#AP European History: Unit 5 - Revolution and Romanticism (1648-1815)

Hey there, future AP Euro master! Let's get you prepped for test day with this high-impact review of Unit 5. We're covering the big political shifts, economic rivalries, and the rise of Romanticism. Let's dive in!

This unit is crucial for understanding the political and social transformations of the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Pay close attention to the French Revolution and its impacts, as well as the rise of nationalism.

#1. Commercial Rivalries 💸

• Global Commerce: European merchants and companies expanded their reach, creating worldwide economic networks.
• State Competition: Countries promoted their own businesses and built empires, especially in the Atlantic World.
• Conflicts: Economic rivalries fueled wars in the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. 🌊
• British vs. French: The major rivalry, with Britain ultimately replacing France as the dominant power by 1815. - East India Companies: Britain and the Netherlands controlled vast territories in Asia through these powerful companies.

  • Britain controlled much of India.

  • The Dutch controlled the East Indies (present-day Indonesia).

Caption: The Battle of Plassey (1757) symbolizes British dominance in India, a key outcome of commercial rivalries.

#2. Models of Political Sovereignty

• Sovereignty: The supreme authority to make and enforce rules.
• Disagreements: Conflicting ideas about sovereignty fueled revolutions and wars.

#2.1 The French Revolution 🇫🇷

#2.1.1 Causes

• Absolute Monarchy: King Louis XVI faced major financial and political problems. 🤴

• Social Frustration: The bourgeoisie, peasants, and urban workers lacked privileges and political power.

• Noble Discontent: Nobles wanted more political influence.

• Economic Hardship: Bread shortages led to famine and widespread suffering.

• Enlightenment Ideas: Concepts of individual freedom and government legitimacy fueled the desire for change. 💡

Caption: This image illustrates the social hierarchy and the burden placed on the commoners before the French Revolution.

#2.1.2 First Phase: 1789-1792

• Rebellions: Uprisings in the countryside and cities.

• Constitutional Monarchy: Establishment of a new government with limited royal power.

• Attacks on Royal Authority: The storming of the Bastille and the Palace at Versailles.

• Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen: Abolished noble privileges and asserted individual rights. ✍️

• Church Land Seizure: The revolutionary government took over church lands to raise money. 💰

• Women's Participation: Women engaged in crowd violence but were excluded from formal politics.

• Olympe de Gouges: A feminist who advocated for women’s rights, especially in her Declaration of the Rights of Woman and the Female Citizen.

• Political Clubs: Men formed groups like the Jacobins (radical) and Girondins (moderate) to push for change.

Caption: The storming of the Bastille, a symbol of royal authority, marked the beginning of the French Revolution.

#2.1.3 Second Phase: 1793-1794

• Radical Changes: More far-reaching reforms under the Jacobins.
• French Republic: Proclamation of the first French Republic after the National Convention abolished the monarchy.
• Popular Sovereignty: The government was based on the idea that power resided in the people.
• Reforms: Abolition of feudalism, new legal system, and education reforms.
• De-Christianization: Efforts to remove the influence of the Catholic Church.
• Reign of Terror: A period of political repression and mass executions led by Robespierre. 💀
• Defense Against Invasion: The Republic fought off foreign monarchies and expanded the revolution through invasions.

#2.1.4 Political and Social Effects

• Global Impact: Inspired revolutions in other countries, such as the Haitian Revolution. 🌎

• Haitian Revolution: Led by Toussaint Louverture, enslaved people and free people of color created the independent republic of Haiti.

• Conservative Ideology: Condemnation of the violence of the French Revolution contributed to the development of conservative thought.

Caption: Toussaint Louverture, a key figure in the Haitian Revolution, which was inspired by the French Revolution.

#2.1.5 Napoleon

• Rise to Power: Napoleon, a general, seized control of the government and became emperor. 👑

• Preserved and Reversed: He maintained some revolutionary ideas (like legal equality for men) but reversed popular sovereignty by ruling as a dictator.

• Military Conquests: Napoleon gained control over much of Europe through wars. 🪖

• Nationalism: His wars inspired new ideas of nationalism in France and conquered countries.

• Congress of Vienna: After Napoleon's defeat, European powers met to reestablish a balance of power and prevent future revolutions. ⚖️

Caption: The French Empire under Napoleon at its peak in 1812.

#3. The Romantic Movement 🎨

• Challenge to Reason: Romanticism rejected the Enlightenment's emphasis on logic and rationality.

• Emphasis on Emotion: Valued feelings, intuition, and personal experience.

• Natural Processes: Focused on the beauty and power of nature.

• Jean Jacques Rousseau: A key influence on Romanticism and the French Revolution. 💭

• Religious Revival: Christianity experienced a resurgence, with Methodism as a notable example.

Caption: Goya's painting embodies Romanticism by depicting intense emotion and the impact of war.

#Final Exam Focus

Prioritize the French Revolution, Napoleon, and the Congress of Vienna. Understand the causes, key events, and long-term effects of these major developments. Also, be prepared to discuss the shift from Enlightenment to Romantic thought.

• Key Topics:

• French Revolution (causes, phases, effects)

• Napoleon (rise, rule, impact)

• Congress of Vienna (goals, outcomes)

• Commercial rivalries and their global impact

• Romanticism (characteristics, key figures)

• Common Question Types:

• Multiple choice questions on key events and figures.

• Short answer questions on causes and effects.

• Free response questions analyzing the impact of the French Revolution or comparing Enlightenment and Romantic thought.

• Time Management:

• Quickly identify the main point of each question.

• Allocate time based on the point value of each question.

• Don't get bogged down on one question; move on and come back if time permits.

• Common Pitfalls:

• Confusing the different phases of the French Revolution.

• Overlooking the global impact of European events.

• Not connecting intellectual movements with political and social changes.

• Strategies:

• Use the documents provided in the FRQs to support your arguments.

• Make sure to include specific historical evidence in your responses.

• Review the key vocabulary and concepts from this unit.

#Practice Questions

Practice Question

#Multiple Choice Questions

1. Which of the following best describes the primary goal of the Congress of Vienna (1814-1815)? (A) To promote liberal reforms across Europe (B) To establish a unified German state (C) To restore the balance of power and prevent future revolutions (D) To create a European parliament

2. The Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen, adopted during the French Revolution, emphasized which of the following principles? (A) Divine right of kings (B) Social hierarchy and hereditary privilege (C) Equality before the law and individual liberties (D) Absolute monarchy and centralized power

3. Which of the following is a key characteristic of the Romantic movement? (A) Emphasis on logic and reason (B) Focus on scientific progress (C) Celebration of emotion and individualism (D) Support for established social hierarchies

#Free Response Question

Analyze the causes and consequences of the French Revolution. In your response, consider the social, political, and economic factors that contributed to the revolution, as well as its short-term and long-term effects on France and Europe.

Point-by-Point Scoring Breakdown:

• Thesis (1 point): A clear, historically defensible thesis that addresses both causes and consequences of the French Revolution.

• Causes (2 points): * Social: Discuss the rigid social hierarchy, including the privileges of the nobility and the grievances of the Third Estate. * Political: Explain the weaknesses of the absolute monarchy, the lack of representation, and the influence of Enlightenment ideas. * Economic: Describe the financial crisis, bread shortages, and the burden of taxation on the Third Estate.

• Consequences (2 points): * Short-Term: Discuss the Reign of Terror, the rise of Napoleon, and the impact on French society. * Long-Term: Explain the spread of revolutionary ideas, the rise of nationalism, and the impact on European politics.

• Evidence (2 points): Use specific historical evidence to support your claims (e.g., the storming of the Bastille, the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen, the Congress of Vienna).

• Analysis (2 points): Analyze the connections between the causes and consequences, and explain the significance of the French Revolution in European history.

Exam Tip

Remember to always provide specific historical evidence and connect your points back to the main question. This will help you earn maximum points on the FRQs.

You've got this! Go ace that AP Euro exam! 🚀