The Modern Period, c. 1750 to c. 1914: Content Summary 5.1: Causes of the Atlantic Revolutions

The Enlightenment was a philosophical movement that began in western Europe in the late 1600s. Enlightenment philosophers reconsidered the role of the state and the individual in society based on principles of human reason instead of tradition. (5.1.A)

Enlightenment writers questioned the divine rights of kings and the privileges of social and religious elites. (5.1.A)

The movement built on the Scientific Revolution’s use of reason and experimental observation to understand the natural world. (5.1.A)

The movement was mostly secular, or nonreligious, and some thinkers were Deists. (5.1.A)

(Deists believe in God but do not believe God interferes in the laws of the universe.) (5.1.A)

Diderot’s goal with the Encyclopédie was to produce, categorize, and spread practical knowledge. (5.1.A)

Diderot’s goal with the Encyclopédie was to produce, categorize, and spread practical knowledge. (5.1.A)

Conflicts between European states intensified in the late 1600s as Britain, France, the Netherlands, and Spain developed rivalries over their colonial possessions. (5.1.B)

Conflicts between European states intensified in the late 1600s as Britain, France, the Netherlands, and Spain developed rivalries over their colonial possessions. (5.1.B)

Conflicts between European states intensified in the late 1600s as Britain, France, the Netherlands, and Spain developed rivalries over their colonial possessions. (5.1.B)

Multiple wars between these empires, fought on colonial lands and in the Atlantic, created financial challenges. (5.1.B)

The Netherlands and Britain tried to pay for war costs by imposing higher taxes on Atlantic trade. (5.1.B)

Spain’s difficulty managing war debts and its financial obligations in colonies that were producing a decreasing amount of silver resulted in efforts to more directly control colonial affairs, which created new tensions between Peninsulares and Creoles. (5.1.B)

Spain’s difficulty managing war debts and its financial obligations in colonies that were producing a decreasing amount of silver resulted in efforts to more directly control colonial affairs, which created new tensions between Peninsulares and Creoles. (5.1.B)

Peninsulares were colonists who were born in Spain; Creoles were people of Spanish descent who were born in the Americas. (5.1.B)

France faced a similar situation, as debts from repeated wars with Britain placed a heavy burden on the bourgeoisie, or French middle class. (5.1.B)

To alleviate the burden, they wanted the king to raise taxes on the nobility and clergy—two groups who had historically been exempt from taxation. (5.1.B)

To alleviate the burden, they wanted the king to raise taxes on the nobility and clergy—two groups who had historically been exempt from taxation. (5.1.B)

To alleviate the burden, they wanted the king to raise taxes on the nobility and clergy—two groups who had historically been exempt from taxation. (5.1.B)

To alleviate the burden, they wanted the king to raise taxes on the nobility and clergy—two groups who had historically been exempt from taxation. (5.1.B)

To alleviate the burden, they wanted the king to raise taxes on the nobility and clergy—two groups who had historically been exempt from taxation. (5.1.B)

Throughout the Atlantic World, an increase in trade and commerce led to the growth of a literate middle class. (5.1.C)

Lower printing costs contributed to this rise in literacy and the accessibility of printed materials. (5.1.C)

Lower printing costs contributed to this rise in literacy and the accessibility of printed materials. (5.1.C)

In cities, people discussed and debated Enlightenment ideas in salons, coffee houses, and taverns. (5.1.C)