Polasky Flashcards
What connection does Janet Polasky make between revolution and cosmopolitanism?
Janet Polasky makes a connection between revolution and cosmopolitanism by highlighting the transnational and interconnected nature of revolutionary movements at the end of the eighteenth century. She emphasizes how revolutionaries, through their travels and interactions with different cultures, were exposed to new ideas and customs, leading to a broader understanding of liberty and equality. Polasky argues that the ideals of revolution traveled across national borders, and the documents left behind by these traveling revolutionaries served as evidence of public discussions of revolutionary liberty that crossed borders. She also points out that the itinerant nature of these revolutionaries rendered their travels revolutionary, as they challenged the perpetuation of slavery, probed the limitations of private domesticity, and questioned national and racial limitations on citizenship. Overall, Polasky’s argument underscores the cosmopolitan nature of revolutionary movements and the impact of transnational interactions on shaping revolutionary ideals.
How does Polasky make use of primary sources for setting up her argument?
Polasky makes extensive use of primary sources, such as pamphlets, letters, and documents from the time period of the Atlantic revolutions, to support and illustrate her argument. She references specific pamphlets and letters, as well as the experiences of individuals like Elkanah Watson and Thomas Paine, to demonstrate ho the rhetoric of freedom and revolutionary ideas were disseminated and discussed across different regions. By drawing on these primary sources, Polasky is able to provide a detailed and nuanced understanding of the revolutionary movements and the impact of pamphlets and other written materials on the course of history.
