Revolutions and Their Causes

Key Causes of Revolutions

Nationalism: Sense of commonality among a People based on shared language, religion, social customs, and desire for territory.
Historically, large states incorporated diverse peoples (e.g., Ottoman Empire, Mongol Empire).
New notion: People with shared culture, history, ethnicity should have their own territory and self-rule.
State strategies: Used nationalism to foster unity (e.g., Russian leaders enforced Russian language, causing counter-nationalism in Ukraine, Poland, Finland).

Generalized rejection of authority worldwide.
Examples:
- Safavid Empire: Imposed harsh taxes, leading to rebellion and weakening of the state.
- Wahhabi Movement: Sought to reform corrupted form of Islam in the Ottoman Empire, contributing to its decline.

Influence of Enlightenment thinkers (e.g., Locke, Rousseau, Montesquieu).
Popular sovereignty: Power to govern is in the hands of the people; leads to democracy.
Liberalism: Emphasizes civil rights, representative government, protection of private property, economic freedom.

British colonies in North America developed own culture and systems due to distance.
Post-Seven Years' War: Britain imposed new taxes and curtailed freedoms, sparking revolution.
Declaration of Independence: Emphasized popular sovereignty, natural rights, social contract.
American victory with French help; establishment of the United States in 1783.

Post-American Revolution: French soldiers influenced by democratic ideals.
Louis XVI's control measures: Led to people's rebellion and establishment of a republic.
Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen: Championed natural rights and popular sovereignty.

Haiti: Prosperous French colony with majority enslaved black population.
Inspired by French Revolution's call for liberty and equality.
Leadership: Toussaint L'Ouverture led enslaved Haitians to revolt and defeat the French.
Result: Second republic in the Western Hemisphere, first black government in the region.

Spanish and Portuguese colonies influenced by Enlightenment ideas.
Creole Class: European-heritage but born in Americas, resented peninsulares' dominance.
Napoleon's influence: Invasion of Spain/Portugal created instability, sparking revolutions.
Leaders like Simón Bolívar advocated for self-rule using Enlightenment ideals (e.g., Letter from Jamaica).
Result: Independence and republican governments in many Latin American colonies.

Spanish colony; limited educational opportunities.
Wealthy Creoles and mestizos educated in Europe, influenced by nationalist and Enlightenment ideas.
Published these ideas, leading to suppression by Spanish authorities and eventual Philippine Revolution.

Both regions were fragmented into multiple states.
Nationalism inspired military leaders to unify regions under single governments.
Achieved through diplomacy and military tactics.

Review for Unit 5 or check out video note guides for a more detailed breakdown.