Atlantic Revolutions Global Echoes 1750 1900 Objective Investigate

Atlantic Revolutions Global Echoes 1750 -1900 Objective: Investigate the real impact of the Atlantic revolutions & consider the broader long-term implications of the revolutionary movements

Atlantic Revolutions in a Global Context • From early 18 th century to the mid 19 th century, many parts of the world witnessed political & social upheavals • The Safavid dynasty had collapsed: The Mughal Empire was fragmented: The Wahhabi movement threatened the Ottoman Empire: Peasant uprisings were taking place in Russia & China • The costly wars that strained European imperial states were global rather than regional • Royalty sought to levy taxes to pay for these expenses, leading to discontent

Atlantic Revolutions in a Global Context • The various Atlantic Revolutions were closely connected to one another & shared a set of common ideas • The ideas that animated the Atlantic revolutions derived from the European Enlightenment & were shared through newspapers, books, & word of mouth • New ideas of liberty, equality, free trade, religious tolerance, republicanism, & human rationality were in the air • Nationalism was nurtured in the Atlantic Revolutions & shaped the 19 th & 20 th centuries

Comparing Atlantic Revolutions • The Atlantic Revolutions had a lot in common • Each revolution differed because they were triggered by different circumstances, expressed different social & political tensions, & varied considerably in their outcomes

The North American Revolution, 17751787 • Originally the American colonists wanted to preserve the existing liberties rather than to create new ones • The British colonies of North America had enjoyed a considerable degree of autonomy • Britain was more focused on their West Indian colonies • People didn’t want to break away because Britain offered protection in war, access to British markets, & confirmation of the settlers’ identity as “Englishmen”

The North American Revolution, 17751787 • Although there were powerful families, the ready availability of land, the scarcity of people, & the absence of both a titled nobility & single established church meant that social life was far more open than in Europe • All free men enjoyed the same status before the law • All these conditions made for less poverty, more economic opportunity, fewer social differences, & easier relationships among the classes than in Europe • The American Revolution grew not from social tensions within the colonies, but a rather sudden & unexpected effort by the British government to tighten its control over the colonies & to extract more revenue from them

The North American Revolution, 17751787 • Abandoning its neglectful oversight of the colonies, Britain began to act like a genuine imperial power, imposing a variety of new taxes & tariffs on the colonies without their consent • Armed with the ideas of the Enlightenment – popular sovereignty, natural rights, the consent of the governed – they were to war, & by 1780 they had prevailed • The United States was viewed as “the hope & model of the human race” • The Constitution – with its Bill of Rights, checks & balances, separation of Church & state, & federalism – was one of the first sustained efforts to put the political ideas of the Enlightenment into practice

The French Revolution, 1789 -1815 • The French government supported & aided the Americans in an effort to undermine its British rivals, was teetering on the brink of bankruptcy • In an effort to raise taxes, Louis XVI called the Estates General • The National Assembly was formed & they issued the Declaration of the Rights of Man & Citizen declaring that “men are born & remain free & equal in rights” • As Enlightenment ideas began to spread, they found a language that articulated their grievances • The French Revolution was more violent, far-reaching, & radical than the American Revolution • In 1793, Louis XVI & his wife Marie Antoinette were executed

The French Revolution, 1789 -1815 • The Reign of Terror began under the leadership of Maximilien Robespierre • Tens of thousands deemed enemies of the revolution lost their lives to the guillotine including Robespierre • They also prepared themselves for war with both internal & external threats • Women actively participated in the revolution & progressed in obtaining equal rights • However, this was threatening to men & they passed laws against women suffrage • Drastic changes began to happen in France

The French Revolution, 1789 -1815 • Napoleon Bonaparte seized power of France in 1799 • Napoleon tamed the revolution while also preserved modern elements, such as civil equality, a secular law code, religious freedom, & promotion by merit • In a series of brilliant military campaigns, he subdued most of Europe • French dominance however was resented & resisted • Napoleon was defeated in 1815 by primarily Russian & British forces

The Haitian Revolution, 1791 -1804 • Haiti (Saint Dominque) produced 40% of the world’s sugar & half its coffee with the use of slave labor (500, 000 slaves: a majority of the population) • The French Revolution was a personal freedom that challenged the entire slave labor system • Revolts broke out all over Haiti under the leadership of Toussaint Louverture (a former slave) • Politically they had thrown off French colonial rule, creating the 2 nd independent republic in the Americas, & the first non-European state to emerge from Western colonialism

The Haitian Revolution, 1791 -1804 • However, due to the revolts most of Haiti’s plantations were destroyed • The Haitian Revolution was destructive, led to internal divisions of race & class, poverty, instability led to their demise • This allowed the French to implement a “independence debt” • The Haitian Revolution inspired other slave rebellions • It cautioned other to not allow political change • Napoleon’s defeat in Haiti led to the Louisiana Purchase

Latin American Revolutions, 1808 -1825 • Several revolutions in Latin America were shaped by preceding events in North America, France, & Haiti • Native born elites were offended by the Spanish king trying to exercise greater power in the colonies & force higher taxes • Scattered & uncoordinated protests broke out • In 1808, Napoleon overthrew the king of Spain & the Portuguese family fled to Brazil in exile • This forced the Latin American countries to take action & they chose independence • However, violent conflict among Latin Americans in regards to race, class, & ideology accompanied the struggle against Spain

Latin American Revolutions, 1808 -1825 • The extensive violence in France & Haiti was a warning that political change could get out of hand • Revolutionary leaders like Simon Bolivar & Jose de San Martin required the support of “the people” if they were going to prevail against Spain; promises of freedom & social advances rarely could be kept • Women often joined in the revolution but received few social gains • It was impossible to unite the various Spanish colonies into one country • The promising land of Latin America became underdeveloped, impoverished, undemocratic, political unstable, & dependent on foreign support

Echoes of Revolution • Britain’s loss of its North American colonies fueled its growing interest in Asia leading to the colonial rule of India & Opium Wars in China • Social pressures pushed the major states of Western Europe & the United States to enlarge their voting publics • Revolutionary ideas began to break out in Russia • 3 major movements arose to challenge continuing patterns of oppression or exclusion

The Abolition of Slavery • From 1780 -1890, slavery which had been going on since the beginning of civilization & was rarely condemned had ended • Enlightenment thinkers were critical of slavery viewing it as a violation of natural rights • Religiously people began to view slavery as a “crime in the sight of God” • Slavery was also out of date, unnecessary in the new era of industrial technology & capitalism • The Great Jamaica Revolt promoted Britain to abolish slavery throughout the empire in 1833 • The Abolitionist Movement brought pressure to the government to end the slave trade & slavery itself

The Abolition of Slavery • Britain actively patrolled the Atlantic to stop the slave trade • The United States was the only slaveholding society in which the end of slavery occurred through a bitter, prolonged, & highly destructive Civil War • However, the economic & political lives of slaves didn’t improve dramatically • Legally free but highly dependent labor broke out all over these now “free” countries • There were harsh segregation laws, denial of voting rights, & violent racism • Slavery was outlawed gradually in the Islamic Empire mostly due to international opinion

Nations & Nationalism • The Atlantic Revolution gave rise to a recent king of human community – the nation • Nationalism: focusing of citizens’ loyalty to the notion they are part of a “nation” with a unique culture, territory, & common experience • The printing press standardized a variety of dialects • The “nation” was presented as a reawakening of older linguistic & cultural identities • It encouraged Italy & Germany to gather their fragmented people into one country • Other ethic groups broke away into their own countries

Nations & Nationalism • Governments throughout the Western world now claimed to act on behalf of their nation & deliberately sought to instill national loyalties in their citizens • This took place in school, public rituals, mass media, & military service • Americans called it civic nationalism where people could assimilate with the culture • Other denied people of not of their race to join into their culture like Germany

Feminist Beginnings • The Enlightenment briefly challenged many ancient traditions on women’s rights • The French Revolution then raised the possibility of re-creating human societies on new foundations • Women began to find more educational opportunities & freedom from the household • The first organized expression of woman suffrage was led by Elizabeth Cady Stanton • Feminists believed in progress & insisted that it must now include a radical transformation of the position of women • Middle class & working class women joined making it a massive movement

Feminist Beginnings • Women’s literacy rate began to increase & more opportunities became available • Florence Nightingale professionalized nursing while Jane Addams invented social work • Feminists were also viewed as selfish, willing to sacrifice the family or even the nation while pursuing their individual goals • Modernists believed that education & higher status for women strengthened the nation in tis struggles for development & independence

Revolutions: Pro & Con • Those that support the revolutions view it as sweeping away old worlds of oppression, exploitation, & privilege • They were correcting the ancient & enduring injustices • Opponents believe that radical & sudden change only invited disaster • Revolutions were unnecessary since societies were changing