Crisis of Ancient Regime in the 18th century

The 18th century: The Ancien Regime in crisis

What caused a crisis in the Ancien regime?

After the decline of medieval feudalism, the Ancien Régime became the principal economic, social and political system in Europe in the 18th century. The predominant form of goverment was absolute monarchy. Society was stratified and based on the privileges of a minority, while the majority of the population were rural peasants. The development of manufacturing and trade generated new sources of wealth and benifitted the emerging bourgeoisie.

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CAUSES

Factors for change

Inequality of stratified society

An agrarian and manorial economy

Society was divided into three states: Clergy, nobility and ordinary people or the Third Estate ( peasants, urban working classes and bourgeoisie). This stratified society was inequality. Nobility and clergy had rights and privileges, controlled the army and didn´t have to pay taxes.

Economic growth and aspirations of the bourgeoisie aspired to participate in government were the main forces of changes.The peasants opposed the manorial system and the heavy taxes they had to pay.

The economy of A. R was mainly rural, and over 80% of the population worked in agriculture. Land was entailed (could not be bought or sold) and it was concentrated in the hands of the nobility and the Church.

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Growth of the economy and the bourgeoisie

1. Population growth caused by a period of peace, greater agricultural production and fewer major epidemics.2. Population growth increased agricultural production which helped stimulate the economy. More lands was cleared for cultivation, new techniques and new crops were introduced. 3.Two new system of production were introduced to produce more craft products: - Domestic system- peasants were provided with raw materials and tools to make products in their homes - Factories, in which many workers made specific products.

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An increase in capital and the prospering bourgeoisie

Growing demand of many new products in the international market caused prices to rise in the 18th century, and impoverished the nobility. On the other hand, the bourgeoisie became wealthier.

The first parliamentary systems. In the 18th century, Britain had limited the king´s power and strengthened parliament. In EEUU, a republic based on a constitution and recognition of citizen right was formed.

The parliamentary monarchy

The indepencence of the united states

• The royal power in England was limited by two Houses of Parliament ( House of Lords- nobles and clergy, House of Commons- bourgeois representatives of cities)
• Monarchs needed the authorisation of both houses to introduce new taxes of to declare war.
• Parliament was given the power to make laws, and judicial powers were separated from the government.
• However, only a minority (large landowners, bourgeoisie,...)had the right to vote. People from the colonies weren´t represented in Parliament.

• 13 British colonies on the east coast of North America organised the first colonial insurrection.
• They had to pay heavy taxes and didn´t have political representation in the Parliament.
• Delegated from the 13 colonies met in Philadelphia and drafted the United States Declaration of Independence (4 july of 1776).
• After a long war, Great Britain recognised the colonies´ independence (1783), and George Washington became the first president of the United States in 1789.

The Enlightenment versus the Ancien Regime

Scientific progress

The Enlightment

• The 18th century was a time of great ideas, knowledge and people. Correspondence between the Enlightenment thinkers and scientists stimulated the spread of knowledge.
• Universities and scientific academies were created in major European cities where educated people met to present new ideas. Improvements in literacy also allowed newspapers and books to become available to greater numbers of people.
• The Encyclopedie- it aimed to bring together the knowledge of the time and present critical ideas from the Enlightenment.
• Ideas for implement the liberal political system.

• Intellectual movement known as the Enlightment that proposed a new way of organising society.
• Enlightenment thinkers believed reason was the only way to understand and explain the world. It was a direct criticism of medieval tradition and religious theocentrism. Most Enlightement thinkers believed in God but condemned religious intolerance.
• They had an optimistic view of nature as a source of justice and goodness, and of humans, who were born to be happy. They believed in progress and that reason and human will could transform society

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Progress check

Identify key figures

Create a timeline

Answer the questions

- Treaty of Utrecht, US Independence, War of the Spanish Succession, Bill of Rights, the Encyclopedie, execution of Charles I of England KEY CONCEPTS .Absolutism .Separation of powers .Constitution .Liberalism . Popular sovereignty .Habeas corpus

a) What was the Ancien Regime? Why was it in crisis in the 18th century?b)What was the Enlightenment? What ideas did Enlightenment thinkers defend? c) Which countries first adopted a parliamentary system? How did they do it? Explain the differences between absolutism and a liberal parliamentary system.

-Charles I of England-Voltaire -Diderot EXPLAIN THE DIFFERENCES -House of Lords /House of Commons - Absolute monarch / Enlightened despot.