5.2 Reading--Nationalism and Revolutions

Revolutionary Ideals in France (1870s)

  • In the 1870s, revolutionary ideals in France were encapsulated in the slogan: liberté, égalité, fraternité.

    • Radical concepts were disseminated across Europe through the influential writings of the Enlightenment philosophes.

    • Joseph de Maistre famously remarked that every nation eventually receives the government it deserves.

Conservative Perspectives

  • The rise of new ideas engendered political and philosophical conflicts between liberals and conservatives.

    • Notable conservatives like Edmund Burke and Joseph de Maistre opposed the chaotic Enlightenment ideologies.

    • Both thinkers argued that revolutions often resulted in societal chaos without producing positive outcomes.

  • Despite suppression efforts, the common desire for constitutional governance led to several 19th-century revolutions.

The American Revolution

  • The revolution was deeply rooted in European Enlightenment philosophy and physiocratic free market ideas.

    • Colonial assemblies fostered political independence by assuming roles usually held by the British Parliament.

Declaration of Independence (July 4, 1776)

  • Thomas Jefferson authored the declaration, introducing unalienable rights inspired by philosopher John Locke.

    • Colonists triumphed in 1783 with critical military and financial assistance from Britain's enemy, France.

New Zealand Wars

  • The Maori inhabited New Zealand since the mid-1200s, forming a complex and structured society.

  • British colonization after the 1840 annexation sparked conflicts over land and governance rights.

    • Maori fought for sovereignty during the New Zealand Wars before being subdued by 1872.

The French Revolution

Economic Woes Leading to the Revolution

  • France faced financial difficulties from war expenses, including supporting the American Revolution's successful efforts.

  • The Estates-General met in 1789, representing the clergy, nobility, and the commoner majority.

Formation of National Assembly

  • Due to unequal voting, commoners broke away to form the independent National Assembly.

Early Revolutionary Events

  • Initially, a constitutional monarchy under figures like Lafayette appeared to be a plausible solution.

  • King Louis XVI's threats against leaders sparked riots, leading to the storming of Bastille.

    • Peasants revolted against the nobility, eventually establishing July 14th as French Independence Day.

    • The Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen was passed to emphasize rights.

Radicalization and Conflict

  • Radical Jacobins emerged when the King and nobility resisted the move toward limited monarchy.

  • The First French Republic was established in 1792 due to widespread dissatisfaction with monarchy.

    • The Reign of Terror followed, resulting in thousands of executions, including the King and Queen.

Napoleon Bonaparte

  • Napoleon Bonaparte eventually stabilized the turmoil by crowning himself Emperor of France in 1804.

The Haitian Revolution

Background

  • Enslaved individuals in the French colony of Haiti revolted under the leadership of L’Ouverture.

Key Developments in Haiti

  • In 1801, L’Ouverture established a constitution granting citizenship and implementing significant land reforms.

  • L’Ouverture ended slavery in Haiti before being betrayed and dying in a French prison.

Independence Achieved

  • Jean Jacques Dessalines proclaimed independence in 1804, making Haiti the first black-led nation.

Haitian vs. French Revolutions

  • Both revolutions used Enlightenment principles, but Haitian revolutionaries faced much more severe social constraints.

Creole Revolutions in Latin America

Social and Political Dynamics

  • Creoles spearheaded Latin American independence due to dissatisfaction with Spanish mercantilism and political exclusion.

Motivations for Independence

  • Mestizos also sought political power and economic equity through revolutionary movements against Spanish rule.

The Bolivar Revolutions

  • Simon Bolivar led military campaigns to create Gran Colombia, advocating for liberal economic policies.

    • Bolivar's Jamaica Letter articulated his dedication to Enlightenment values and the people's natural rights.

Aftermath of the Creole Revolution

  • Newly independent nations often remained conservative, such as Peru limiting votes to Spanish literates.

The Propaganda Movement in the Philippines

  • Educated Filipinos in Europe started the Propaganda Movement, advocating for autonomy rather than revolution.

    • Jose Rizal emerged as a leader and his execution in 1896 highlighted the threat.

Nationalism and Unification in Europe

Otto von Bismarck’s Role

  • Otto von Bismarck leveraged nationalist sentiments through strategic wars to establish the unified German Empire.

Italian Unification

  • Count di Cavour propelled Italian unification by practicing realpolitik and collaborating with Garibaldi and Mazzini.

German Nationalism Post-Napoleon

  • A strong sense of nationalism grew during French occupation, leading to demands for civil liberties.

Nationalism in the Balkans

Ottoman Empire Decline

  • The Ottoman Empire's decline allowed Balkan ethnic groups to rally around shared language and tradition.

  • Foreign assistance eventually helped these Balkan nations achieve independence from the weakening Ottoman rule.

The Future of Nationalism

  • Nationalism may decline due to shared currencies, border mobility, and collective international policy coordination.

  • Alternative political organizations may transcend national identities as global cooperation continues to evolve further.