French Revolution Dbq

Despite the negative consequences, Europe, as a whole, rapidly increased their global power from the late 1700s to the early 1900s through Revolution, Industrialization, and Imperialism. Europe had gained immense political and economic control within such a short time span. The growth started from within their own national borders. The intellectual questioning from the period of Enlightenment sparked new ideas and heavily influenced politics and the start of the French Revolution. One Enlightenment intellect whose ideas carried over into the Revolution is John Locke. Locke pushed for liberty and equality of man, which we see valued in the French Revolution. The National Assembly of France established a Declaration of Rights and the first right

behind Europe’s rapid growth. The aftermath of the French Revolution was great and led to one strong revolutionary, Napoleon Bonaparte, to come to power. Napoleon had great military power and gave France order and a sense of nationalism, which was important especially after the chaos of the Revolution. His army had great military victories, however he had his downfall when deciding to invade Russia and falling ill (Snowden 143). Robert Darnton refers to the French Revolution as “uniting the disparate elements of the kingdom into a nation that conquered the rest of Europe” (French Revolution and Napoleon 55). Revolution showed the citizens of Europe just how powerful men can be when they come together and change can come about when they do so. While the French Revolution advanced Europe politically, England’s industrialism made huge economic advancements. England was industrializing simultaneously as the French Revolution was happening. These major events happening all at the same time definitely justifies how Europe showed so much growth in such a short time. Some important figures of England’s Industrialization include Richard Arkwright, John Kaye, and James Hargreaves, who all worked together to innovate the water frame which then led to manufacturing (Industrial Revolution

Factory workers received very poor treatment and often made very close to no money. This may be true, but it is often countered that “conditions on the medieval manor were even worse” (Krazenberg’s Laws 246). There was also an increase in productivity in England, from going from smaller, more sporadic fields of crops to mass production of crops with the help of new technology. The use of canals also made transportation of goods so much faster and more effective (Industrial Revolution 10). England had an immense supply of coal on the land, making it possible to fuel this mass industrialisation. With this industrialization, “the machine allowed one worker to do the work that had previously been done by many” (Industrial Revolution 16). This simplification lessened the cost that England had to pay in wages. It also increased productivity, which means Europe could create more supply faster than ever. Now that cotton could be spun faster, cotton needed to be grown faster. This was one of many reasons for Europe’s imperialism. Imperialism led to Europe gaining control over land all over the