Political Movements During The 1900's

During the 1700’s to the 1900’s, throughout Europe, new ideas emerged that valued people as the center of the social, economic and political life of a nation. Socially, citizens went from being viewed as a passive member of the nation whose purpose was to serve their rulers, to an active member of a society that existed to protect the citizens’ natural rights. This social change lead to political revolutions, such as the English Revolution, that aimed at putting the power to govern in the hands of the people and not just the absolute rulers. As the social and the political aspects of a nation became more stable, people began to boost the economy, just as during the Industrial Revolution, to create a strong economy and an overall strong nation.
Based on the idea of a feudal hierarchy, the monarch, with divine right, held all the power and there was no separation of powers. England had a monarchy that abused its power, as it quartered soldiers in citizens homes and raised taxes without the consent of the Parliament, the voice of the people. During the Glorious Revolution in England, Parliament to teamed up with William of Orange in a successful effort to overthrow the King James II. William and his wife Mary II became the rulers of England, giving Parliament power, and making England a constitutional monarchy. The Bill of Rights were created that limited the monarch’s power and gave more power to Parliament. This showed that subsequent monarchs is ruled only by parliamentary consent, not absolutely. A similar process also happened in France, but with a different outcome. The king of France, King Louis XVI, raised taxes on the people that worsened the economy, as it was already suffering as there was a shortage of bread and an increased cost of living. The lower class, or the Third Estate, created the National Assembly that triggered the French Revolution. In the end, Napoleon came into power and created the Napoleonic Code, which stabilized the economy, created equal opportunity in the government, and gave religious tolerance to the people, all goals of the revolution. The now stable government helped laid the foundation of the French Empire that was soon to follow. In Russia, there was also an absolute ruler, but the revolution that followed did not produce a constitutional monarchy like in England or France. Under Czar Nicholas, Russia was governed as an autocracy and the czar refused to surrender any power. The people were in hunger due to many wars such as World War I, and the czar believed that he was chosen by god and believed that he should maintain his privileges rather than the privileges of