North American, French, Latin American and Haitian The Age of Revolutions North American, French, Latin American and Haitian

Comparing Atlantic Revolutions Revolutions of North America, Latin America, Haiti and France all influenced each other - all grew out of enlightenment ideas Locke and Rousseau – social contract “popular sovereignty” - the authority to govern comes from the people, not from God or tradition

Example of Popular Sovereignty

North American Revolution The facts are well-known But the question is “what changed?” Until 18th century, colonists had autonomy - they saw it as a birthright - aimed at preserving their liberties than gaining new ones Pre-revolution North America already had a quasi-egalitarian society

Britain in the 1760’s Britain needed money for its global war with France - imposed a number of new taxes and tariffs - colonists were not represented in parliament - denied the colonists’ identity as true Englishmen - challenged colonial economic interests - attacked established traditions of local autonomy British North America was revolutionary for the society that had already emerged, not for the revolution itself

Impact of the American Revolution No significant social transformation came with independence Accelerated democratic tendencies that were already established - political power remained in the hands of existing elites - property requirements for voting were lowered - property rights remained intact Many Americans thought they were creating a new world order - some acclaimed the United States as “the hope and model of the human  race” - declaration of the “right to revolution” inspired other colonies around the world - the U.S. Constitution was one of the first lasting efforts to put Enlightenment political ideas into practice

The French Revolution, 1789–1815 1000’s of French soldiers fought for the Americans France going bankrupt - estates general called to address the taille - 3rd estate calls themselves national assembly - tennis court oath - declaration of rights of man and citizen - storming of the Bastille

French Revolution

Birth of Revolution The French Revolution was born out of social conflict (unlike the American Revolution) - titled nobility resisted monarchic efforts to tax them - middle class resented aristocratic privileges - urban poor suffered from inflation and unemployment - the peasants were oppressed

The French Revolution French Revolution was violent, far-reaching, and radical - ended hereditary privilege - even abolished slavery (for a time) - the Church was subjected to government authority - king and queen were executed (1793) - the Terror and Robespierre (1793–1794)

The New Society 1792 became Year I of a new calendar - briefly passed a law for universal male suffrage - France was divided into 83 territorial departments - created a massive army (some 800,000 men) to fight threatening neighbors - all adult males were required to serve - officers came from middle and lower classes

Napoleon Bonaparte Napoleon Bonaparte (r. 1799–1814) seized power in 1799 - preserved many moderate elements of the revolution - kept social equality, but got rid of liberty - imposed revolutionary practices on conquered regions - resentment of French domination stimulated national consciousness throughout Europe - national resistance brought down Napoleon’s empire by 1815

Napoleon Bonaparte

Haitian Revolution  Saint Dominique (later named Haiti) - regarded as the richest colony in the world - vast majority of population were slaves - around 500,000 slaves, 40,000 whites, 30,000  “free people of color” French Revolution sparked a spiral of violence - but revolution meant different things to different people - massive slave revolt began in 1791 - became a war between a number of factions - power gradually shifted to the slaves, who were led by former slave Toussaint Louverture

Success!!! This was the only successful slave revolt in history - declared equality for all races - divided up plantations among small farmers - subsistence farming, Haiti pulls away from global commerce Effects of Revolution - inspired other  slave rebellions - scared whites, led to social conservatism - increased slavery elsewhere Napoleon’s defeat in Haiti convinced him to sell Louisiana Territory to the United States

Toussiant L’Overture

Spanish American Revolutions Latin American revolutions were inspired by earlier revolutionary movements native-born elites (creoles) in Spanish colonies of Latin America were offended at the Spanish monarchy’s efforts to control them in the eighteenth century - but there were only scattered and uncoordinated protests initially Latin American movements were originally limited - little tradition of local self-government - society was more authoritarian - with stricter class divisions - whites were vastly outnumbered

Latin American Revolutions Creole elites had revolution thrust upon them by events in Europe - 1808: Napoleon invaded Spain and Portugal, put royal authority in disarray - Latin Americans were forced to take action - most of Latin America was independent by 1826 Longer process than in North America - Latin American societies were torn by class, race, and regional divisions - fear of social rebellion from below - most people in society were exploited and oppressed

A Delicate Balancing Act Leaders of independence movements appealed to the lower classes in terms of nativism: all free people born in the Americas were Americanos - in reality, natives and blacks did not benefit much It proved impossible to unite the various Spanish colonies, unlike the United States After Latin American Independence - United States grew wealthier and more democratic, - Latin American countries became increasingly underdeveloped, impoverished, undemocratic, and unstable

Simon Bolivar – The Liberator Bolivar liberated most of South America.

Echoes of Revolution Smaller revolutions took place in Europe in 1800’s - led to greater social equality and liberation from foreign rule - by 1914, major states of Western Europe, the United States, and Argentina had universal male suffrage - even in Russia, there was a constitutional movement in 1825 - abolitionist, nationalist, and feminist movements arose to question other patterns of exclusion and oppression

Abolition of Slavery Largely ended between 1790-1890 - Enlightenment thinkers – critical of slavery - Religious groups – Protestants, Quakers also critical Brazil – last Latin American country to abolish in 1888 Emancipation usually did not lead to improved conditions. i.e. sharecropping in US

Abolitionist Movements

Nationalism These movements brought the idea of a “nation” - humans are divided into separate nations, each with a distinct culture and territory and deserving an independent political life - foreign rule is now regarded as heinous - loyalty shifted from clans, villages and regions to nations - science weakened religion Napoleon’s conquests brought about national resistance

Types of Nationalism Political unification in 1800’s, Germany, Italy “civic nationalism” identified the “nation” with a particular territory, encouraged assimilation some defined the nation in racial terms (e.g., Germany) nationalism was not limited to Europe

German Racial Purity Chart

Feminist Beginnings Feminist movements in Europe/USA in 19th century - changed the relationship between women/men - during the French Revolution, some women argued that liberty  and equality must include women - more educational opportunities and less household drudgery for middle-class women - women increasingly joined temperance movements, charities, abolitionist movements, missionary work, etc.

Women’s Movement by 1900 Some women had been admitted to universities Women’s literacy rates were rising Some U.S. states passed laws allowing women to control their property and wages Some areas liberalized divorce laws Some women made their way into new professions - teaching - nursing (professionalized by Florence Nightingale) - social work (Jane Addams) 1893: New Zealand was the first to grant universal female suffrage

Florence Nightengale