Revolutions

🔑 Big Idea

Revolutions (1750–1900) weren’t just about overthrowing rulers—they were about creating new nations based on ideas like liberty, equality, and nationalism.

🇺🇸 American Revolution (1775–1783)

  • Colonists rebelled against Britain

  • Inspired by Enlightenment ideas (natural rights, consent of the governed)

Causes:

  • Taxation without representation

  • British control over colonies

Key Ideas:

  • Popular sovereignty

  • Republicanism

Outcome:

  • Independence from Britain

  • Creation of a democratic nation (U.S. Constitution)

  • Inspired future revolutions

🇫🇷 French Revolution (1789–1799)

  • Overthrew monarchy and created a republic

Causes:

  • Social inequality (Three Estates)

  • Economic crisis & debt

  • Enlightenment ideas

Key Events:

  • Storming of Bastille

  • Reign of Terror

Outcome:

  • End of feudalism

  • Rise of nationalism

  • Eventually led to Napoleon Bonaparte taking power

🇭🇹 Haitian Revolution (1791–1804)

  • Slave revolt in French colony

Key Leader:

  • Toussaint Louverture

Significance:

  • Only successful slave revolt in history

  • First independent Black republic

Outcome:

  • Haiti gains independence

  • Frightened slave societies elsewhere

🌎 Latin American Revolutions (1800s)

  • Colonies in Latin America gained independence from Spain/Portugal

Causes:

  • Enlightenment ideas

  • Social inequality (creoles vs. peninsulares)

  • Influence of American & French Revolutions

Key Leaders:

  • Simón Bolívar

  • José de San Martín

Outcome:

  • Independence achieved

  • BUT:

    • Power stayed with elites

    • Little social change

🇨🇳 Revolutions in China (late 1800s–early 1900s)

  • Qing Dynasty weakened by internal rebellion & foreign influence

Key Issues:

  • Western imperialism

  • Economic problems

Key Revolution:

  • 1911 Revolution (end of Qing Dynasty)

Leader:

  • Sun Yat-sen

Outcome:

  • China becomes a republic

  • Continued instability

🇷🇺 Russian Revolution (1917)

  • Overthrew the tsar and created a communist state

Causes:

  • Economic inequality

  • Poor working conditions

  • Failures in WWI

Leader:

  • Vladimir Lenin

Outcome:

  • End of monarchy

  • Creation of Soviet Union

  • Spread of communism

🌐 Key Theme: Nationalism

  • Nationalism = pride/loyalty to one’s nation

  • Motivated revolutions and independence movements

  • Helped unify or break apart empires

🧠 Quick Takeaways (Cheat Sheet)

  • Enlightenment ideas = major cause of revolutions

  • Nationalism = key motivator

  • Most revolutions = political change > social change

  • Exception: Haiti & Russia had major social change