Subject: So. Studies/Sciences: History

Timeblazers: History and More Series

22. Revolutions (British, French and American)

Alex (Stephen Joffe) wants to run for school president, because he has new, some may say "revolutionary" ideas. Timeblazers Jen (Heidi Leigh) and Sam (Mike Ackerman) think that's a great idea and take this perfect opportunity to introduce him to three of the most important revolutions in European and Western history: the British, French and American. First they travel to the Middle Ages in England, where peasants worked for rich land owners under the Feudal System. Jen explains how the people started to revolt about taxes, trials and church issues with King John, which eventually led to the signing of the Magna Carta; also how the people rose against King Charles, who was beheaded as a result of his struggles with Parliament. In France we meet King Louis XIV, who ruled France for seventy-two years, the longest reign of any French or other major European monarch, and learn that his absolute monarchy type rule eventually ended under King Louis XVI during the French Revolution. Then, in the British Colonies, now known as the United States, we learn how the Boston Tea Party began the revolt against British taxes. The American patriots defeated the best fighting force in the world, which led to the birth of the Constitution. 08DR IJ 30 min.