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Free Bell Ringer: Napoleon’s Exile to Elba

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In the early 1800s, Napoleon conquered much of Europe before an alliance of nations eventually defeated him.  The treaty that sent Napoleon Bonaparte to the island of Elba was called the Treaty of Fontainebleau, signed in 1814. By this time, Napoleon had been defeated by an alliance consisting of Britain, Prussia, Russia, and Austria. The treaty said that Napoleon had to give up his throne as emperor of France and leave the country. He was exiled to the island of Elba off the coast of Italy. The leaders of the nations that defeated Napoleon were motivated not to execute him, despite his aggression across Europe, for the following reasons: First, killing a former emperor could have made him a martyr, which means people might remember him as a hero and rise up to again go to war. Also, they thought Napoleon was finished politically and no longer a threat. Yet, Napoleon escaped Elba and tried to lead France again. He was defeated at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815. He was exiled again, this time to the island of St. Helena. He died there of natural causes in 1821.

Here is a Free Bell Ringer on Napoleon’s Exile to Elba you can use in class as a Printable or as an Electronic Resource to post in Google Classroom, Schoology, or where else you post electronic assignments. 

CLICK HERE: 

Free Bell Ringer: Napoleon Exiled to Elba

 

Free Bell Ringer On the Enlightenment

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During the Enlightenment, philosophers like John Locke, Montesquieu, Voltaire, and Jean-Jacques Rousseau shared important ideas about how societies should be run. John Locke believed that everyone is born with natural rights, such as life, liberty, and property, and that governments exist to protect those rights. Montesquieu thought power should not be held by just one person, so he argued for the separation of powers, with different branches of government to keep each other from becoming too powerful and acting tyrannically. Voltaire supported religious toleration, believing people should be free to practice their own religion without fear of punishment. Rousseau believed in democracy, saying that governments should follow the general will, or what is best for the people as a whole. Together, these ideas helped shape the policies and values of modern democratic societies. 

 

Here is a FREE Bell Ringer on the Enlightenment you can use in your class! 

Click here to get the FREE Bell Ringer On Enlightenment Philosophers

Free Bell Ringer: Marie Gouze and the French Revolution

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Background: The Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen was mainly written by Marquis de Lafayette, with some ideas and help from Thomas Jefferson, who was in France at the time. It was then debated and approved by the French National Assembly in 1789. The document was created during the French Revolution to explain the basic rights all people should have.  Even though it said “all citizens” are equal, women were not given the same rights, like voting or participating in the government. By leaving women out, French leaders supported the idea that political power and full citizenship belonged only to men.

Marie Gouze was an important woman during the French Revolution. She believed strongly in fairness and equality, especially for women. At a time when women had very few rights, she wrote plays, letters, and essays to make people think differently. Her most famous work was the Declaration of the Rights of Woman and of the Female Citizen, where she argued that women should have the same rights as men, including the right to vote and be part of the government. Many people in power didn’t like her ideas because they challenged the tradition of the culture that men should be in leadership. Marie Gouze continued to speak out anyway, even when it became dangerous. During the violent period called the Reign of Terror, she was arrested for her political opinions. A tribunal, operated under the influence of Maximilien Robespierre, executed political critics during the Reign of Terror.  Sadly, she was executed, but her bravery and her fight for women’s rights are remembered today. Her ideas helped inspire future movements for equality around the world.

 

Here is a FREE Bell Ringer on Marie Gouze and the French Revolution. It comes was a word file or as a PDF in zipped file. 

Marie Gouze and the French Revolution Bell Ringer File

Free Veterans Day Bell Ringer

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World War I, called “The Great War” back then, ended when the Treaty of Versailles was signed on June 28, 1919, in France. But the fighting had actually stopped earlier, on November 11, 1918, when an armistice (a temporary stop to fighting) between the Allied nations and Germany began. That’s why November 11 is remembered as the day World War I ended.  In 1919, President Woodrow Wilson declared November 11 the first Armistice Day to honor those who fought and died in the war. People marked the day with parades, gatherings, and a pause in business at 11:00 a.m. In 1938, Congress made Armistice Day a national holiday to celebrate peace and honor World War I veterans.

After World War II and the Korean War, there were many more American veterans to honor. So, in 1954, Congress changed the name of the holiday from Armistice Day to Veterans Day to celebrate all U.S. veterans—from any war. President Dwight D. Eisenhower made the first Veterans Day proclamation that same year. Later, in 1968, a law was passed to move some holidays, including Veterans Day, to Mondays so workers could have three-day weekends. But this change caused confusion and wasn’t popular. So, in 1975, President Gerald Ford signed a law returning Veterans Day to its original date—November 11—starting in 1978.  Today, Veterans Day is celebrated every year on November 11, no matter what day of the week it falls on. It is a day to honor and thank all American veterans for their bravery, love of country, and service to protect our freedom.

 

Here is a FREE Bell Ringer to use in your class on Veterans Day: 

History of Veterans Day Bell Ringer

Free Bell Ringer on Constitutional & Absolute Monarchs

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A Constitutional Monarch is a king or queen whose power is limited by laws or a constitution. This means they must share power with a group, such as a parliament, that helps make decisions for the country. The ruler cannot do whatever they want; they have to follow the law in terms of what power they actually have as monarch. For example, King William III and Queen Mary II of England, who ruled from 1689 to 1702, agreed to the English Bill of Rights, which gave more power to Parliament and less to the monarchs. This created a government where the king and queen had to work with representative Members of Parliament instead of ruling alone. An Absolute Monarch is a ruler who has total control over their country. They make all the laws, command the army, and decide how people live without needing anyone’s permission. For example, King Louis XIV of France, who ruled in the 1642 to 1715, believed he was chosen by God by Divine Right to rule and that his word was law. He forced many Nobles to live in the Palace of Versailles to control them. Another example is Catherine the Great of Russia, who ruled from 1762 to 1796, expanded her empire and made important decisions by herself. She initially thought about freeing the serfs, peasants who worked lands they could never own, but went against this and crushed serf revolts against her rule. 

 

Here is the FREE Bell Ringer you can use in class!

FREE BELL RINGER: Absolute vs. Constitutional Monarchs