Transcript Economic Changes and the Social Order

Chapter 17
By: Diana, David, Katie, Becky and
Emily
New Economic Patterns
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Europe’s population began to grow around 1750. The falling death rate was
probably the most important reason why the population grew so rapidly. Also,
the bubonic plague disappeared and diets improved
Food production increased and more land was farmed. Also many new crops
were brought in, including the potato and maize from the Americas
In Europe the most important industrial product was textiles. The textiles
used to be produced by master artisans in guild workshops. But soon the
production was shifted to the countryside.
In the “domestic” system, a merchant-capitalist entrepreneur bought the raw
materials and sent them to rural workers who spun the materials into yarn and
cloth. Then the capitalist-entrepreneurs sold the finished product and used
the profits to purchase more raw materials.
In the 18th century, overseas trade boomed, especially between Europe,
Africa, the Far East, and the Americas. Materials such as silver, gold, tobacco,
cotton, coffee, slaves, etc. were traded.
Commercial capitalism created enormous prosperity for some European
countries, especially England and France. London became the world’s greatest
port.
European Society in the Eighteenth
Century
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Society was divided into the traditional “orders” or “estates” determined by
heredity. Government helped maintain these divisions.
About 85% of the European population was peasants. However, there was
great diversity within the peasant class, such as being a serf or being a free
peasant.
The nobles were 2 to 3% of the population. They controlled the military, the
government, and the life of their local districts. They were also exempt from
many taxes.
Townspeople were a distinct minority of the total population, except in the
Dutch Republic, Britain, and parts of Italy.
Many cities in western and central Europe had a long tradition of patrician
oligarchies that controlled the communities by dominating town and city
councils. Below the patricians were the upper crust of the middle class, which
included non-noble officeholders, bankers, and merchants. Below them was
the lower middle class, including master artisans, shopkeepers, and small
traders. Finally, there were the working classes and a large group of unskilled
workers who were servants, maids, cooks, etc.
Changing Patterns of War: Global
Confrontation
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To philosophers, war was a foolish waste of life
and resources which had no value to
humankind.
Rivalry among states was unchanged in Europe
States were mainly self governing that were
guided towards acquiring more land
The War of the Austrian Succession
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In 1740, conflict erupted over the succession of the Austrian
throne, previously held by Habsburg emperor Charles VI.
Successor was a woman by the name of Maria Theresa.
King Frederick II of Prussia took advantage of this by invading
Austria Silesia.
France entered the war against its traditional enemy.
Great Britain sided with Austria, for fear of French domination
of Continental Affairs.
Fought in three areas of the world – Europe, Asia, and North
America.
Treaty in 1748 returned all lands to original owners, except for
Silesia.
The Seven Years’ War
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Maria Theresa didn’t accept the loss of Silesia.
Worked diplomatically to separate France from Prussia.
France vs. Britain, Austrian (16th), Prussia.
France allied with Austria and Russia vs. Britain and
Prussia.
Frederick the Great managed to have a series of
successes, but was facing eminent defeat until Peter III
(Russia) pulled his troops.
Stalemate, 1763, led to return of all lands, and Austria
officially recognized Prussia’s permanent control of
Silesia.
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In India, France had to leave the British alone.
North America a popular battleground.
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Waterways of Gulf of Saint Lawrence, protected by the
fortress of Louisbourg and by forts that protected French
Quebec and French traders.
Unsettled Ohio River valley.
French began moving down. Beginning held success.
French unable to resupply troops. Forced into Treaty
of Paris, which ceded Canada and lands east of the
Mississippi to England. Spain gave Spanish Florida to
British in return of French Louisiana Territory.
Society of Latin America
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Most colonies were unlike their European
counterparts
Latin America had a multiracial society -European and American Indian children were
called mestizos
European and African children were called
mulattoes
Both groups created an interracial society in
Latin America
Economy in Latin America
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Spanish and Portuguese searched their colonized areas for gold
and silver
The Spanish found gold in the Caribbean and modern day
Colombia
Silver was found in Mexico
Agriculture was also important with a focus on the large
landowner (Roman latifundia)
Peasants works a landlord's farm and were similar to serfs
Latin American colonies were centers of trade and raw materials
Spain and Portugal exported things such as: gold, sliver, sugar,
tobacco, diamonds, animal hides and other natural products in
return for manufactured items from their home countries
The State and Church in Colonial
Latin America
The State
• The regulation of such colonies as Portuguese Brazil and
Spanish America were hard to do so many of these areas were
nearly separate from their homelands
• To keep this in hand most Europeans held the most important
government posts in the colonies
• A governor General, or Viceroy was created to rule Brazil, he
controlled the captains-general, who controlled various districts
of Brazil
• The king of Spain appointed a viceroy to rule his territories
(Mexico and Peru), this was later divided into four, with the
addition of New Granada and La Plata
• Again, all of the major posts were held by Spaniards
The State and Church in Colonial
Latin America
The Church
• Both the Spaniards and the Portuguese wanted to
convert indigenous peoples to Christianity
• This gave the Catholic Church more power and soon
missionaries were setting out to different parts of the
empire
• The Missionaries brought Indians together in villages to
make it easier to convert them
• The Church constructed such things as hospitals,
orphanages and schools and also constructed
Nunneries
British North America
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In 18th century United Kingdom, Parliament was
gradually gaining more and more power. Parliament
was dominated by the aristocracy in the House of
Lords and the landed gentry in the House of
Commons. The new Hanoverian dynasty came into
power in 1714, after Queen Anne died. Because of the
Hanovers’ unfamiliarity with the English language and
British political system, the prime minister held great
power. William Pitt the Elder became Prime Minister
in 1757 and expanded the empire to include Canada
and India in the Seven Years’ War.
American Revolution
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Britain controlled much of North America. After the
Seven Years’ War, Britain levied new taxes through the
stamp act to increase revenue. This led to riots and was
quickly repealed. After arguments over britain’s
involvement in the colonies’ politics, the colonies
approved the Declaration of Independence on July 4,
1776. The French aided the American Continental
Army to gain revenge against Britain. General
Cornwallis surrendered at Yorktown and signed the
Treaty of Paris in 1783, granting the colonies
independence.
Birth of a new Nation
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The colonies were wary of strong central power and
ratified the Articles of Confederation in 1781. In 1787
delegates met in Philadelphia to revise it, but instead
wrote the Constitution. This document gave the
central government the power to levy taxes, raise an
army, regulate trade, and create a currency and divided
the federal government into three branches. The
constitution was just barely ratified by the states, and
the Bill of Rights was added in March 1789 to define
the people’s rights and freedoms.
THE END