Modern European History

• Chapter 11, Section 4

New Ideas Produce Change

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

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• This was the start of the Scientific Revolution.

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

New Ideas Produce Change

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

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• 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.

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

New Ideas Produce Change

• This led to the French Revolution.

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

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

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

New Ideas Produce Change

• Napoleon had grand ideas of taking over Europe.

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• He rapidly conquered most of Europe.

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• Ran into trouble against the Russians.

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• Met his final defeat at Waterloo.

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• However, the French Revolution helped spread Nationalism.

New Ideas Produce Change

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

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• Many European countries revolted against their rulers.

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• 1870s, Italy and Germany became unified nations.

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

Europe’s Expanding Power

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

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

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• This change was known as the Industrial Revolution.

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• Began in Great Britain.

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Europe’s Expanding Power

• The new industrialized nations needed raw materials.

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• They looked to Asia and Africa for natural resources.

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

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• European nations claimed many overseas colonies.

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Europe’s Expanding Power

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

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• World War I – 1914-1918*

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• World War II – 1939 – 1945*

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

Uniting After War

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

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

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

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• 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.

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• This Treaty formed the EU.

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

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• 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.

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

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• Many also use the same currency called the Euro.

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• 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

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• Answer #3-8

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• Bring books next class period!

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Homework

• P. 357

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• Answer #1-10

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• P. 358

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• Answer #11-20

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• P. 359

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• Answer #1-4

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