1. Atlantic Revolutions

3. authority to govern comes from the people, not from God or tradition.
Atlantic Revolutions
The North American Revolution 1775–1787
The French Revolution
1789–1815
Haitian Revolution
Latin American Revolutions
Popular sovereignty
authority to govern comes from the people, not from God or tradition.

4. Comparative Theses
From both the American and French Revolution were led by enlightened inspired bourgeoisie hoping to gain popular sovereignty against tyrannical absolutist rule, both employed moderate and radical means by which to gain independence. The American Revolution, however, was successful as it resulted in a lasting constitution providing governmental limits while the French continued the pattern of Revolution with the conservative leadership of Napoleon
The Haitian and Latin American (Bolivarian) Revolutions of both were inspired by the American and French Revolutions, both took advantage of Napoleon Bonaparte’s conservative rule over much of continental Europe, however, the Latin American Revolution (aka Spanish American Revolutions) were led by bourgeoisie creole elite whilst the Haitian was led by former enslaved leaders like Toussaint L ’overture
The French and Mexican Revolutions were both enlightened reactions against absolutist rule and its need for political and economic reforms, both would result in conservative rule by strong powerful rulers like Napoleon in France and Juarez in Mexico, however, Mexican independence would be led by Catholic figures like Father Miguel Hidalgo while the Catholic church was seen as the conservative( not revolutionary) faction in France.
The American Revolution and Haitian Revolution were the first revolutions in the Western Hemisphere led by enlightened inspired leaders like Washington and L ’overture , however, the American Revolution would be helped by the French and the Haitian was against and suppressed by the French. The Haitian revolution was supported by freed slaves while the American Revolution wished to preserve the institution of slavery ( and dismissed the notion of an independent Haiti because of this).
The French and Bolivarian Revolutions both extended certain civil rights like life, liberty and property to a certain group of people. The French , however, had some previous experience with democratic values and were slightly more successful achieving the goals of the Revolution while the South American Revolutions preserved power for the military elite(caudillos). The French Revolution also inspires countless revolutions throughout Europe ( “When France sneezes, the rest of Europe gets a cole”-Clemen Von Metternich, Austria) while military suppression of revolutions with the help of European financing would be quite common throughout Latin America ( meet the new boss, same as the old boss)

5. 7 Years War: First Global War

6. North American Revolution 1775-1787
A conservative political movement aimed to preserve colonial liberties, rather than gain new ones.
Colonists regarded autonomy as their birthright.
Colonial society was more egalitarian than Europe or Latin America.
Revolted against “taxation without representation.”

8. North American Revolution 1775-1787
U.S. Constitution was one of the first documents that put the ideas of the Enlightenment into practice.

9. French Revolution 1789-1815 French government was bankrupt
Unlike the American Revolution, it was driven by social conflicts based on the unfairness of the Old Regime
Effort to create a new society during the Reign of Terror.
Napoleon Bonaparte spread the ideals of the revolution through conquest.

11. Legacy of the French Revolution: Birth of -isms
Nationalism
Create a nation-state unified under the rule of law.
Liberalism
Create centralized nation-states ruled under a constitution
Conservatism
Maintain the status-quo, tradition, continuity and monarchies.
Romanticism
Glorified nature, emotion, and the imagination in art and philosophy.

12. Nationalism

13. II. Comparing Atlantic Revolutions in a Global Context
B. The French Revolution, 1789–1815
1. The American connection: ideas, war debt, and taxes
2. Resentment of privilege and increasing radicalism
3. Inventing a new, rational world
II. Comparing Atlantic Revolutions in a Global Context
B. The French Revolution, 1789–1815
1. The American connection: ideas and war debt: There was a direct impact of the American Revolution on the French Revolution. As thousands of French soldiers had served in the American war, many of them encountered the radical example of republicanism and wanted to reform feudal France along those lines. As France was home to many Enlightenment thinkers such as Voltaire, the American example spurred the imagination of many French thinkers. In a more concrete way, the French monarchy’s support for the American rebels created a massive war debt. To pay off the debt, King Louis XVI called the Estates General to raise taxes, thus providing the political opening for the French to start raising their grievances with the taxes but also the entire socio-political French system.
2. Resentment of privilege and increasing radicalism: There was widespread resentment of not just the absolute power of the monarch but of the social divisions of France. The country was divided into three estates: the clergy, the nobility, and everyone else (the vast majority of the population). The first two estates enjoyed various social and economic privileges that ranged from dress to hunting rights to exemption from certain taxes. Resentment of this institutionalized social inequality first exploded in 1789 with mob violence in Paris and peasant unrest in the countryside. Over the next few years, the revolution became increasingly radical with the 1793 regicide and the ensuing mass executions run by Robespierre and the Committee of Public Safety during the Terror. Eventually, the revolutionaries turned on themselves and Robespierre himself was sent to the guillotine.
3. Inventing a new, rational world: The French Revolution was a much more complete revolutionary movement than the American example. The French revolutionaries sought to create an entirely new world based on a rational ordering of things, seen in the new calendar and a new, more uniform administrative system for the country. In many ways this was a complete application of the ideas of the Enlightenment.

14. Haitian Revolution,
Santo Domingue was a French Caribbean colony.
Regarded as the richest colony in the world.
Majority of the population were slaves.
Solidarity and suffering made it ripe for revolution.

15. Haitian Revolution,
French Revolution inspired revolts and demand for political equality.
In1793, a proclamation granted slaves freedom.
In 1794, the French revolutionary government declared blacks had rights equal to whites.
This created wide-spread rebellions across the Caribbean and Latin America.

16. Haitian Revolution,
Toussaint L’Overture possessed strong military skills and became the leader in the Haitian Revolution.
Although he modeled French ideals of freedom and citizenship, he re-enslaved many Haitians.

17. Latin American
Revolutions
1810–1825

18. Mexican Revolution
Father Miguel Hidalgo opened a campaign against colonial rule in 1810 with the help from the popular classes, natives and creoles.
Augustin de Iturbide created a constitutional monarchy in 1821.

19. Simon Bolivar “Liberator”
Took up arms, leading military campaigns , which along with popular uprisings, ousted Spain from much of Latin America.
1830 created the Gran Colombia in northern South America.

20. Brazilian Independence
Pedro I, son of Portugal’s king, declared Brazil independent in 1822 and made himself king.
More peaceful transition than the rest of Latin America with little change to the social structure.

21. Latin American Revolutions
Creoles were offended by the Spanish monarchy’s efforts to control them in the eighteenth century.
Latin American independence movements were limited at first because there was little tradition of local self-government.
Society was authoritarian, with class divisions.

22. Latin American Revolutions
Many leaders were liberals and their message appealed to the lower classes.
In reality, the indigenous people and slaves got little benefit from independence.
It was very difficult to unite various Spanish colonies, unlike the United States.
The United States grew more democratic and wealthy while Latin American countries grew more impoverished, undemocratic, and unstable.

23. Global Impact
Inspired efforts to abolish slavery, give women greater rights, and extend franchise in many countries
Nationalism was shaped by revolutions
Principles of equality eventually gave rise to socialism and communism

24. Comparisons Similarities Differences
1. All bourgeoisie ( creole, gentlemen of color, middle class) revolutions.
2. All inspired by enlightened (liberal)ideals
3. All against absolute ( conservative) monarchs
4. All in response to taxes paid to high war debts
5. All wanted popular sovereignty
6. All will lead to revolutionary wars
7. All will lead to constitutions
1. Not all countries receive popular sovereignty
2. Haitian only slave uprising
3. Mexico led by Catholic priests whereas others are against religion
4. Latin America , Haiti and France attempted to end slavery but not the U.S.
5. Only some revolutions lead to class equality

25. Did the revolutions achieve their goals?
Yes no
Popular sovereignty was achieved
New constitutions enshrined with enlightened ideals were formed
Some economic freedoms were achieved by elite (Bourgeoisie, Creoles, freed men of color)
Nationalism increased with new national identity
Limits were placed on conservative forces (church, nobility)
Still slavery although abolition movement would increase (but why?)
Women still not provided rights
Economic ties to European monarchs still exist (economic imperialism)
War debts tied new nations to debtors
Freedoms don’t apply equally to all
Racism only increases (now a burgeoning scientific theory known as social Darwinism is perpetuated)