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The Age of Revolutionsin the Atlantic World

WOH4234

Francisco de Goya, The Third of May 1808 (1814)

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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.

Mixing the Powder

• Empires and Colonies• Eurocentrism• An Integrated Atlantic• New Communities, New Identities

Priming the Pan

The First World War?• War of Spanish Succession, 1701-1714• War of Austrian Succession, 1740-1748• Seven Years’ War, 1756-1763

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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

The Shot Heard Round the World

• Colonial grievances arise from metropoles recouping costs of Seven Years’ War

• Colonists rally around concepts ofself-sufficiency gained through conflicts

• Colonists exploit military experience from metropole conflicts

• Other metropoles intervene to further European ambitions

Aux armes, citoyens!

• Colonists become examples for metropolitans• The Republican idea: states without monarchs• Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité• Constitutionalism, democracy,

conscription, secularization

A Whiff of Grapeshot

• Reaction and repercussion• Consolidation and offensive• From Portugal to Moscow

Combustion

• Liberté, Égalité, Slavery?Haitian Revolution, 1791-1804

• Trafalgar, 1805• Continental System, 1806• Abdications of Bayonne, 1808• Portuguese monarchy flees to Brazil, 1808

1808

• Napoleon forcesBourbons toabdicate

• Napoleon appointsbrother Joseph as king

• People reject new king andelect Juntas

1809

• Supreme Juntaforms in Spain

• Most colonies sendrepresentatives

• Others rebel due tolack of representation

• New Spain Junta effort fails

1810

• French armiesvictorious in Spain

• Supreme Juntadissolves under pressure

• Colonies begin to formnew Juntas

1811

• First Republicof Venezuelabecomes first colonyto declare independence

• Declaration states coloniesgained right to self-ruleafter Bayonne abdications

1812

• Cádiz Cortesproduces firstSpanish Constitution

• Civil war in Venezuela• French invade Russia• Britain and America begin

War of 1812

1813

• Paraguay andMexico declareindependence

• Simón Bolívar beginsrestoration of Venezuela

• Allies gain the upper handin the Peninsular War

1814

• Allies defeatNapoleon andrestore Ferdinand VII

• Ferdinand repealsConstitution of 1812

• Reconquista: Royalistsgain upper hand in colonies

1815

• Royalist forcescontinue advances

• Spain sends 10,000soldiers and 60 ships

• Napoleon returns fromexile for the Hundred Days

• Napoleon defeated at Waterloo

1816

• Civil wars continue• Royalist forces

reach Texas• United Provinces of the

Río de la Plata consolidatepower in South America

1817

• Height of royalistReconquista

• José de San Martíninvades Chile from theUnited Provinces

1818

• Chile declaresindependence

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

1820

• Liberals forceFerdinand torestore constitution

• United Provinces begininvasion of Peru

1821

• Restoration ofConstitution allowsself-rule in Americas

• Royalist leader in Mexicojoins guerrillas, establishesMexican Empire loyal to king

• Bolívar unites Gran Columbia

1822

• Mexico elects kingAgustín de Iturbide

• Dominican Republicdeclares independence

• United States recognizesChile, United Provinces, Peru,Gran Columbia, and Mexico

1823

• Iturbide losessupport, restoresConstituent Congress,abdicates and flees

• Britain recognizes UnitedProvinces but contestsclaims to Falkland Islands

1824

• French invadeSpain to restoremonarchy

• Bolívar defeats Spanishat the Battle of Ayacucho

1825

• Last major Spanishforce surrendersin Upper Peru

• Britain recognizes Mexicoand Gran Columbia

• Spain retains control of Cubaand Puerto Rico until 1898

Repercussions

• New states• New trade• New technologies• New ideas

Discussion

• 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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Key Terms

• Age of Revolutions• Eurocentrism• Creolism• Self-rule, self-government• Virtual Representation• Independence• Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité• Constitution(alism)• Democracy

• Conscription• Secularization• Revolution• Cortes• Junta• Libertadores