5.2

WHAP Unit 5.2: Nationalism and Revolutions

The American Revolution

• Colonial Independence: The British colonies in America began experiencing a sense of independence due to their geographical distance from Britain and the development of their own colonial legislatures.

The Declaration of Independence

• Spelled out Enlightenment ideas emphasizing "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness."

• The colonists achieved victory in 1783, aided significantly by France, Britain's rival.

• Global Impact: The revolution’s success inspired various uprisings and the establishment of representative governments based on Enlightenment principles worldwide into the 21st century.

The French Revolution

• Context and Background: In 1789, the French revolted against King Louis XVI, marking a significant revolt within the nation itself as opposed to colonial independence.

• The revolution was driven by Enlightenment ideas; the rallying cry was “Liberty, Equality, Fraternity.”

• The revolution produced the "Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen," highlighting civil rights rooted in Enlightenment beliefs.

Political Turmoil during the French Revolution

• Following the failure to establish a limited constitutional monarchy, French leaders formed a republic and aimed to radically transform socio-political and cultural traditions, leading to:

  • The Reign of Terror, where thousands, including the king and queen, were executed.

• After widespread chaos and war, Napoleon Bonaparte emerged, restoring order and declaring himself emperor.

The Haitian Revolution

• As a consequence of the French Revolution, residents of Saint-Domingue (Haiti), primarily enslaved people led by Toussaint L'Ouverture, revolted against French rule at the turn of the 19th century.

• An army sent by Napoleon to suppress the revolt faced defeat, resulting in the creation of the second republic in the New World after the United States.

Latin American Revolutions

• By 1830, the successful Haitian Revolution inspired Latin American colonies to challenge Spanish and Portuguese authority.

• Key leaders included the Creole elites, notably Simón Bolívar, who helped several nations gain independence through military victories, significantly weakening Spain's global power.

• Bolívar authored the "Jamaica Letter," addressing the principles of independence and governance.

Social Dynamics in Latin America

• In contrast to the U.S., Latin America faced stark social and economic divisions; there was a significant gap between the educated elite and the impoverished masses.

• Post-revolution, the elite continued to control the power structures, leading to challenges in establishing stable governance and insufficient socio-economic reform for the majority.

The New Zealand Wars

• In response to Great Britain's annexation, the Maori people in New Zealand rebelled sporadically over four decades.

• Despite developing a sense of Maori nationalism and cooperating among tribes, British forces ultimately prevailed by 1872.

Italian Unification

• Following the disintegration of the Roman Empire, Italy was fragmented into various kingdoms and city-states, sharing a common faith and language but lacking unity.

• Count di Cavour led efforts to unify Italy, utilizing nationalism and practical politics (Realpolitik).

Strategies for Unification

• Cavour emphasized strategic alliances, notably with France, to counteract Austrian opposition.

• He allied with radical revolutionary Giuseppe Mazzini and the guerrilla forces led by Giuseppe Garibaldi to realize the unification goal.

German Unification

• Similar to Italy, Germany's unification was driven by nationalism and the application of realpolitik, primarily orchestrated by Otto von Bismarck.

• Bismarck manipulated a series of conflicts, particularly involving France, Prussia, and Austria, to consolidate German territories.

• Nationalism intensified in Germany, particularly leading up to the formation of a unified German state in 1871 and extending through the World Wars of the 20th century.