ROMANTIC REVOLUTION
The Romantics
3 event that shaped the Romanticism
• American revolution and War of Independence
The American colonies (British goverment), were very rich and in that territories there
were many people. The relationship with the mother country changed a lot when the
British goverment try to impose strict rules and control of the colonies, in particular for the
fact that England wanted to impose its governor and didn't allow them to elect one by their
own.
2 situations:
-Great Britain imposed tax to the colonies
-American colonies didn't want to pay taxes because in the British Parliament there
weren't someone who rappresented them (NO TAXATION WITHOUT RAPRESENTATION)
The war of Independence started in 1775 when 13 delegates from the thirteen American
colonies met in Philadelphia and George Washington (first president of United state In
1789) had the military command
The 4th July 1776, one year after, was approved the declaration of Independence, of
Thomas Jefferson = all men are equal with the same rights
◦to life
◦to freedom
◦to happiness
These democratic ideas were acepted in some enlightened circles of Europe and supported
the American colonies.
• French Revolution and the impact on Britain
The French Revolution broke out in 1789. The english people wanted to condem it for the
violence. From 1793 to 1814 Britain Started an alliance and become leader of six European
coalitions formed against France and Napoleon (he did many invasion for take the control
of Europe )
The French Revolution scared the British aristocracy and to prevent disorder the public
meeting of workers were made illegal. In 1811-1812 the workers didn't stop and the
Luddite Riots (leader: Ned Ludd) broke out. Workers attacked factories and destroyed
machinery. The riforms were introduced to improve the life of normal people.
destroved machinery. One exemple was the RIGHT TO VOTE that was extended to the male
of the middle class. The Reform Bill didn't make the Britan a true democrazy because many
people couran't vote. NO FRANCHISE
Other reforms:
• Factory Acts (1833): NO child in the factory under nine vears BETTER conditions of
working
• Abolition of Slavery and Slave trade in British colonies. ( 1833)
• New system of national education based and influenced by liberal theories. 1834)
