The Romantic Period 1798-1832 By: baron mason diXon and will
French Revolution
The French Revolution hit Europe in this period and changed European history forever
The social history of the period is the story how people in general, and writers in particular, reacted to the shocks of these revolutions
The Revolution however turned destructive when England and France went to war. Napoleons crowning himself emperor ended any belief that human nature had been born again.
The original message of the revolution was that people were to be free in their personal lives and free to choose their government.
Peace?
In England a group of mostly Quakers, led by William Wilberforce, determined that slavery would be abolished.
The Reform Bill of 1832 was another part of the peaceful revolution that transformed England
The powerful Industrial Revolution swept through Europe as factory popped up needing labor of the people to work them.
The mills crushed and destroyed many who came from the countryside looking for new opportunity.
Mary Wollstonecraft urged a radical transformation of society in her Vindication of the rights of woman
Change
The people of the time dealt with many new changes
Some writers spoke out against the terrors they saw and some looked away not wanting to be harmed