruled by Kings who had enormous power. They had absolute power. The King could impose taxes, make laws, put people on trial, appoint and fire government officials, declare war, sign peace treaties and spend as much money as he/she pleased. Numerous 18th century thinkers challenged the absolute power of Europes monarchs. They proposed a new political regime. (a new way to govern in which people would be better represented) During the same period, the British owned 13 colonies demanded the right to take part in the decisions that concerned them.

The Enlightenment Philosophers

The Enlightenment Philosophers

Renaissance humanists were the first to value the individuals role in society. The 18th century philosophers, during this period known as the Enlightenment, explored this idea and fought for the rights of the people

The philosophy of the Enlightenment, was influenced by scientific advances such as Newtons Natural Laws of the Universe.
They developed the principles of natural rights and fundamental rights. These principles were the source of important changes in the social and political order of the period.

The British Model

Britain already had a form of Parliamentary rule in which the monarch shared power with Parliament. Parliament restricted the amount of power the monarch had and made Parliament central in the political decision-making process.

The British were the first country to adapt a political regime that was more open to individual rights, and an prime example of Enlightenment Philosophy.

The Enlightenment Philosophers

Locke and Fundamental Rights

John Locke was a 17th century English Philosopher. He believed that people were born free and equal, which is why he opposed absolute monarchy. According to Locke, the state should respect the fundamental rights of the individual, the rights to life, the right to freedom and the right to own property.

He defined these rights as Natural Rights

He proposed a new concept of politics based on individual freedom or liberalism.

Locke believed that power belonged to the people, but that people should let political institutions, like parliament, assume some of this power.

Montesquieu and the Seperation of Powers

Baron de Montesquieu, a French jurist and philosopher, proposed new ideas for the improvement of the political structure. He wanted a Separation of Power, the king should only have executive power (to apply the law). Legislative power (to make the laws) and Judicial power (to ensure justice is served) should be intrusted by political institutions, which would not have to answer to the king.

Rousseau and the Sovereignty of Peoples

Jean-Jacques Rousseau, inspired by Locke, considered that all people, by their nature, were equal.

Sovereignty (power), belonged to the people and not the king.

The existence of the state was based on the people agreeing to share power with political institutions called Social Contract. If the contract was not upheld, the people had the right to revolt.

Voltaire and Freedom of Belief

Several Philosophers believed that the role of the state should not be to impose religion nor prohibit other religious denominations. Voltaire, a French writer and philosopher, published several works in favour of Religious tolerance. He believed that no Church should impose their faith, an individual should have the right to choose what religion best suits them. Voltaire stood up for Freedom of Belief.

The Encyclopedia and the Spread of Ideas

The Encyclopedia and the Spread of Ideas

Enlightenment scholars wanted to spread their ideas and defeat ignorance.

According to them, progress could not be made without knowledge.

They brought all their knowledge together in an Encyclopedia. French writer, Denis Dident and Mathematician, Jean dAlembert were the main editors. Numerous philosophers of the period contributed to it, including Rousseau, Montesquieu and Voltaire.

Other Publications

Other Publications
The philosophers made their ideas also known using newspapers, leaflets and posters making information available to growing numbers of people. In France, civil and religious leaders opposed such wide availability of ideas, many books and leaflets had to be published in secret.

Famous writers like Voltaire, Diderot and Rousseau were even arrested and sent to jail for their ideas which opposed the state and the Catholic Church.

The Influence of Ideas

The Philosophers travelled throughout Europe and sometimes received invitations from monarchs who were inspired by their ideas. Most rulers wanted to retain their absolute power, a few implemented a few reforms suggested by the Philosophers ideas.

Despite their reforms, Europes monarchs wanted to strengthen their personal power then to ensure the wellbeing of their people.
The real support came from the people, which reached as far as North America, their demands soon turned to talk of Revolt

The American Revolution

The American Revolution

The Seven Year war between the French and British ended in 1763 with the Treaty of Paris.

The Treaty stated that France officially lost the territory of New France to Great Britain, who now assumed control of a large segment of the North American continent. This control was soon contested by the Thirteen Colonies, who demanded more independence. This protest let the American Revolution.

The Organization of the 13 Colonies

The 13 colonies had a certain amount of political independence from the mother country (Britain).

Each colony had its own assembly of elected members. However, they had only control over local matters.
The most important political decisions were made by the British Parliament and the colonists were not represented in Parliament. Britain had economic power over the colonies, who forced them to trade with only Britain and buy only their products.

The Boston Tea Party

Contested Measures
The Seven Year War was very expensive for Britain, by the end of the war, Britain was in financial trouble. It decided to tax the thirteen colonies to pay of this debt. The colonist did not agree with these measures. They said that they will not pay the tax unless they have representation in Parliament. (No taxation without Representation) was their principle.

Britain also disallowed expansion to the west because the land was reserved for the Aboriginal people.
American colonists called public meetings and organized a resistance movement. Americans broke out into war with the British.

The War of Independence and the Revolution

The War of Independence and the Revolution

The protest movement organized by the colonies against Britain led to many confrontations including the Boston Tea Party where colonist dumped all their tea that was going to Britain into the harbour. Britain sent more British Troops to the colonies, nothing more was needed to make the colonists revolt This revolt quickly turned into a war for independence and revolution.

The American Declaration of Independence

The Declaration of Independence

On July 4, 1776, representatives of all the American colonies met in the city of Philadelphia and issued the Declaration of Independence.
It declared that the Americans were no longer colonists revolting against colonial authority. They were now citizens of a free state and were opposed to all foreign control.

Britain rejected the document, sparking a war between the 2 sides.

The English surrendered in 1781, and Treaty of Versailles was signed in 1783 recognizing American Independence. The United States was the first colony in the world to free itself.

The American Constitution

The American Constitution

In the years following the independence of the U.S., the leaders of the new country began drawing up the rules on how it would work. In 1787, they signed the American Constitution It set the principles of law, such as the principles of freedom and justice, that had never been put into practice elsewhere in the world. The Constitution also created political institutions that never before existed and that insured the separation of power. The President shares power with Congress, which represented the people and each state in the country. The Supreme court ensures the laws are put into practice

The French Revolution

The French Revolution

In the 17th century, France was ruled by kings like Louis XIV, who had supreme power. During the 18th century, the French monarchys power had weakened Frances debt from the Seven Year war and aiding in the American war of Independence had resulted in an economic crisis, sparked unrest among the people

The French were inspired by both the Enlightenment Philosophers and the independence of the U.S.
They organized a protest movement that in 1789 that turned into the French Revolution

A Society with a Strict Hierarchy

A Society with a Strict Hierarchy

Before the revolution, France lived under the Ancien Rgime

French society was divided into Social Orders, each with different rights.
The three social orders were the nobility, the clergy and the Third Estate (everyone else) The nobility and clergy were the privileged orders. The nobles lived on pensions and rent paid on their lands, they had jobs in Royal Admin, legal systems and army. Members of the clergy also lived off income from their land and had great influence

98% of the population belonged to the 3rd estate who had no power

The French Revolution

The French Revolution

France was hit by an economic depression , because of this the king was forced to call a meeting of the Estates General in 1789. What the king wanted was money from the nobles and clergy to pay Frances debt. The many taxes that were put on the 3rd estate was not enough to pay the debt The 3rd estate used this meeting to speak their minds, but soon realized they had 1/3 of the vote although they were represented 98% of the population. The 3rd estate formed a National Assembly to build a new constitution for France, some of the higher orders joined in. By 1789, the revolution broke out and the Ancient Rgime was crushed.

The Affirmation of the Rights of Man

The delegates of the National Assembly demanded more just and equitable society. In 1789, after storming the Bastille (Castle in France), they adapted the Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen This document, which favoured the great principles, freedom, and equality, was the foundation of the French Constitution.

From Constitutional Monarchy to Republic

From Constitutional Monarchy to Republic

The new Constitution of France put the nation above the king, whose power was limited by the law. Frances constitutional monarchy didnt last long

In 1792, believing that the king and nobles did not intend to respect the Constitution, the people revolted once again and a new assembly proclaimed the Republic. King Louis XVI was deposed (overthrown) and after a quick trial, was sent to the guillotine by the revolutionaires.

A Universal Revolution
With the elimination of the privileges for the nobility and clergy, the new constitution, the establishment of a constitutional monarchy, the revolution of 1789 resulted in profound change in French society. The principles of rights, justice and democracy spread throughout Western Europe and around the World.
The rights and freedoms acquired during the French revolution are still invoked whenever our fundamental rights are threatened or trampled upon.