Changes

As Christianity continued to grow in the 1700s, many around the world came to the same conclusion: they wanted their own country rather than taking orders from a king.  But kings resisted these demands for independence by the people, and revolutions became necessary to overthrow kings.

As Christianity continued to grow in the 1700s, many around the world came to the same conclusion: they wanted their own country rather than taking orders from a king.  But kings resisted these demands for independence by the people, and revolutions became necessary to overthrow kings.

During the 1600s in England, there was some of the worst religious persecution in the history of the world, as Protestants harshly persecuted each other and there was also continuous conflict between Protestants and Catholics.  The conflict between Anglicans and Puritans in England was particularly severe, causing many Puritans to flee to New England.  Quakers were also persecuted in England, and William Penn founded the state of Pennsylvania in the late 1600s after being persecuted in England for his Quaker faith.  In 1688, a “bloodless” revolution known as the “Glorious Revolution” replaced a rare Catholic English King (James II) with a King and Queen who were Anglican (William and Mary).

England in the seventeenth century saw religious persecution, as Protestants harshly persecuted each other and there was also continuous conflict between Protestants and Catholics.  The conflict between Anglicans and Puritans in England was particularly severe, causing many Puritans to flee to New England.  Quakers were also persecuted in England, and William Penn founded the state of Pennsylvania in the late 1600s after being persecuted in England for his Quaker faith.  In 1688, a “bloodless” revolution known as the “Glorious Revolution” replaced a rare Catholic English King (James II) with a King and Queen who were Anglican (William and Mary).

In the 1700s, all the revolutions were quite bloody, entailing violence and great losses of life and limb.  Nearly every region of the world saw violent revolutions.  There was the American Revolution, which began with bloodshed in 1775 (Lexington and Concord and the ride of Paul Revere), and then the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, and ultimately the conclusion with the Treaty of Paris in 1783.  There were also many other revolutions, including ones in Mexico, Haiti, South America, China and France.  We will learn about all of them here, spending most of our time on the French Revolution.

In the 1700s, all the revolutions were quite bloody, entailing violence and great losses of life and limb.  Nearly every region of the world saw violent revolutions.  There was the American Revolution, which began with bloodshed in 1775 (Lexington and Concord and the ride of Paul Revere), and then the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, and ultimately the conclusion with the Treaty of Paris in 1783.  There were also many other revolutions, including ones in Mexico, Haiti, South America, China and France.  We will learn about all of them here, spending most of our time on the French Revolution.