The Atlantic Revolutions Part II

The Haitian revolution, 1791-1804 Triggered by the French Revolution 1791 – French Colony of Saint-Domingue One of the richest colonies in the world 8,000 plantations 40% of the world’s sugar 50 % of the world’s coffee

The People of Saint-Domingue Most were Black population 500,000 slaves of African ancestry 30,000 free people of color 40,000 white people Whites were sharply divided between rich and poor

French revolution triggers revolt In 1791 slaves begin a massive revolt Lasts ten years Slaves burn 1,000 plantations Kill whites and mixed race peoples Toussaint Louverture Independence, January 1, 1804 Haiti

Haitian revolution was unique Only completely successful slave revolt Second independent republic in the Americas First non-European state to throw off Western colonial rule Confronted elite preferences for lighter skin Haiti’s plantation system destroyed Land redistributed Haiti – a nation of small-scale farmers

Spanish American revolutions, 1808-1825 Inspired by Enlightenment ideas Popular sovereignty, republican government, personal liberty Triggered by events in France

Spanish American revolutions 50 years after North American revolution because… Colonies governed in a more authoritarian way Colonists divided by class and race Whites were vastly outnumbered 1826 – Most of Spain’s colonies were independent New Latin American states were different The way in which independence occurred The kinds of societies independence generated

Independence in Latin America Process took longer because societies were divided by class, race, and region Violence AMONG colonists Along lines of class, race, and ideology In North America colonists directed violence again the British (not at each other)

Latin American society Changed very little with independence Race and class divisions remained The elite lived in fear lower class rebellion Lower classes benefited little “The imperial state was destroyed in Spanish America, but colonial society was preserved”

Modern Latin America Unable to unite Too spread to communicate Geographic obstacles – mountains, jungles Distinct regional identities No “United States of Latin America”

Impact of the Atlantic revolutions All of the following can be connected to the Atlantic revolutions ● British colonial rule in India and the Opium Wars in China. ● Modernization in the Ottoman empire ● Constitutionalism around the world ● Revolutions in 19th century Europe ● Expanding voting rights around the world

The movement to abolish slavery 1780 – Slavery was widely practiced and little condemned 1890 – Slavery was little practiced and widely condemned

How did it happen? Spread of Enlightenment ideas – natural rights Religious groups condemned slavery A “crime in the sight of God.” Quakers and Protestant evangelicals Slavery no longer made economic sense England and New England growing rich using free labor Out of date and unnecessary in the new era of industrial technology and capitalism

How did it happen? Slave rebellions – Haiti and West Indies 1833 – Great Britain abolishes slavery Abolitionists pressure governments Use secular, religious, & economic arguments

emancipation 1833 – Great Britain 1850s -- Most Latin American countries 1865 -- The United States - after a bloody civil war 1888 -- Brazil 1861 -- Russia ends serfdom Emancipation did not dramatically improve the economic and political conditions of former slaves Haiti -- only country to give land to former slaves

Africa and the Islamic world In Africa Closing of the international slave trade decreased the price of slaves Increased use of slave labor within Africa Slaves produced export crops Europeans colonize to “free” African slaves In the Islamic World Slavery remains legal until the 20th century

Nationalism The Atlantic revolutions new prominence to the idea of “the nation.” Before, states didn’t usually coincide with the culture of a particular people Great empires and smaller states ruled culturally diverse societies Few people considered rule by foreigners itself a terrible offense The most important identities and loyalties were local

Nationalism and the Atlantic Revolutions Independence movements were made in the name of new nations in both North and South America. The French Revolution focused on the “French nation” Napoleon’s conquests stimulated national resistance in parts of Europe

From Subjects to citizens Europeans saw themselves as citizens of a nation Not subjects of a king or emperor Bound by ties of blood, culture, and experience A new and novel form of political loyalty

Nationalism and modernization Modernization facilitated nationalism Science weakened religion Urbanization weakened local allegiances Printing and publishing standardized languages

Nationalism inspired . . . Political unification in Germany and Italy Greeks and Serbs seek independence Czechs and Hungarians demand autonomy Poles and Ukrainians demand autonomy Irish demand “home rule” and separation Zionism – A Jewish homeland Imperialism in Africa Wars in the Americas World War I

Governments act on behalf of the Nation Instill loyalties in citizens . . . ● schools ● public rituals ● the mass media ● military service

Nationalism in Asia In 19th and 20th Centuries In Japan In India In China