18th Century Society

CHANGING SOCIETY IN THE 18TH CENTURY
marriage; divorce
birth control & pre-marital sex
illegitimacy
work away from home
child rearing
foundling hospitals
infanticide
“Spare the rod and spoil the child”
humanitarianism
formal education
nutrition
Health
small-pox vaccine: Edward Jenner (1749-1823)
hospital reform
Religious reform
Regulation of local religion state governments and church hierarchy
Pietism in Germany
Methodism, John Wesley in England

American Revolution
classical liberalism ideals:
Declaration of Independence: impact of Locke and the Enlightenment
French aid: important in defeating British army
Became a world war:
Spain joined France hoping to drive Britain from Gibraltar
Dutch joined in against Britain; sought trade with U.S.
League of Armed Neutrality: Russia, Prussia, Sweden, Denmark, Ottoman Empire
Formed to protect their commerce from British blockade
è Impact on Europe:
Inspired liberals to seek republicanism (esp. French Revolution)
War overburdened French treasury and was a direct cause of the French Revolution