CHALLENGES to STATE Power, 1450-1750 [AP World History Review—Unit 4 Topic 6]

Resistance to Imperial Expansion (1450-1750)

Overview

• European Expansion: During this period, European states aggressively expanded maritime empires, seeking to centralize control over their colonies.

• Opposition: Many home country citizens and colonized populations resisted this imperialistic expansion.

Examples of Resistance Movements

The Fronde

• Context: Occurred in France under Louis XIV, who epitomized absolutism by consolidating power.

• Reasons for Resistance:

  • Increased taxation due to expansionist wars.

  • French nobility felt threatened by the monarchy's growing power.

• Actions Taken: Nobility led spontaneous rebellions known as the Fronde over six years.

• Outcome: The monarchy ultimately crushed the resistance, resulting in increased power for Louis XIV.

Queen Anna Nzinga's Resistance

• Location: Sub-Saharan kingdoms of Ndongo and Matamba, Africa.

• Concerns: Growing encroachment of Portuguese merchants.

• Alliances: Nzinga allied with the Dutch and the Kingdom of the Congo to resist Portuguese forces.

• Outcome: Successfully repelled the Portuguese armies.

Pueblo Revolt

• Location: North America, specifically among the Pueblo people.

• Background:

  • Suffered abuse from oppressive Spanish missionaries.

  • Forced into coerced labor, combined with disease, drastically reduced their population.

• Leadership: Organized by a local leader named Pope in 1680.

• Actions: The Pueblo violently rebelled against Spanish oppressors, killing missionaries and leaders.

• Outcome: Temporarily expelled the Spanish; however, the Spanish returned in power a decade later.

Summary of Resistance Against Imperial Expansion

• Resistance occurred due to the oppressive nature of European colonial efforts.

• Examples mentioned are not exhaustive but represent significant resistance movements.

Resistance by Enslaved Individuals

• Background: European imperial projects in the Americas relied heavily on enslaved labor for agriculture, particularly for cash crops (sugar, rice, tobacco).

Maroon Societies

• Location: Predominantly in the Caribbean and Brazil.

• Description: Enslaved Africans often escaped to join free black communities, known as maroon societies.

• Significance: These societies posed a challenge to colonial authorities by enticing enslaved individuals to escape.

• Outcomes: In places like Jamaica, colonial militias struggled to defeat these communities, leading to treaties recognizing their freedom in 1738.

Stono Rebellion of 1739

• Location: British colonies in South Carolina.

• Context: Dominated by enormous numbers of enslaved persons, working on profitable rice and indigo plantations.

• Actions: Approximately 100 enslaved individuals stormed the local armory and killed enslavers en route to freedom.

• Outcome: The rebellion was ultimately suppressed by local militias, causing fear among slaveholding colonies.

Conclusion

• Throughout the period of expansion, various groups faced imperial control and responded with notable resistance efforts, sometimes successfully, sometimes not.