Chapter 8 - Atlantic Revolutions, Global Echoes Flashcards
Name four major Atlantic Revolutions.
The American Revolution, French Revolution, Haitian Revolution, and Latin American Revolutions.
What common ideals inspired the Atlantic Revolutions?
Enlightenment ideals such as liberty, equality, popular sovereignty, and natural rights.
What is popular sovereignty?
The principle that authority to govern derives from the people.
What was the Seven Years’ War, and why was it significant?
A global conflict (1756–1763) that led to increased taxes on Britain’s North American colonies, sparking the American Revolution.
Summary of the Seven Years’ War - Read onlt
”- Britain (with Prussia) vs. France (with Austria, Spain, and allies) fought in Europe and in North America ( Britain fought France and their Native American allies)
- Why: Competition for global trade, colonies, and territory; disputes over land in the Ohio River Valley in North America.
- Where: North America, Europe, India, the Caribbean, West Africa, and the Atlantic.
- Outcome: Britain won, gaining Canada and land east of the Mississippi; France lost most of its North American colonies; Spain gained Louisiana but lost Florida.
- Impact: Britain’s massive war debt led to taxing its American colonies, fueling unrest and eventually the American Revolution.”
Loyalists vs. Patriots
- Loyalists supported Britain
- Patriots pushed for independence”
The Declaration of Independence - year? Key points?
-1776
- declared the colonies’ right to self-govern, and emphasized principles of equality and natural rights
What Was “Taxation Without Representation”?
Taxation without representation was the colonial grievance that Britain imposed taxes on the American colonies without allowing them a voice in Parliament.
Info about the taxes - Sugar Act (1764) - Taxed sugar, molasses; Stamp Act (1765) - tax on printed materials like newspapers, legal documents, and playing cards; Townshend Acts (1767): Imposed taxes on everyday imports such as glass, paper, paint, tea, and lead; Tea Act (1773): Allowed the British East India Company to sell tea at a lower price but maintained a tax on tea, angering colonists and leading to the Boston Tea Party.
Intolerable Acts (1774): Punitive measures in response to the Boston Tea Party, including closing Boston Harbor and restricting colonial self-government.”
Comparison of Atlantic Revolutions
Goals:
American Revolution: Independence from Britain, self-governance, protection of property rights
French Revolution: End monarchy, establish a republic, equality, rights of citizens
Haitian Revolution: Abolition of slavery, independence from France
Latin American Revolutions: Independence from Spain/Portugal, local rule by creoles
Comparison of Atlantic Revolutions
Short-Term Accomplishments
American: Independence (1783), U.S. Constitution (1787)
French: Abolished monarchy (1792), Declaration of Rights of Man (1789)
Haitian: Slavery abolished (1793), independence (1804)
Latin American: Gained independence (1810s-1820s), but fragile new nations
Comparison of Atlantic Revolutions
Difficulties
American: Loyalist opposition, different views (north and south) on slavery leading to civil war
French: violence, war with Europe, Reign of Terror
Haitian: Economic isolation, destruction from war
Latin American: Political instability, regionalism, class conflicts
Comparison of Atlantic Revolutions
Long-Term Accomplishments
American: Stable democracy, expansion, global influence
French: End of monarchy, spread of revolutionary ideals
Haitian: First black-led republic, abolition of slavery in the Americas
Latin American: Independent nations, but weak governance structures
Comparison of Atlantic Revolutions
Cultural Changes
American: separation of church and state
French: nationalism, revolutionary symbols
Haitian: African cultural resurgence, rejection of European influence
Latin American: Blending of indigenous, African, and European traditions
Comparison of Atlantic Revolutions
Economic Changes
American: Expansion of capitalism, westward land growth
French: Disruption due to war, economy hardship
Haitian: Plantation economy collapsed
Latin American: Dependence on foreign investment and technology, economic inequality persisted
Brief History of Napoleon Bonaparte (Info)
- After the French Revolution, France was in chaos: the monarchy was gone, and the new government was weak and unstable.
- Napoleon rose to power in 1799. The French saw him as a strong leader who could restore order. (Napoleon was considered a hero due to his military victories in Italy and Egypt.)
- Through a coup d’état (a sudden, illegal overthrow of the government), he seized power and later declared himself Emperor.
- He ruled with absolute control, but his reforms promoted national unity, legal equality, and meritocracy, helping modernize Europe.
Napoleon expanded his empire through war and diplomacy, making France the dominant power in Europe.
His rule led to the collapse of old monarchies and inspired independence movements across Europe.
Why Did Napoleon Lose Power?
- Failed invasion of Russia (1812), where his army suffered massive losses.
- European powers (Britain, Prussia, Austria, and Russia) united against him, leading to his defeat.
What is Meritocracy
Meritocracy is a system where individuals are rewarded and advanced based on their abilities, skills, and achievements, rather than their social class, wealth, or family background.
For example, in Napoleon’s rule, he promoted meritocracy by allowing people to gain high-ranking positions in the military or government based on their abilities, not their aristocratic lineage.
What caused the French Revolution?
Economic Crisis: Debt from wars (e.g., American Revolution) and lavish royal spending.
Social Inequality: Unequal Estates System (clergy, nobility, and commoners).
Hunger and Famine: Food shortages and rising bread prices.”
What was the Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen?
A document asserting the equality and rights of all men in France.
What was the Reign of Terror?
A period of extreme violence and mass executions during French Revolution from 1793–1794 led by the radical Jacobins under Maximilien Robespierre. It aimed to eliminate enemies of the revolution and protect the newly established republic.
What made the Haitian Revolution unique?
It was the first successful slave revolt leading to the establishment of an independent nation.
How did the Haitian Revolution impact the Atlantic world?
It inspired other anti-slavery movements and revolutionaries.
Which social class led most Latin American revolutions?
Creoles, people of European descent born in the Americas.
How did the Napoleonic Wars affect Latin American independence movements?
They weakened Spain and Portugal, creating opportunities for independence.
What revolutionary slogan arose from the French Revolution?
“Liberty, Equality, Fraternity.”
How did the Atlantic Revolutions affect women’s rights?
They inspired discussions of gender equality but did not grant women political rights.
How did the revolutions affect slavery?
Many led to the abolition of slavery or inspired anti-slavery movements.
What was the significance of the Great Jamaica Revolt?
The revolt was a slave rebellion that played a key role in the British abolition of slavery in 1833 by demonstrating the intensity of resistance to slavery.
How did the British abolition of slavery impact other nations?
The British abolition set a global precedent and encouraged other nations, such as the United States and Brazil, to follow suit in abolishing slavery.
What was life like for freed slaves after abolition?
Low wages – Many faced poor working conditions in agriculture and industry.
Sharecropping – Trapped many in debt and poverty, working land they didn’t own.
Denied voting rights
Racism persisted – Segregation, discrimination, and systemic inequality remained.
How did nationalism shape the 19th century?
Nationalism promoted the idea of self-determination and independence for nations, leading to revolutions and the unification of states like Italy and Germany.
How did the concept of nationhood evolve in the 19th century?
Nationalism began to emphasize shared linguistic, cultural, and historical identities as the basis for forming unified nation-states.
How did national loyalties manifest in 19th-century Europe?
National loyalty became a key element in political movements, often replacing traditional allegiances to monarchs or local rulers.
How did education, public rituals, and media shape nationalism?
Schools & holidays – Instilled national identity, loyalty, and pride.
Mass media – Spread nationalist ideas through newspapers, books, and pamphlets.
Shared identity – Strengthened unity, especially in newly unified states.
Military Service
What sparked the early feminist movements in the 19th century?
The feminist movement began with calls for women’s rights, including suffrage, education, and legal equality, influenced by broader revolutionary ideals.
How did industrialization impact women’s rights?
Workforce entry – More women worked in factories, gaining economic independence.
Organizing & activism – Led to labor movements and early feminist activism.
Education access – Increased opportunities for schooling and skill development.
Challenged gender roles – Shifted views on women’s roles in society and the home.
Why was New Zealand significant in the history of women’s suffrage?
New Zealand became the first self-governing country to grant women the right to vote in 1893, paving the way for global suffrage movements.
Brief History of the Civil War (1861-1865)
Why: The primary cause was the disagreement over slavery and its expansion into newly acquired territories. The North, with its industrial economy, opposed slavery, while the South, whose economy was based on agriculture, relied on enslaved labor. Other factors included states’ rights, political power struggles, and economic differences between the North and South.
1861: The war began after Southern states seceded from the Union and formed the Confederate States of America. The first battle was at Fort Sumter in South Carolina.
1863: The Emancipation Proclamation was issued by President Abraham Lincoln, declaring the freedom of enslaved people in Confederate-held territories.
1865: The war ended after General Robert E. Lee of the Confederacy surrendered to General Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox Court House.
Aftermath:
- End of Slavery: The 13th Amendment (1865) permanently abolished slavery in the U.S.
- Reconstruction: After the war, the Reconstruction period (1865-1877) sought to rebuild the South, integrate the Southern states back into the Union, and address the rights of formerly enslaved people, though full political and social equality remained elusive.
- Economic and Social Effects: The South’s economy was devastated, and newly freed people faced sharecropping, discrimination, and racism. The Ku Klux Klan and other white supremacist groups emerged, leading to violent suppression of Black rights.
- Political Division: The war left deep political and regional divisions, with tensions continuing into the 20th century over civil rights and federal vs. state authority.
Why sharecropping was bad (info)
Cycle of Debt:
Sharecroppers often had to borrow money or supplies from the landowners or merchants at high interest rates. Because the share of the crop given to the landowner was often more than the sharecropper’s earnings, it led to a perpetual cycle of debt. Sharecroppers rarely earned enough to pay off their debts and were often forced to continue working under oppressive conditions just to survive.
Effect of the Emancipation Proclamation (Info)
Immediate Effect: The Emancipation ( President Abraham Lincoln, declaring the freedom of enslaved people in Confederate-held territories.)
Proclamation did not immediately free all enslaved people but declared freedom for those in Confederate-held territories. It was a military strategy to weaken the Confederacy and prevent European nations from recognizing it. It also allowed African Americans to join the Union Army.
Long-Term Effect: It shifted the focus of the war from preserving the Union to also include the abolition of slavery, making it a moral cause and rallying support for the Union.
