The Age of Revolutions
in the Atlantic World
WOH4234
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Francisco de Goya, The Third of May 1808 (1814)
Learning Objectives
• What was the Age of Revolutions?
• How did imperial infrastructures and wars
prepare for the Age of Revolutions?
• How did Europe react to colonial revolution?
• How did colonial revolution spread to Europe?
• How did European revolution impact
colonies?
• What were the lasting results of revolutions?
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An Age of Revolutions
What is the Age of Revolutions?
A worldwide series of revolutions, 1750-1850
– American Revolution, 1776-1783
– French Revolution, 1789-1799
– Haitian Revolution, 1791-1804
– Napoleonic Europe, 1799-1815
– Latin-American Revolutions, 1808-1833
– Communist Manifesto & Revolutions of 1848
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An Age of Revolutions
Why an Age of Revolutions?
• The revolutions that occurred in the Atlantic
world, 1750-1850, were not just coincidental, but
shared common themes, causes and effects.
• Thinking about this era as an Age of Revolutions
helps historians explore what connects these
revolutions, as well as what makes each
revolution a unique historical event.
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Sparks of Conflict
• Metropoles spend to defend colonial interests
• Metropoles maximize profits to offset expense
• Colonies consolidate, organize for self-defense
• Colonies bartered during peace process
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1808
• Napoleon forces
Bourbons to
abdicate
• Napoleon appoints
brother Joseph as king
• People reject new king and
elect Juntas
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1809
• Supreme Junta
forms in Spain
• Most colonies send
representatives
• Others rebel due to
lack of representation
• New Spain Junta effort fails
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1810
• French armies
victorious in Spain
• Supreme Junta
dissolves under pressure
• Colonies begin to form
new Juntas
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1811
• First Republic
of Venezuela
becomes first colony
to declare independence
• Declaration states colonies
gained right to self-rule
after Bayonne abdications
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1812
• Cádiz Cortes
produces first
Spanish Constitution
• Civil war in Venezuela
• French invade Russia
• Britain and America begin
War of 1812
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1813
• Paraguay and
Mexico declare
independence
• Simón Bolívar begins
restoration of Venezuela
• Allies gain the upper hand
in the Peninsular War
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1814
• Allies defeat
Napoleon and
restore Ferdinand VII
• Ferdinand repeals
Constitution of 1812
• Reconquista: Royalists
gain upper hand in colonies
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1815
• Royalist forces
continue advances
• Spain sends 10,000
soldiers and 60 ships
• Napoleon returns from
exile for the Hundred Days
• Napoleon defeated at Waterloo
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1816
• Civil wars continue
• Royalist forces
reach Texas
• United Provinces of the
Río de la Plata consolidate
power in South America
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1817
• Height of royalist
Reconquista
• José de San Martín
invades Chile from the
United Provinces
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1818
• Chile declares
independence
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1819
• Fighting continues
• Spain cedes Florida
to United States
• United States renounces
claims to Texas
• Spain organizes expedition
but fails to send it to America
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1820
• Liberals force
Ferdinand to
restore constitution
• United Provinces begin
invasion of Peru
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1821
• Restoration of
Constitution allows
self-rule in Americas
• Royalist leader in Mexico
joins guerrillas, establishes
Mexican Empire loyal to king
• Bolívar unites Gran Columbia
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1822
• Mexico elects king
Agustín de Iturbide
• Dominican Republic
declares independence
• United States recognizes
Chile, United Provinces, Peru,
Gran Columbia, and Mexico
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1823
• Iturbide loses
support, restores
Constituent Congress,
abdicates and flees
• Britain recognizes United
Provinces but contests
claims to Falkland Islands
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1824
• French invade
Spain to restore
monarchy
• Bolívar defeats Spanish
at the Battle of Ayacucho
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1825
• Last major Spanish
force surrenders
in Upper Peru
• Britain recognizes Mexico
and Gran Columbia
• Spain retains control of Cuba
and Puerto Rico until 1898
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Key Terms
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Age of Revolutions
Eurocentrism
Creolism
Self-rule, self-government
Virtual Representation
Independence
Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité
Constitution(alism)
Democracy
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Conscription
Secularization
Revolution
Cortes
Junta
Libertadores
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