Atlantic Revolutions
Introduction
American, French, Haitian, &
Latin American =
The Atlantic Revolutions
Common Themes
• European absolutist and/or colonial governments
were challenged by people who wanted greater
democracy**
• Usually, a growing middle class of people were
behind the call for change
• Huge changes in social and political structures
resulted (but most often the changes were NOT as
revolutionary as we think they were!)
• All were inspired by Enlightenment thinkers
• All created important documents
– Declaration of Independence (USA)
– Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen
(France)
– Jamaica Letter (Simon Bolivar in Latin America)
American Independence
• Overall Causes:
• British colony
• Frustrated by mercantilist policies of the
British gov’t (econ exploitation of colonies)
• Middle/Upper class wanted a voice in gov’t
• Helped by French military (b/c France
hated Britain)
• End Results:
• Independent from Britain in 1783
• Limited democracy with strong checks on
the people’s power
French Revolution
•Overall Causes:
•French gov’t bankrupt
•Middle class wanted a say in gov’t (Ancien
Regime was viewed as unjust) & weak King
Louis XVI
•2 Main Phases
• Moderate Phase (Constitutional Monarchy)
BUT France was invaded by foreign
governments & a crazy “mob mentality”
developed
• Radical Phase (cut off King’s head, tried to
implement true democracy)
• End Results
•Dictatorship under Napoleon Bonaparte (17991815) b/c France just wanted stability again!
Haitian Revolution
• Overall Causes
• Most Haitians were slaves (more than 90% of
the population)
• The French Revolution occurred “back home”
(Haiti was a French sugar colony)
• While France was busy with foreign invasions
and mob rule during the Radical Phase of their
own revolution, slaves revolted in their colony
• End Results
• Independence from France in 1804
• Toussaint L’Ouverture (former slave) became
dictator
• Corrupt & dictator-filled Haitian gov’t today
Latin American
• Overall Causes
• Spanish & Portuguese colonies
• Frustrated by mercantilist policies (econ
exploitation)
• Middle/Upper class wanted a voice in gov’t
• Fought wars of liberation led by Creole
generals Bolivar & San Martin
• End Results
• Independence
• No single nation formed (as in USA)
• Attempted democracy, but upper class
creoles held onto power/wealth at expense
of the poor