Download Comparative Revolutions

Revolutions: Haitian, American,
French, and Latin American
Independence Movements
1700s-1800s
Haitian Revolution
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Began on August 22, 1781
Slave uprising against the
French
Francois Dominique
Toussaint L’Ouverture
organized a small military
group
In order to overcome
powerful countries
wanting to claim Haiti
(France, England, and
Spanish) Toussiant played
powers off of one another,
finally allying with French
Toussaint
L’Ouverture
Haitian Revolution
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Napoleon’s rule resulted
in Toussiant
L’Ouverture’s death
Jean-Jacques Dessalines
was former slave who
took over for Toussaint
L’Ouverture
General Leclerc sent by
Napoleon to deal with
Haitians - bloody battles
occurred
Ended on November 28,
1803
Legacy of Haitian Revolution
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Symbol of freedom
and hope to the rest of
slaves in North
America
Slave owners became
aware of chance of
rebellion of slaves
Slave shelters built by
slave owners in case
of an uprising
Haitian RevolutionVideo
French Revolution
French Revolution
The revolution’s start was in the 1780s with
resentment towards royal power, food
scarcity and the rise of Enlightenment ideas
 Louis XVI was forced to convoke the
Estates-General
 Third estate made up of the lower class
wanted more representation; declared
themselves the National Assembly
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French Revolution
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Louis XVI
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On June 20, 1789, the
National Assembly swore
the Tennis Court Oath
Would not leave the tennis
court until a new
constitution had been
made (Declaration of the
rights of Man and the
Citizen)
On July 14, 1789, the
prison of Bastille was
taken by the rebellion and
served as a symbol of the
revolution
Feudalism abolished on
August 4, 1789
French Revolution
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Radical phase started by 1792; led by Maximilien
Robespierre
King was executed and the Reign of Terror occurred
in which unpopular factions were destroyed
Constitution proclaimed male suffrage, slavery
temporarily abolished, and spirit of nationalism
Final phase of revolution occurred under Napoleon
from 1799 to 1815 during which expansion of the
French empire occurred
Parliament reduced in power, but religious freedom,
equality for men, education, were promoted
French Revolution Video
Prelude to the American
Revolution
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Laws passed by the
English government to
limit expansion as well as
pass laws on the American
colonies (taxation, etc.)
American colonies
looking for more
independence
Artisans and farmers
looking for ways to
promote social equality
American Revolution
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Battle of Bunker Hill
On June 15, 1775, the
Continental Congress
appoints George
Washington general of
Continental Army
On June 17, 1775, the
Battle of Bunker Hill
occurs with the British
winning, but at a huge cost
In December of 1775, the
American colonies are
placed under an embargo
May 2, 1776, France
commits 1 million dollars
in arms to the colonies and
Spain also offers support
American Revolution
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On July 4, 1776 the Declaration of
Independence is issued
October 7, 1777- Battle of
Saratoga results in 1st major
American victory
Articles of Confederation adopted
on November 15, 1777 making
Congress the sole authority
In 1789, the U.S. sets up a new
constitutional structure with checks
and balances between the different
branches of government as well as
limited voting rights (to wealthy
white males)
American Revolution Video
Above - The signing of the
Declaration of
Independence.
Latin American Independence
Movements (Brazil)
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By end of 18th century,
Brazil had grown in
economic importance
1807, France invaded
Portugal; Portuguese king
moved to Brazil; Rio de
Janeiro made capital
Dom Joao VI moved back
to Portugal in 1820, but
son Dom Pedro I, stayed
behind
Pedro was called back to
Portugal, but, after
refusing, declared Brazil
independent in 1822
Latin American Independence
Movements (Peru)
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Jose San Martin was military
commander in Argentina who
wanted to secure Peruvian silver
Peru still under Spanish control,
upper class extremely
conservative; but Napoleonic
invasions of Spain sparked
revolution
San Martin was unable to defeat
Spanish in interior, and with his
withdrawal, Simon Bolivar took
over
Battles in 1824 such as battle of
Ayacucho assured Peru’s
independence (see next slide)
Latin American Independence
Movements (Chile)
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Young Anti-War Protest
In September 1810, open town
meeting appointed junta made up
of local leaders to rule (searching
for more independence)
Battle of Rancagua in October
1814, Spain regained control
Carrera brothers and Bernard
O’Higgins convinced Jose San
Martin to help them
Independence proclaimed in 1818
with O’Higgins as dictator
Latin American Revolutions Video
Causes/Motives of the
Revolutions
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All revolutions resulted from peasant unrest
Industrialization and economic hardships (food
shortages)
Nationalist ideas helped to spur on all revolutions
Media played major role in advocating change;
monarchs could publish newspapers supporting their
actions, controlling the public’s knowledge,
revolutionaries could also use media to support their
beliefs of overthrowing the government
Need to industrialize nations
Artisans or peasants who wanted older economic values
Causes/Motives of the
Revolutions (continued)
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Enlightenment thinkers
challenged regimes that didn’t
grant religious freedoms or
insisted on aristocratic privilege
Commercialization caused
merchants to challenge idea that
aristocrats hold highest power
Population increase made it
harder for anyone not aristocrat
to gain office; led to protesting
**Causes of Revolutions**
Haiti
France
America
Latin
America
 Slaves wanted
 Large population as
 Resisted Britain's
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vengeance
 Slaves retained
culture, wanted to
reinstate it
 Planters wanted
independence from
France
Free people of color
wanted citizenship
 Slaves wanted
freedom (under cruel
conditions)
 Haitians received little
profit from plantations
(French got it all)
disease, food shortages&
mortality declined
Capitalism introduced,
economy grew
In lean years, 90% of
peasantry lived at or
below subsistence level
 Kings competed with
officers for authority;
kings wanted monarchy
 King had been
involved in religious
controversies
attempts to impose taxes
and trade controls on
colonies
 Overpopulation led
young men to seek new
opportunities
 Growing commerce
led to farmers and
artisans looking for ways
to defend social equality
and community spirit
 Stamp Act of 1765 on
all documents and
pamphlets
Conflict and invasion
in mother country
(Legitimacy of rulers)
 Restrictions on
education and trade
 Conflict between
political values (liberals
and conservatives)
 American, French, and
Haitian Revolutions
 Resented taxation and
policies of mother
countries
Effects of Revolutions
Positive Effect:
Rise of Democracy
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Haitian Revolution gave more
equality to people of color and
helped them gain independence
from France
- Inspired other countries to form
own democracy
- Early constitutions balanced
popular representation by
imposing property restrictions on
voters
Positive Effect:
Rise of Democracy
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French Revolution:
- General Estates formed,
consisting of 3 “estates”, or
classes of people
- 3rd estate known as Commons
formed National Assembly
- National Assembly abolished
feudalism in 1789, aristocrats lost
privileges; church land seized
- Assembly published Declaration
of Rights of Man and of the
Citizen on August 26, 1789
- Assembly became legislature of
new government (parliament)
- Constitution proclaimed
individual rights
Positive Effect:
Rise of Democracy
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American Revolution:
- May 10, 1776, Congress allowed
each of colonies to form local
governments
- July 4, 1776, Declaration of
Independence
- U.S. Constitution set up in 1789 with
checks and balances between different
branches, guarantees of individual
liberties, and limited voting rights
Latin America
- Local leaders were taking positions
of greater importance
- Simon Bolivar and Jose de San
Martin both played important roles
- Freedom of trade was reached both
within the nations and internationally
Positive Effect:
Additional Reforms
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Media played a large part in most revolutions
(French, Latin American, etc.) promoting patriots’
ideas as well as monarchs’ ideas (increasing
importance)
France - Protestants regaining their rights; Louis
XVI forced to produce annual publication of state
of finances = accountability
Negative Effects of the
Revolutions
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Haitian Revolution
- Africans seen by General Leclerc (invading French officer)
immediately killed
- Instilled fear among slave owners, tighter restriction on slave
rights (slaves couldn’t be taught to read)
French Revolution
- Radical phase resulted in deaths of opponents of revolution
aided by guillotine
- Incited further war, especially under Napoleon, in other
countries
- Destruction of property
Negative Effects of the
Revolutions (continued)
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American Revolution
- Deaths of about 7,000 Americans
- New government deeply in debt, had to pay soldier’s salaries in
addition to cost of food and weapons
Latin America
- Did not receive full independence; still dependent on
European and U.S. economies
Global Connection
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Revolutions spurred on
movements in other countries
Introduced new political ideas
(democracy, constitutions, etc.)
used worldwide
In case of Haitian Revolution,
inspired other slave rebellions
Gave power to
commoners/slaves; knew they
could overthrow government
American Revolution led to
independence movements in
other colonies escaping from
European control