AMSCO-5.2

Nationalism and Revolutions

Essential Question

• What were the causes and effects of the various revolutions from 1750 to 1900?

• Influences include Enlightenment thinking and emerging nationalism.

Overview of Conflicts

• The age of new ideas led to political and philosophical conflicts.

• Conservative thinkers like Edmund Burke and Joseph de Maistre opposed revolutionary change, viewing revolutions as violent and disruptive.

• Despite conservative resistance, the demand for constitutional governance and democracy eventually resulted in revolutions.

The American Revolution

• Causes: Influenced by European Enlightenment philosophy and economic ideas of physiocrats against English mercantilism.

• Colonial Independence: Colonial legislatures assumed powers traditionally held by Parliament; the geographic distance also contributed.

• Declaration of Independence (July 4, 1776):

  • Framed by Thomas Jefferson, based on John Locke's ideas of "unalienable rights" to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

  • Resulted in victory for the colonists in 1783 with French assistance.

The New Zealand Wars

• Maori inhabited New Zealand since at least the mid-1200s, developing a rich culture of tribes (iwi).

• British annexation in 1840 increased control over Maori affairs and land pressures, leading to violent conflicts known as the New Zealand Wars.

• Despite Maori nationalism and uprisings, British forces prevailed by 1872.

The French Revolution

• Revolutionary ideals led to the motto: liberté, égalité, et fraternité.

• Economic Woes: France's financial mismanagement and wars, including support for the American Revolution, strained the economy.

• Estates-General (1789):

  • Comprised clergy, nobility, and commoners (97% of the population).

  • Commoners' dissatisfaction pushed them to form the National Assembly, marking the start of the revolution.

Key Events of the French Revolution

• Bastille Storming (July 14, 1789): Symbolized the fight against monarchy; marked as French Independence Day.

• Initial Reforms: Abolishment of feudalism and adoption of the Declaration of the Rights of Man, asserting basic human rights.

• Establishment of the First French Republic (1792) and subsequent Reign of Terror under the Jacobins, leading to thousands of executions including Louis XVI.

• Rise of Napoleon Bonaparte: Ultimately became emperor in 1804.

The Haitian Revolution

• Enslaved people in the French colony of St. Domingue revolted against white masters in the late 18th century.

• Inspired by other revolutions, Toussaint L'Ouverture emerged as a leader:

  • Established a constitution granting citizenship and equality in 1801.

  • Abolished slavery, leading to Haiti's independence in 1804.

• Haiti became the first country in Latin America to gain independence and the first black-led nation in the Western Hemisphere.

Comparing Haitian and French Revolutions

• Both revolutions were rooted in Enlightenment ideals of natural rights.

• The Haitian revolution involved enslaved people fighting for rights they were denied entirely compared to the French context.

Creole Revolutions in Latin America

• Creoles, descendants of Europeans born in the Americas, were aware of Enlightenment ideals and desired to break free from Spanish control.

• Discontent Factors:

  • Mercantilism, lack of political power, and social hierarchies fueled desires for independence.

The Bolívar Revolutions

• Led by Simón Bolívar, aimed to apply Enlightenment principles across South America, leading to independence movements in Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru.

• Bolívar envisioned a federation similar to the United States; however, post-independence challenges hindered political unity and stability.

Nationalism and Unification in Europe

• Increased nationalism led to movements for unification, notably in Italy and Germany.

Italian Unification

• Count di Cavour aimed to unite Italy under the House of Savoy, aided by alliances and manipulation of conflicts.

• Cavour aligned with radicals, like Giuseppe Mazzini, and the Red Shirts led by Giuseppe Garibaldi to promote unity.

German Unification

• Otto von Bismarck used nationalist sentiment and realpolitik to orchestrate wars against Denmark (1864), Austria (1866), and France (Franco-Prussian War 1870) to unify German states under Prussian leadership.

Global Consequences of Unification

• The establishment of Italy and Germany as powers altered the balance of power in Europe, leading to tensions contributing to World War I.

• Emigration from Italy surged due to poverty, especially to the U.S. and Argentina, illustrating internal challenges after unification.

Balkan Nationalism

• Ottoman Empire's decline fostered nationalistic movements in the Balkans, like Greece's struggle for independence, which ultimately required foreign intervention.

Ottoman Nationalism

• In the 1870s-1880s, movements sought to modernize and unify the Ottoman state but also intensified ethnic and nationalist sentiments among subject peoples.

Future of Nationalism

• Despite current trends toward unity in some regions (e.g., the EU), nationalism continues to shape identities and political alignments today.