“My dear philosopher, doesn’t this appear to you to be the century of revolutions?”

– Voltaire (Enlightenment thinker), 1772

What were the key events that caused major changes in the world?

Neolithic Revolution

Classical Civilizations

Rise of IslamAge of ExplorationIndustrial Revolution

Units 4 and 5: Not a clean break

• What do we mean by ‘modern’ history?–Notions of progress, constitutional

government, political democracy, socialism, nationalism, feminism, and opposition to slavery

What revolutions must you analyze?

• United States of America • French• Haitian• Spanish American• Echoes?–Abolitionism–Nationalism–Feminism

Comparing Revolutions

• Are there patterns?

Scientific Revolution to Enlightenment

• Remember Kant?• Hobbes: Absolutism• Locke & Rousseau: Social

contract

North American Revolution 1775 - 1787

• Assemblies & self-government

• Conditions of:– not much

poverty– economic

opportunity

– few social differences

• Publications

Encouraging the Masses: Unity

Boston “Massacre” orBoston “Policing”?1770

Boston Tea Party, 1773“No taxation without representation!”

North American Revolution, 1775-1787

Consequences of the American Revolution

“E Pluribus Unum”

• U.S. Constitution–Bill of Rights–3 Branches of government–Federalism:•Balancing central and state government jurisdictions

French Aid

French Revolution (1789-1815)

• Economic woes & luxurious life of King Louis XVI

The Three Estates• First Estate:• Clergy

• Second Estate:• Nobility

• Third Estate:• Peasants

Estates General, 1789

National Assembly, 1789

Women’s Role

Declaration of the

Rights of Man and Citizen

French Revolution• Messages of

Revolution–Monuments, street

names, playing cards

– State replaced Catholic church as the place for registering births, marriages, and deaths

French Revolution• National Assembly (1789-1791)• Legislative Assembly (1791-1792)– Constitutional monarchy

• National Convention (1793-1794)– The Reign of Terror: Eliminate

opposition to save the Revolution!

• The Directory (1795…)

Napoleon (1799-1814)• Successful general who seized

power• Preserved revolution…?– Civil equality, secular law code,

religious freedom, meritocracy–Military dictatorship

Napoleon (1799-1814)

Revolutions of 1848

American vs. French Revolution

• Enlightenment ideas both societies– Limited to free men

• French social conflicts = more radical revolution

• Americans restoring freedoms• French starting from scratch–New army = rise of new men (Napoleon)

Haitian Revolution, 1791-1804

Saint Domingue (renamed Haiti)

• Power of social media How to apply French revolution in this (brutal) colony?– grand blancs: desire autonomy & fewer

economic restrictions– petit blancs: desire equality of

citizenship for all whites–mixed-race: desire equal treatment– slaves: desire abolitionism

Haitian Revolution, 1791-1804

Toussaint Louverture takes the lead over warring factions

Toussaint Louverture takes lead

over warring factions

Impact of Haitian Revolution?

• Cycles of dictatorships on island• Redistribution of land = no large-scale

farming– http://

www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/jan/14/haiti-history-earthquake-disaster

• Was not recognized by many nations• Sugar expansion in Cuba & Jamaica by

other nations• Napoleon sells Louisiana territory to US