chapter 16: political revolutions in europe and the americas political revolution political...

Chapter 16: 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 traitsSlogans included liberty, equality, fraternity, natural rights, pursuit of happiness, property, no taxation without representationOutcomes often different than stated goals

Human Rights in the Age of Enlightenment

Philosophical RationalesThomas 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 individualsDevelopment 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 1649Oliver Cromwell leads Puritans to victory and rules as Lord Protector to 1658Civil War establishes principle that monarchy can be abolished

England’s Glorious Revolution, 1688

The Bill of Rights, 1689Parliament 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 & economicsIdeas are in American and French RevolutionsWere influenced by travel and knowledge of other culturesMost 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 DespotismGood government does not require self-government; rationale used by colonial powers


Rousseau skeptical about self-governmentPromotes idea of General Will which sounds close to tyranny in minds of critics

Is unclear about how to achieve it

Adam SmithPromoted 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, 1789Constitution creates federal governmentBill of Rights goes beyond British model to add freedom of press, religion, assembly, and right to bear armsApproach 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 RevolutionRepresented 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 RevolutionKing’s need for revenue

France was divided into three Estates

Nobles and clergy were tax exempt

Revolt of the Third EstateWant to turn Estates-General into legislature

Sieyes, What is the Third Estate?

Want delegates to meet as unicameral legs.


The Revolt of the PoorEvents 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, 1792Poor attempt to kill Louis XVI, August 9, 1792Legislature 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, 1799-1812Consolidates 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 suppressedHispaniola, French sugar colony, saw 40,000 whites in control of 500,000 black slavesSlaves 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 RevoltBegins 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 MovementsRevolts 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 IndependenceBolivar & 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 outcomeBritish 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 exceptionIdea of revolution but prefigures 20th century

chapter 16: political revolutions in europe and the americas political revolution political...

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