Political Revolutions In Europe and the Americas 1649 – 1830

Chapter

Fourth Edition

THE WORLD’S HISTORYTHE WORLD’S HISTORY

Copyright ©2010, ©2006 by Pearson Education, Inc.All rights reserved.

The World’s History, Fourth EditionHoward Spodek

Political Revolutions In Political Revolutions In Europe and the AmericasEurope and the Americas1649 – 18301649 – 1830

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Political Revolutions in Europe and the Americas Political Revolution

• Political revolution changes fundamental basis of government – Apparent unity can shift rapidly– Revolutions often based on a coalition– Threshold of victory can bring crisis– Struggle to gain power within coalition often

more brutal than effort to end prior system



Political Revolution

• English, American and French Revolutions are all labeled “democratic” by analysts– These revolutions share common traits– Slogans included liberty, equality, fraternity,

natural rights, pursuit of happiness, property, no taxation without representation

– Outcomes often different than stated goals



Human Rights in the Age of Enlightenment

• Philosophical Rationales– Thomas Hobbes

Saw origins of government in brutal life without government• Life in nature--solitary, nasty, brutish, and short

Made a social contract to natural world To break contract was to return to state of nature




• Philosophical Rationales [cont.]– John Locke, 2nd Treatise on Government

Social contract the origin of government State of nature a benevolent place Right of revolution if gov’t violates human rights Majority rule of property holders the key concern Role of government is to protect property








• Study of Scientific Revolution a “new” field

• Characteristics of the Revolution– Rise of a community instead of individuals– Development of new methods

Reliance on mathematics Empiricism Technology present in equipment use Freedom of inquiry




• Intellectual Revolutions in Science & Philosophy– Copernicus revises the universe

Placed sun at center of solar system for simplicity Feared impact from Church which accepted a

geocentric view Published findings on his deathbed

– Tyco Brahe offered complex geocentric model– Conflict between religious and mathematical

astronomers




• Intellectual Revolutions in Science & Philosophy– Galileo added observations and new

technology to the debate and supported geocentric view

– Newton developed calculus



England’s Glorious Revolution, 1688

• Unauthorized taxes by Charles I lead to civil war & Charles’ execution in 1649

• Oliver Cromwell leads Puritans to victory and rules as Lord Protector to 1658

• Civil War establishes principle that monarchy can be abolished



England’s Glorious Revolution, 1688

• The Bill of Rights, 1689– Parliament rejects Stuarts for William & Mary

in 1688– New monarchs sign Bill of Rights in 1689

No taxes raised or armies recruited without approval of Parliament

No subject can be detained without due process King cannot suspend laws on his own Reality is government by male property owners



Philosophes & Enlightenment in the 18th Century

• Philosophes want to use science & reason to solve problems in politics & economics

• Ideas are in American and French Revolutions

• Were influenced by travel and knowledge of other cultures

• Most were deists in religion




• Believed in Progress and the perfectibility of mankind

• Encyclopedia of Diderot is famous product

• Voltaire--freedom of liberty, press, inquiry

• Enlightened Despotism– Good government does not require self-

government; rationale used by colonial powers




• Rousseau skeptical about self-government– Promotes idea of General Will which sounds

close to tyranny in minds of critics– Is unclear about how to achieve it

• Adam Smith– Promoted free trade– Envy of wealth necessitated protection of

private property



Revolution in North America, 1776

• Americans resent British control from 1760s onward

• British policy built of large army in North America and taxation to support it

• Grievances lead to Declaration of Independence, 1776– It asserts same concerns as English on eve of

the Glorious Revolution




• Constitution and Bill of Rights, 1789– Constitution creates federal government– Bill of Rights goes beyond British model to

add freedom of press, religion, assembly, and right to bear arms

– Approach tied to four American factors 1) Settlers were religious dissenters; 2) abundant

land; 3) absence of privileged classes; 4) world had become more radical with new political ideas




• The First Anti-Imperial Revolution– Represented rejection of colonial rule– But westward movement created American

imperial ambition– Still, American Revolution inspired many

subsequent revolutions such as Nehru in India

– Not a complete political revolution; many groups left out but ideal of equality emerges





French Revolution & Napoleon, 1789-1812

• American Revolution was unique--4 million people, edge of continent, no tradition of class or clerical privilege, built on tradition of British liberty

• French Revolution was internal revolt against entrenched elites & monarchy, in most populous & powerful European nation

• All Europe affected by French Revolution




• Origins of Revolution– King’s need for revenue– France was divided into three Estates– Nobles and clergy were tax exempt

• Revolt of the Third Estate– Want to turn Estates-General into legislature– Sieyes, What is the Third Estate?– Want delegates to meet as unicameral legs.




• The Revolt of the Poor– Events occur against backdrop of food

shortage Assault on Bastille, July 14, 1789 Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen Great Fear in the countryside Women’s March on Versailles, Oct. 5-6, 1789

– Constitution of 1791 Reflects ideals of philosophes Promulgated after wave of protests




• International War, the 2nd Revolution and the Terror, 1791-99 – French actions threaten Europe

Civil Constitution of the Clergy

– Europe attacks the Revolution, 1792– Poor attempt to kill Louis XVI, August 9, 1792– Legislature turns radical after September

elections Reign of Terror Levee en masse (national military draft)




• International War, the 2nd Revolution, and the Terror, 1791-99 [cont.]– Radical actions under Robespierre

New Calendar Worship of the Supreme Being

– Success in war prompts reaction against extreme measures Directory established, 1795 Napoleon to power, 1799




• Napoleon in Power, 1799-1812– Consolidates or extends revolutionary ideas

Code Napoleon, 1804 “careers open to talent” Concordat with Pope Full citizenship for Protestants and Jews Actions reflect his own modest origins






• Napoleonic Wars & the Spread of Revolution, 1799-1812– Direct or indirect control of Europe by 1810– Flaws in his policies magnified by ambition

Unsuccessful in war against Britain Defeated in invasion of Russia, 1812 Nationalism undermines his control of W. Europe Defeated and exiled, 1814 & 1815 Congress of Vienna creates balance of power,

1815



Haiti: Slave Revolution & Overthrow of Colonialism

• Caribbean Slave revolts commonly suppressed

• Hispaniola, French sugar colony, saw 40,000 whites in control of 500,000 black slaves

• Slaves escape brutality physically by maroonage (flight) and psychologically through vodoun (voodoo)

• Network of resistance begins in 1750s



Haiti: Slave Revolution & Overthrow of Colonialism

• The Slave Revolt– Begins in 1791 perhaps with inspiration from

American and French revolutions– French revolution outlaws slavery, 1794– Toussaint L’Ouverture leads revolt to success– Napoleonic attempt to restore French control

fails despite use of 20,000 troops– Final independence of Haiti declared in 1804





Abolition of Slavery and the Slave Trade

• Fear of Haiti-style revolts leads British to abolish slavery, 1807

• U. S. abolished international slave trade in 1808 but retains slavery until Civil War

• Slavery abolished in Puerto Rico, 1876, in Cuba, 1886, & in Brazil, 1888





The End of Colonialism in Latin America, 1810-30

• Independence Movements– Revolts led by creole elites, direct

descendents of original Spanish settlers Helped Spain & Portugal put down Indian revolts

– Creole fear of indigenous population helped spur drive to independence

– Revolts led by creoles were for their control of countries & enjoyment of Enlightenment ideals






• After Independence– Bolivar & the Challenge of Unification

Led independence movements after French invasion of Spain• Active in Venezuela, Argentina, Chile, Ecuador, Columbia

Hoped for a unified South America but got local caudillo rule




• After Independence [cont.]– Mexico

Early Mexican movement opposed Creoles leaders By 1821 independence creoles were in charge Territory lost to U.S. and to breakaway nations

– Brazil Portuguese monarch fled Napoleon for Brazil Brazil made co-equal with Portugal Brazil became a monarchy




• After Independence [cont.]– Paraguay: The New Historiography

Dictactor Francia strongly criticized by creoles and gained a bad reputation

Revolution based on self-government & land distribution

Efforts to defeat Paraguay as a source of inspiration for Argentines and others met with failure




• Religious & Economic Issues



Political Revolutions: What Difference Do They Make?

• Each Revolution has a clear outcome– British created constitutional rights, failed to

extend them to America, but abolished slavery– Philosophes inspired subsequent revolutions– Americans promoted freedom but not for all– Lat. America: political but not econ. freedom

• French Revolution is the exception– Idea of revolution but prefigures 20th century

Political Revolutions In Europe and the Americas 1649 – 1830

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