1. Revolt! Comparing Historical Revolutions What were the main causes of the revolutions… reasons and motivations

2. Haitian Revolution  Elimination of slavery  The French established a system of minority rule over the illiterate people by using violence and threats  Caste system – mulatto (mixed African & French = elite) vs. slave (pure African blood) created two-caste system  Economy & wealth problem

3. French Revolution  Economic factors included hunger and malnutrition  Bad harvest, poor transportation system, over crowded,  Huge war debt…dominance of Britain  King Louis XVI was an absolute monarch  Resentments… class struggles

4. Russian Revolution  Theory of Property, believed by many peasants, was that land should belong to those who work it.  Peasant life and culture was changing constantly, migration of city culture into the village, overcrowded housing with deplorable sanitary conditions  Long hours of work (10 hour workday six days a week)

5. Russian Revolution  Centuries of oppression of the lower classes by the Tsarist regime  Rapid industrialization of Russian also resulted in urban overcrowding and poor conditions

6. Cuban Revolution  Oppressive dictatorship, Batista  Close business ties with U.S. & organized crime… massive disapproval  1951 coup by Batista, lost reelection  Discontent undemocratic government, neglectful… “puppet regime”  Poverty is a result of America

7. Iranian Revolution  Backlash against the “Westernizing”  Backlash against the social injustice by the Royal family (Shah)  The Shah was perceived by many as a “puppet” of a non-Muslim Western  Western culture was affecting that of Iran  Shah’s regime was oppressive, brutal, corrupt, and extravagant

8. Iranian Revolution  Over-ambitious economic program brought shortages and inflation  Monarchy replaced with Islamism, Islamic revival/movement, opposed Westernization  Movement of the peasant class with religious emphasis