The Modern Era: Europe’s Day in the Sun The long nineteenth century: 1750-1914 Two major events exert a powerful influence during this time A. The creation of “modern” human societies as a consequence of the Scientific, French, and Industrial Revolutions B. The ability of these “modern” societies to exert tremendous power and influence over the rest of the world: foundation of colonial empires in some areas (India, Southeast Asia, Africa) and the extension of informal power in others-Latin America, China

Europe’s Moment Gave Western Europe and to some extent North America more prominence in world history than ever before Also allowed humans to intervene in the natural order of things to a degree humans had never been able to before Europe’s new power included the ability to center human history and geography on itself Europe became the center of the world on maps and in Europeans minds; Europe saw itself as a unity for the first time; the rest of the world was defined in terms of distance from Europe; even position on the planet was defined in terms of distance from London (prime meridian)

Europe’s Moment History became Eurocentric that is focused on Europe as the center of the world Non Europeans were regarded as static and unchanging and Europe as dynamic Europeans believed “backward” people (non-Europeans) must become like Europeans or become extinct World history emerged after World War II with a goal of challenging Eurocentric interpretations of history

Europe’s Moment The time period of Europe’s dominance has been brief in the context of human history Some points to keep in mind: Europe became dominant in Asia as China withdrew into itself Disease and confusion allowed Europeans to take over all of the Americas Scientific Revolution drew on the world’s knowledge (Islamic and Chinese)

Europe’s Moment The Industrial Revolution was made possible, in part, by resources and markets from and in the Americas and other areas Local elites cooperated with European domination for their own purposes Europe’s rise to dominance was neither easy nor automatic Peoples around the world did come to use Europeans and their ideas for their own purposes. They adapted new ideas to local conditions and cultures; they created hybrid societies that were both European and local. In context, it should be remembered that others created history during this time period.

Europe’s Moment While the Europeans moment is exciting and part of our past, the best way to study and understand it is in context of exchange and interactions during the 1750 to 1914 time period.

Atlantic Revolutions: Political Interactions in the Modern Period While political and social upheavals occurred in many parts of the world during the late 18th through the early 20th century and the Atlantic Revolutions took place then, these “Atlantic” Revolutions were distinctive They: were costly wars that strained Europeans states that were global not regional (Britain, France, Spain) They were linked to one another via shared ideas and frameworks and provided advice and encouragement to each other

Atlantic Revolutions These revolutions had immense impacts and outcome around the world For example: The abolition of slavery; the extension of voting and citizenship; the growth of constitutionalism; the beginnings of greater equality for women; the hyper growth of nationalism; and the spread of the idea of social equality. In fact, by 1914 slavery was outlawed in most areas, most adult men had the right to vote (exceptions occurred), most government were some type of constitutional state, women had gained some rights, the nation was the dominant form of state, and most peoples gave some credit to the idea of equality (again with exceptions)

Atlantic Revolutions But their were differences as well especially in how these things were pursued by various peoples. We will start with the American Revolution in the British colonies 1775-1787 The American Revolution and its causes are well known. A bigger question might be what changed as a result of it.

The American Revolution The American Revolution was both conservative and liberal Its primary political goal was to preserve colonial liberties (rights that colonials thought they had) against Britain which was seen as striving to deprive them of those rights. Since these colonies had been semi-autonomous (able to make most decisions of government) imposition of British control caused much soul searching as colonists regarded what they had as a right Very few colonists gave thought to independence prior to 1765

The American Revolution A Strained relationship Although the colonies saw themselves as British there were significant differences between the two societies The American society was much more egalitarian than European society The Americans were also more “republican” that is more concerned with rights and representation than their British counterparts

The American Revolution In the 1760’s Britain which had just fought a long and expensive war against France partly to keep control of the American colonies attempted to tighten its control over them This took the form of new political and economic controls that Americans saw as tyrannical Britain attempted to tax the Americans for revenue to offset costs of its wars by imposing new direct taxes (stamp tax, tea tax) and tariffs (taxes on trade) Since colonists were not represented in the British Parliament, they felt that they had no voice in these decisions. It must be said that very few British were represented either but we have to remember that Americans had been electing their own colonial governments for 100 years

The American Revolution Upper class Britons derided Americans as not British, and saw the colonies as children and Britain as the mother country. Americans, while acknowledging their cultural debt to Britain, resented this Importantly, many of the new regulations impacted colonial economic activity, with many merchants (who had real political and social clout) losing out if they went into effect Britain also attempted to influence and exercise closer control over colonial governments. This was also resented by many as interference in the natural rights of Englishmen

The American Revolution British North America (what would become the US except for Canada) was already revolutionary before the war. The outcome of the war merely accelerated changes that had begun before its start There was no significant social revolution in the colonies after the Revolution but change that was taking place already quickened Democratic tendencies and enlightenment ideas were already common and in place in many colonies

The American Revolution Americans believed they were creating a new order for the world; that the rights of people to live within a government of their own choosing and direct it was inalienable. The new United States saw itself as an exception to the world, a model to be used as an example for free people everywhere, and the hope of the future The right of revolution as claimed in the Declaration of Independence was rightly seen as an inspiration to other colonial and oppressed peoples. The US constitution was a model of enlightenment thinking put into practice

The American Revolution The American Revolution was also contradictory in some ways While proclaiming all men free and equal it did not free American slaves or emancipate American women or treat Native American this way The Constitution, while preserving a republican government, also was not democratic in the sense we use today. It was, rather, a balanced form of government setting the executive (president), legislative(Congress) and judicial (Supreme Court) as checks on each other while maintaining restraints on the people’s ability to govern through the electoral college and the indirect election of US senators

The American Revolution That being said, the American Revolution was radical in the sense that it was the inspiration for people then and now to grasp personal and political freedom. The French Revolution, while having many causes, is a result of the American Revolution. The revolutions in Latin America in the early 19th century can be traced to those people’s interpretation of and the impact of the American Revolution. Even today, people who are oppressed and desiring freedom, look to the example of the American Revolution.