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Modern European History

  • Chapter 11, Section 4

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New Ideas Produce Change

  • In the 1500s and 1600s, scientists grew the knowledge of astronomy, anatomy, and other fields.

  • This was the start of the Scientific Revolution.

  • In the 1600s, philosophers began to question traditional beliefs.
    • Argued that reason could be used to study human behavior and the natural world.

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New Ideas Produce Change

  • This era is known as the Enlightenment, or the Age of Reason.

  • John Locke, an enlightenment thinker, argued that people had the right to “life, liberty, and property.” The government had the job of protecting these rights.
    • When the government failed to do so, the people had the right to rebel.

  • In 1789, these ideas encouraged the French to rebel.

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New Ideas Produce Change

  • This led to the French Revolution.

  • The Guillotine had previously been used only for nobility.
    • Commoners faced hangings and more gruesome methods.

  • This was used for the beheading of King Louis XVI.

  • In 1799, Napoleon Bonaparte took control of France at age 30.

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New Ideas Produce Change

  • Napoleon had grand ideas of taking over Europe.

  • He rapidly conquered most of Europe.

  • Ran into trouble against the Russians.

  • Met his final defeat at Waterloo.

  • However, the French Revolution helped spread Nationalism.

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New Ideas Produce Change

  • People began to see themselves as citizens of a nation, rather than subjects of the king.

  • Many European countries revolted against their rulers.

  • 1870s, Italy and Germany became unified nations.

  • Also, much of western Europe had achieved self-government.

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Europe’s Expanding Power

  • In the 1700s, Industrialization led to European nations building empires.

  • The Scientific Revolution led to changes in the way Europeans worked and made goods.

  • This change was known as the Industrial Revolution.

  • Began in Great Britain.

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Europe’s Expanding Power

  • The new industrialized nations needed raw materials.

  • They looked to Asia and Africa for natural resources.

  • Many made Imperialism their foreign policy.
    • Imperialism – controlling a smaller, weaker country politically and economically.

  • European nations claimed many overseas colonies.

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Europe’s Expanding Power

  • During the 20th century, two devastating wars broke out.

  • World War I – 1914-1918*

  • World War II – 1939 – 1945*

  • The Holocaust occurred during WWII.
    • The killing of 6 million Jews.

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Uniting After War

  • After World War II, two goals emerged.
    • Rebuild Europe’s shattered nations.
    • Work together to prevent future wars.

  • Belgium, France, Luxembourg, and West Germany formed the ECSC.

  • In 1967, they changed it to the European Community (EC).

  • In 1973, the EC began letting other countries join.

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Uniting After War

  • By 1992, 12 countries belonged to the EC and they signed the Maastricht Treaty.

  • This Treaty formed the EU.

  • By 2004, a total of 25 countries belonged. Currently, there are 28.

  • The goal of the EU is to bring the people and countries of Europe closer together.

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Uniting After War

  • A major area of the EU is its economic policy.

  • The EU is a single market which allows for free trade.

  • Many also use the same currency called the Euro.

  • Each country remains independent and there is no unifying constitution.

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Uniting After War

  • The EU has been deemed mostly successful as members have cooperated on most issues.

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Homework

  • Read P. 351-356

  • Answer #3-8

  • Bring books next class period!

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Homework

  • P. 357

  • Answer #1-10

  • P. 358

  • Answer #11-20

  • P. 359

  • Answer #1-4