Resistance Movements

1450-1750 RESISTANCE MOVEMENTS

Causes of Resistance

  • State expansion and increased centralization of government have led to various revolts.

    • Revolts can be both internal and external.

    • Common causes include:

      • Increased taxes

      • Unequal distribution of land

      • Demand for social and political rights

European Resistance Movements

Fronde (France)

  • Nature: Internal, economic revolt.

  • Context: Cardinal Mazarin's attempts to raise taxes to pay off war debts.

  • Events: Nobles and citizens revolted and broke into the royal palace in Paris.

  • Outcome: The Queen regent fled with her son, Louis XIV, but returned with troops to suppress the rebellion.

Pugachev Rebellion (Russia)

  • Nature: Internal, social revolt.

  • Leader: Yemelyan Pugachev, a Cossack claiming to be Catherine the Great's deceased husband.

  • Motivation: Anger directed towards Catherine for granting nobles power over serfs, leaving peasants without rights or recourse.

  • Outcome: Pugachev was captured and executed, resulting in an intensified suppression of the peasant class by Catherine to prevent further uprisings.

Rebellions in the Americas

Metacom’s War

  • Nature: Internal, land conflict.

  • Lead by: Native Americans aiming to drive English settlers off their territories.

  • Motivation: Response to attempts at assimilation, conversion, and other injustices by English settlers.

  • Outcome: Resulted in the subjugation of the Wampanoag people.

Maroon Wars

  • Nature: Internal, social and political conflict.

  • Context: In Jamaica and Haiti, Maroons descended from runaway slaves.

  • Activities: Established independent communities and conducted raids on plantations.

  • Contribution: Played a significant role in the support for Haitian independence.

Resistance to Portuguese in South Asia and Africa

Ndongo Rebellion

  • Nature: External conflict against Portuguese slave traders.

  • Location: Kingdom of Ndongo in Angola, thriving under Queen Nzinga's reign.

  • Strategy: Led spirited resistance against Portuguese, allied with the Dutch, and promised freedom to runaway slaves.

  • Outcome: Despite their efforts, the resistance was defeated after 40 years due to the Portuguese's superior weaponry, leading to the establishment of Angola as a Portuguese colony by the end of the 17th century.

Glorious Revolution (England)

  • Nature: Internal, political revolution.

  • Key Figure: James II, who married a Catholic and had a son, provoking fear of a Catholic monarchy in British Parliament.

  • Events: Parliament offered the throne to Mary and William of Orange in exchange for creating a constitutional monarchy.

  • Outcome: This led to a near-bloodless overthrow of King James and resulted in the establishment of a Constitutional Monarchy and a Bill of Rights that curtailed the powers of the monarchy.