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The XVIII century (SOCIAL CONTEXT (Enlightment (aim of freeing man's…
The XVIII century
HISTORICAL CONTEXT
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European Wars
The seven years' war
Britain and Prussia allied against France, Austria, Russia and Spain.
This war gave England the opportunity to enlarge its colonial possessions by wresting from France several territories in North America, West Africa and India.
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Having established its supremacy in North America as well as in India, Britain had definitely won the title of European champion of commercial expansion.
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Trade
The triangular trade
Trade between Britain, Africa and America
British ships carried to West Africa cotton cloth, metal goods, arms, which were used to buy slaves from their African masters.
The slaves were carried to the Caribbean islands, and to North and South America.
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American indipendence
The colonies were not represented in Parliament, so Britain had no right to tax them
Duties on goods imported into America were repealed, except that upon tea. So a cargo of British tea was thrown into the sea at Boston harbor in 1773 (Boston Tea Party). So the harbor was closed and British troops stationed there.
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The war finished with the victory of the colonists, led by George Washington.
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SOCIAL CONTEXT
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The rise of middle class
The wealthy merchants controlled the most productive trades, owned the mines and manufacturing factories
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Coffeehouses
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They was the meeting places for the most important companies and points were people exchanged opinions
Women
in the middle ranks women were denied access to the universities and the professions, being confined to trivial offices
Family
The family acquired new values such as the recognition of children as people in need of kindness and attention, or the revaluation of feelings and privacy
Respectability and moral dignity, the importance of living with temperance and method were stressed by Methodism.
Enlightment
aim of freeing man's mind from ignorance, superstition and obscurantism through knowledge and science.
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The movement was rooted in the 17th-century Scientific Revolution and the theories developed by Locke and Newton.
England's liberal government was a model to imitate against the absolutism of monarchy, aristocracy and clergy.
The critique of traditions and of historical institutions led to the creation of an alternative ideal: the state of nature.
The enlightened thinkers aimed at discovering the original natural nucleus since what is natural is also rational and common to every human being.
New ideas
Respect for rights, however, would not tolerate interference in private property
Liberal thought affirmed free-will, salvation for all, the goodness of mankind, and its capacity for progress.
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Optimism encouraged faith in progress and human perfectibility, and made people eager to try new ways trusting their own powers.
Economical teories
Individualism
seizing opportunities in the sectors of economy which provided scope for initiative, enterprise, and enrichment.
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