The Modern Period, c. 1750 to c. 1914: Handout 5.1: Causes of Atlantic Revolutions

Corvée refers to periods of labor that farmers, who were members of the Third Estate (or class), annually owed to nobles, who were members of the Second Estate.

During that period of contagious intellectual energy and enthusiastic quest for knowledge, the philosophers, thinkers, and writers of the Enlightenment espoused [supported] intellectual freedom and the use of reason in the search for progress.

Source A: Adapted from Voltaire’s “Deism,” article in the Philosophical Dictionary, 1764

He who only sees God as an all-powerful creator, is not religious towards God any more than a European, admiring the king of China, would thereby profess allegiance to that prince.

Such a person definitely has a religion, and a much better religion than all those Protestant sects that our Catholic Church in France condemns.

All sects differ, because they come from men; morality is everywhere the same because it comes from God.

Those who persecute a philosopher, under the excuse that his opinions may be dangerous to the public, are as absurd as those who are afraid that the study of algebra will raise the price of bread in the market.

If one of my brothers is full of respect and brotherly love, inspired by the most fraternal charity, does not salute our common God with the same ceremonies as I do, then why must I cut his throat and tear out his heart?

However, such a system can flow but from a single brain, and this must be that of the sovereign.

If the king of Prussia, motivated by a mistaken zeal, declares himself for one religion or another, parties will spring up, heated disputes will result.

In the end, the religion persecuted will leave Prussia and millions of subjects will enrich our neighbors by their skill and industry.

This is to compel him to confess a crime, to exploit the contradictions he runs into, to uncover his accomplices, or to expose other crimes of which he is guilty but with which he has not been charged.

Either he confesses to the crime and is convicted, or he is acquitted and has suffered an unwarranted punishment.

Either he confesses to the crime and is convicted, or he is acquitted and has suffered an unwarranted punishment.

A representative assembly, although extremely well qualified, and absolutely necessary as a branch of the legislature, is unfit to exercise the executive power, for lack of two essential properties, secrecy and the ability to make decisions quickly.

A representative assembly, although extremely well qualified, and absolutely necessary as a branch of the legislature, is unfit to exercise the executive power, for lack of two essential properties, secrecy and the ability to make decisions quickly.

They are there to enforce a recent proclamation from King George III that colonists cannot cross the Appalachian Mountains and to more strictly enforce mercantilist laws that prohibit colonists from trading with any country besides England.

They are there to enforce a recent proclamation from King George III that colonists cannot cross the Appalachian Mountains and to more strictly enforce mercantilist laws that prohibit colonists from trading with any country besides England.

Mestizos, people of mixed European and indigenous heritage, held a lower place in society.

To be always running three or four thousand miles with a tale or a petition, waiting four or five months for an answer (which, when received, requires five or six more months to be explained) will in a few years be looked upon as folly and childishness.

And it is so far true of England that the same tyranny which drove the first emigrants from home, pursues their descendants still.

It was the most prosperous invention the Devil ever set on foot for the promotion of idolatry [worship of false gods].

Though Abbé Sieyès was technically a clergy member of the First Estate, his studies in philosophy caused him to be sympathetic to the complaints of the Third Estate.

Who is bold enough to maintain that the Third Estate does not contain within itself everything needful to constitute a complete nation?

It would be all; but free and flourishing.

What do we see? The aristocracy on its own, fighting simultaneously against reason, justice, the People, the minister and the King.