THE ANATOMY OF
TH
TH
19 AND 20
CENTURY
REVOLUTIONS: FRANCE
AND HAITI
BOURGEOIS LIBERAL REVOLUTIONS

Generally 1680s to 1830s
 English,
American, French, Haitian
 Belgian, Dutch, Italian, German
 Meiji Restoration of 1867 (Japan)





Often focuses on middle class issues
Violence occurs but not always a means
Tendency to turn conservative
Conflict with radicals
Nationalism managed
NATIONALIST OR INTERIM


France was an example as was Haiti
Generally between 1830 – 1870
Latin American independence movements
 Mehmet Ali (Egypt), 1830
 French Revolution 1848, Commune 1870
 Polish 1830, 1848, 1863
 19th c. Eastern Europe
 All revolutions of 1848




Increasingly nationalist
Increasingly poor citizens participate
Increasingly opposed by middle class
MASS REVOLUTIONS


In some ways France, Haiti were both
Characteristics
 Radical
lower middle, working classes
 Mass Mobilization by Leading Elite
 All
citizens join to achieve end
 Led by revolutionary, secretive elite
 Uses mass media to function, rule
 Desire
to remake society radically
 Often uses violence as means to end
FRANCE: THE MODEL
ESTABLISHED MANY
YEARS LATER!
OLD REGIME LOSES CONTROL




The state is economically
weak if not bankrupt.
Central government is
ineffective and cannot
enforce its rules and
policies.
New ideas circulate
which challenge the
older traditions.
Vocally powerful and
influential opposition
arises.
TRADITIONAL CONSERVATIVES SEEK
CONTROL




The old social elites
attempt to reassert
their privileges.
Some disaster rallies
the forces, who oppose
changes, seek control of the
situation.
Short-term event sparks a
conflict.
Government too divided and
weak to suppress the conflict.
THE MODERATE PHASE





The moderates come to control
Feudalism abolished
Electorate expanded
Liberal Constitution
Reforms especially economics
and political initiated.
REACTION TO MODERATES





Moderates stop reforms.
Moderate franchise limited.
Radicals feel moderates too slow
Radicals feel reforms too few
Radicals mobilize their supporters
RADICALS SIEZE CONTROL




Radicals take control.
Radicals restructure state.
Radicals initiate sweeping changes
in the society.
The radicals eliminate most old
institutions completely.
RADICAL REIGN OF TERROR




“The Revolution Eats Its
Children”
Opposition both
foreign/domestic arises to
challenge radical control.
The radicals remove
opposition often through
violent methods.
Radicals seek to
institutionalize
and spread their
ideologies.
MODERATE REACTION






Moderates overthrown radicals
Reestablish moderate regime.
Repress the more radical
elements in a “white terror.”
Moderates abandon the
more radical reforms.
Moderates return some of the
privileges/policies of old regime.
Moderates lose touch with
majority
of population who
want more reforms.
RISE OF A STRONG LEADER





Leader, usually from the military
arises and focuses opposition to
moderates.
Leader seizes control of the
government, often ruling through
the army.
Leader blends conservative,
moderate and radical policies.
Leader establishes new,
effective, stable, and
generally popular
institutions.
Revolution ends.
HAITIAN REVOLUTION
Saint-Domingue

Rich French colony on western Hispaniola







Society dominated by small white planter class
90 percent of population were slaves
Horrendous working conditions
Large communities of escaped slaves (maroons)
Ideas of Enlightenment reached educated blacks
Free blacks fought in American war
Widespread discontent




White settlers sought self-governance
Gens de couleur sought political rights
Slaves wanted freedom
Slave revolt began in 1791

Factions of white settlers, gens de couleur, slaves battled each other
French troops arrived in 1792; British, Spanish intervened in 1793
Slaves conquer whole island including Spanish part
Whites driven into exile, executed




Toussaint Louverture (1744-1803)

Son of slaves, literate, son of Enlightenment
Skilled organizer, built strong, disciplined army




Controlled most of Saint-Domingue by 1797
Created a constitution in 1801
Arrested by French troops; died in jail, 1803

Haiti





Yellow fever ravaged French troops; defeated, driven out by slave armies
Declared independence in 1803; republic established in 1804
Civil War followed until 1810; kingdom to 1820
Dominican Republic independent in 1844
SAN DOMINIQUE OR HAITI:
BRITON CRANE’S MODEL
APPLIED
OLD REGIME LOSES CONTROL

Rich French colony on western Hispaniola







Society dominated by small white planter class
90 percent of population were slaves
Horrendous working conditions
Large communities of escaped slaves (maroons)
Ideas of Enlightenment reached educated blacks
Free blacks fought in American war
Widespread discontent



White settlers sought self-governance
Gens de couleur sought political rights
Slaves wanted freedom
TRADITIONAL CONSERVATIVES SEEK
CONTROL




The old social elites
attempt to reassert
their privileges.
Some disaster rallies
the forces, who oppose
changes, seek control of the
situation.
Short-term event sparks a
conflict.
Government too divided and
weak to suppress the conflict.
THE MODERATE PHASE





The moderates come to control
Feudalism abolished
Electorate expanded
Liberal Constitution
Reforms especially economics
and political initiated.
REACTION TO MODERATES





Moderates stop reforms.
Moderate franchise limited.
Radicals feel moderates too slow
Radicals feel reforms too few
Radicals mobilize their supporters
RADICALS SIEZE CONTROL




Radicals take control.
Radicals restructure state.
Radicals initiate sweeping changes
in the society.
The radicals eliminate most old
institutions completely.
RADICAL REIGN OF TERROR




“The Revolution Eats Its
Children”
Opposition both
foreign/domestic arises to
challenge radical control.
The radicals remove
opposition often through
violent methods.
Radicals seek to
institutionalize
and spread their
ideologies.
MODERATE REACTION






Moderates overthrown radicals
Reestablish moderate regime.
Repress the more radical
elements in a “white terror.”
Moderates abandon the
more radical reforms.
Moderates return some of the
privileges/policies of old regime.
Moderates lose touch with
majority
of population who
want more reforms.
RISE OF A STRONG LEADER





Leader, usually from the military
arises and focuses opposition to
moderates.
Leader seizes control of the
government, often ruling through
the army.
Leader blends conservative,
moderate and radical policies.
Leader establishes new,
effective, stable, and
generally popular
institutions.
Revolution ends.