The Age of Revolution
The Age of Revolution defines the era from around 1774 to 1849 where some of the momentous revolutionary movements took place in most parts of Europe as well as the Americas. It was during this era that, a change from the absolutist monarchies to the representative administrations with a documented constitution were noted period is noted and the formation of nation-states. The three most fundamental revolutions that took place during the revolution period included the American (1776-1783), the French (1789-1815), and the Haitian (1791-1804) Revolutions. This paper intends to address how the three revolutions were different or unique from one another as well as how they developed on the success of one another.
How the Revolutions are Unique from one another
The three revolutions, American (1776-1783), the French (1789-1815), as well as the Haitian (1791-1804) are thought to be unique from one another based on various aspects. Among them are caused.
The American Revolution (1776-1783)The American Revolution describes a colonial revolt that took place amid 1775 and 1783. The American Patriots in the Thirteen Colonies overpowered the British in the American Revolutionary conflict with the support of the French, acquiring sovereignty from Great Britain and forming the United States of America. The American Revolution is also considered to be unique from the other three revolutions majorly based on the ideals behind its cause. The enlightenment ideas that led to the American Revolution consisted of the need for freedom, equality, as well as the quest of joy. According to Heyman, (2017), John Locke’s “Natural Rights” indicated that if the administration does not achieve its task, then people are entitled to rebel. This majorly forms the action taken by the colonists.
The American Revolution also appears unique from the other two Revolutions since it was also caused due to taxation. The English monarchy enforced unfair taxes on the colonists by, like the Tea Act, and the Sugar Act. These colonists were angered by the enforced and hence became the key influence of the revolution (Stark, 2019). American Revolution also seems different from the other two revolutions because of the desire to get rid of the overwhelming British power over the colonies. Due to the control, the British had over the lives of the colonists, the colonists became upset by this and took it upon themselves to revolt or form a revolution. Another significant difference between the American, the French, as well as the Haitian Revolution is that the American Revolution officially started with a document, which consists of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, as well as led to the establishment of the newly independent U.S.A.
- The French Revolution (1789-1815),
The French Revolution describes an era of radical social as well as political disruption in France from the year 1789 to 1815 that intensely impacted French and contemporary history, depicting the turndown of powerful monarchies and churches and the emergence of democracy in addition to nationalism. Trendy umbrage of the civil liberties that the clergy and aristocracy loved grew amongst an economic catastrophe subsequent to two costly conflicts and years of dreadful harvests, motivating needs for change (Doyle, 2018). In other words, the French Revolution was also caused as a result of the economical issues that the nation was facing. France was in huge debt due to the involvement in past conflicts and the country was going bankrupt because of extravagance shown by King Louis XVI as well as his wife Marie Antoinette. All these were contained in terms of clarification principles and led to the forum of the Estates-General in May 1789.
Notably, the French revolution is also considered to be unique from the American and the Haitian revolutions because, while the American started with a document of declaration, the French Revolution officially started with an action which consisted of Storming of the Bastille on July 14, 1789 (Doyle, 2018). Another significant uniqueness in the French Revolution compared to that of the American is that, while the American Revolution resulted in the formation of newly independent United States, the French Revolution overthrew its own administration. Nevertheless, the French persons were very much impressed with the notions of freedom and democracy sought after by the new U.S, and these majorly impacted their thinking. Additionally, the enlightenment principles that impacted the French Revolution indicated that every man was free and equal. “Natural Rights” also impacted the population to rebel in opposition to their over authoritative administration.
iii. The Haitian Revolution (1791-1804)
The uniqueness of the Haitian Revolution is based on the fact that it was a slave uprising in the Saint-Domingue; a French colony, which climaxed in the abolition of slavery and the formation of the Republic of Haiti. Notably, before it was given the name Haiti, it was referred to as Saint-Domingue. The name was given because there were high productions of sugar, cotton, indigo and coffee by the slaves. The Haitian Revolution was the only slave revolt which led to the founding of a state. Another significant unique aspect of Haiti Revolution is that its success came as a result of the support offered by the British. The British were robust rivals of the French thus they joined forces with Haiti. The British did not like France retaining more power. Hence the support Haiti got from the British was very significant for them as it helped in the revolution. In addition, uniqueness of the Haiti Revolution is based on the idea that it was measured to be the most successful slave revolt to have ever happened and as a crucial moment in both America and Europe’s’ histories. The uprising started with a rebellion of black African slaves in 1791. And in the year 1803, it ended with the French conquer at the conflict of Vertières (Scott, 2018). Haiti was then created as an independent nation in 1804. In other words, the clarification elements that led to the Haitian Revolution, for example, the affirmation of the Rights of man indicated that every man was free and equal as well.
In the Haitian Revolution, the white men were considered to be of the high class while the slaves were seen to be of the low class. The slaves insisted that they as well needed equality and freedom as well as hence the revolt began. Another unique aspect of the Haitian Revolution is that, during the revolt, the slaves applied civil disobedience as a strategy of revolting against the French (Scott, 2018). They went opposed their owners’ or masters’ authorities and went on strike. Additionally, they also went to the fields late and left early, which led to a reduction in their fields’ productivity. The Haitian revolution also indicated a violent tactic of opposing slavery by the rebels (slaves) whereby, they burned sugar cane plantation and even killed slave masters or owners.
How the Revolutions built on the Success of One another
There are various ways by which the three revolutions American (1776-1783), the French (1789-1815), as well as the Haitian (1791-1804) were built on the success of one another. For example, the French Revolution built on the success of American Revolution in the sense that, the direct or open connection between some of the French people with the Americans enabled them to successfully apply the Americans’ Enlightenment notions into a fresh political scheme. The French National Assembly addition applied the American’s Declaration (statement) of Independence as a form when formulating the Statement of the Rights of Man and the inhabitants in 1789. The Americans’ ability to defeat the British might have created another significant impact on the French Revolution.
The French realized that a revolution could be successful even it is applied against significant military powers and lasting changes were also likely to occur. This has therefore been considered to have motivated the French into forming the French revolution. Moreover, the freshly established U.S administration also became a model for French reformers. According to Marks, (2018), a good number of scholars assume that the similar ideologies that stimulated the American Revolution had long transuded through the French culture. At the time of the battle in North American colonies, part of the allied Frenchmen collaborated with the soldiers of the Continental Army, which enabled for the interchanging of values, as well as ideas and philosophies. One significant ideological movement acknowledged as the Enlightenment, was essential to the American Revolution since it emphasized the notion of natural rights and inhabitants’ equality. The notions of the enlightenment circulated from Europe to the North American continent and are considered to have triggered the uprising.
According to Harrison, (2017), the Haitian Revolution was majorly built on the success of the French revolution. This is because in the year 1789 the National Assembly of France formed a Declaration of the Rights of Man. This was a document that declared freedom and equality for every man. With this success, the slaves therefore so the need to be free and considered equally as the white men. Slaves then began the Haitian revolution to fight for equality and freedom which had already been set by the National Assembly of France. Based on the unequal rights, it is also noted that similar to the American colonists, the French also thought that the precise rights were only given to some society segments, for example, the elite and the aristocrats. The French revolution is therefore considered to have been established based on the success of the push for equal rights in the American Revolution.
Conclusion
Conclusively, the Age of Revolution was a period that occurred amid 1774 to 1849 majorly in some parts of Europe as well as the Americas. The three most fundamental revolutions that took place during the revolution period included the American (1776-1783), the French (1789-1815), and the Haitian (1791-1804) Revolutions. These three revolutions are unique in various ways. For example, they both occurred in different times, while the American Revolution was caused as a result of taxation, the founding of colonies, as well as protest in Boston, the major aspect of the Haitian revolution was the social instability of Saint Domingue. The French revolution, on the other hand, occurred as a result of the political conflict especially the conflict amid the monarch and the noble. Notably, the three Revolutions were built on each other’s success in various ways. The French Revolution, for instance, was built upon America’s success of American’s Declaration (statement) of Independence.