New Zealand Background

Pākehā Settlement

• The private NZ Company settlement in 1841 of New Plymouth, Taranaki.
    
• Resistance from local Māori, the British Crown and English settlers (land hadn’t been surveyed – problems?)
    
• Treaty of Waitangi, 1840
• Ideas of partnerships, sovereignty and rangatiratanga.

Conflict

• Musket Wars – marauding tribes from Ngati Maniapoto (Waikato) forced Taranaki from their land.
    
• Led to (and fuelled by) a musket “arms” race.
    
• Taranaki Wars in the early 1860s fought over land and control (mana).
• First war – 3,500 Brits Vs 1000 Māori. Stalemate.
• Second war – Seen as a defensive war for Māori

  FURTHER READING: http://www.nzhistory.net.nz/war/taranaki-wars
  

Foreign Policy

Foreign Policy is the ideas and actions a nation takes in relation to nations outside its borders.

The Seven Years War

• France had been long term enemies with Austria and Britain since the 1400s. 
    
• 7 Years War brought Austria and France into alliance.
   
• 7 Year War was an epic fail for France, with massive defeats to Britain and their American Colonies.
   
• France lost nearly all territory in North America and West Africa.
   
• This left them grumpy, and yearning for revenge!  

The American Revolution

• France saw a chance for vengeance and joined the 13 American Colonies in Revolt (1778-1783)
   
• This wasn’t because they agreed with the Enlightenment principles but because they wanted to minimise British influence in America (Mercantilism).
   
• Managed to significantly help in the defeat of Britain.
   
• But this introduced soldiers to revolutionary ideas.
   
• France incurred massive national debts.

Constitution & Revolutionary Wars

1791 Constitution

• The Assembly aimed to establish Constitutional Monarchy.
    
• A legislative assembly would have 745 members – elected every two years. 
   
• The King appointed ministers and military commanders.
   
• The King could have suspensive veto, except financial and constitutional matters.
   
• Waging war required agreement.
   
• The King was subordinate to law. 

“…so monstrous that it can not survive for long.”

- Marie Antoinette on the 1791 Constitution.

Émigré & War

• Many elites unhappy with reforms left for countries like Austria and opposed the new France.
   
• Austria and Prussia declared support for the King, also worried revolution may spread to their nations.
   
• The Revolutionary War, including also Britain and Spain, lasted 10 years, resulting in the death of 1.4m French.