In 1789, the French Revolution was the
foundation of a revolutionary process that occurred all around the
Atlantic worlds between the years of 1775 and 1875. During those times, the
Atlantic revolutions had a great impact well beyond its confines. Many French
soldiers had provided assistance to the American colonists and the American
Revolution had in a sense awakened them when they returned home full of
republican enthusiasm. Many people started to believe in greater rights for
women and even steps towards abolishing slavery. For example, The Haitian
Revolution, housed 8,000 plantations, and produced 40 percent of the world’s
sugar. Encompassing roughly 500,000 slaves, which constituted a majority of its
population. Due to the French Revolution, it “lit several fuses and set in
motion a spiral of violence that engulfed the colony for more than a decade.”
However, the Haitian Revolution was very destructive and lead to a bitter
internal division of race, color, and class. It led to long-lasting poverty as
well as to its authoritarian and unbalanced politics. However, at the time was
a great sign of hope and fear for other governments controlling colonies. The
book points to the fact that many of these revolutions lead to a sense of
nationalism. Further, giving ground to socialism and communism. As history
shows, there is both pro and con to Revolutions. Revolutions, opened the world
to human possibility, it attempts to sweep away oppression, exploitation, and
privilege, yet came at the cost of much bloodshed.
Because of the views of the famous Indian nationalist and spiritual leader Mahatma Gandhi, it eventually led the country of India to independence from British colonial rule by 1947. Gandhi criticized industrialization as economic abuse. Not many people at the time agreed with him because every society had basically embraced at the very minimum the idea of industrialization and saw many significant elements of Europe’s modern transformation. For example, the industrial Revolution was more fundamental than any breakthrough since the Agricultural Revolution; it utterly transformed European society, and drew upon the Scientific Revolution. The Industrial Revolution appears to have occurred in Great Britain first, however, many other countries and societies have had great advances in technology before the date of the Revolution, but eventually slowed or became stagnate. Great Britain however received credit as the “first” because they were the most commercialized of the European countries. Their small farmers had been pushed out, and market production had fueled agricultural innovations. Furthermore, British commerce was worldwide in which it was protected by Britain’s large Royal Navy. British politics also encouraged commercialization and economic innovation by establishing religious tolerance to welcome people with technical skills, but did impose tariffs and forbid workers unions. The Industrial Revolution soon spread to continental Western Europe and Russia, and by the 1900, it had also reached Japan and the United States. Industrialization seemed to have similar outcomes wherever it was established; middle class women had withdrawn from paid labor, peasant classes declined, and women started to receive lower wages than men. Further, the spread of industrialization was affected by the cultures of the land where it was established. The United States Industrialization had began with New England textiles, and exploded after the Civil War. By 1914, the United States was the world’s leading industrial power, in which it was closely linked to European industrialization by providing at least one-third in capital investment. This explosion in the United States created serious social divisions such as growing gaps between the rich and poor, and constant labor of the working class. This led to growing labor protest, which was led by the working class and became violent at times. In the 1900s, Russia was considered an absolute monarchy, and dominated by a titled nobility. However, due to Russia’s defeat in the Crimean War, the state set out to improve Russia’s economic and industrial retrogression. During their Industrial Revolution they focused on foreign investment, railroads and heavy industry, as well as, concentrating their industries in few major cities. However, Russia working class only consisted of about 5% of the population. Further, in 1917, a Revolution broke out, which brought the most radical of the socialist groups to power. Apparently, only Russia’s industrialization lead to a violent social revolution in the world.
Because of the views of the famous Indian nationalist and spiritual leader Mahatma Gandhi, it eventually led the country of India to independence from British colonial rule by 1947. Gandhi criticized industrialization as economic abuse. Not many people at the time agreed with him because every society had basically embraced at the very minimum the idea of industrialization and saw many significant elements of Europe’s modern transformation. For example, the industrial Revolution was more fundamental than any breakthrough since the Agricultural Revolution; it utterly transformed European society, and drew upon the Scientific Revolution. The Industrial Revolution appears to have occurred in Great Britain first, however, many other countries and societies have had great advances in technology before the date of the Revolution, but eventually slowed or became stagnate. Great Britain however received credit as the “first” because they were the most commercialized of the European countries. Their small farmers had been pushed out, and market production had fueled agricultural innovations. Furthermore, British commerce was worldwide in which it was protected by Britain’s large Royal Navy. British politics also encouraged commercialization and economic innovation by establishing religious tolerance to welcome people with technical skills, but did impose tariffs and forbid workers unions. The Industrial Revolution soon spread to continental Western Europe and Russia, and by the 1900, it had also reached Japan and the United States. Industrialization seemed to have similar outcomes wherever it was established; middle class women had withdrawn from paid labor, peasant classes declined, and women started to receive lower wages than men. Further, the spread of industrialization was affected by the cultures of the land where it was established. The United States Industrialization had began with New England textiles, and exploded after the Civil War. By 1914, the United States was the world’s leading industrial power, in which it was closely linked to European industrialization by providing at least one-third in capital investment. This explosion in the United States created serious social divisions such as growing gaps between the rich and poor, and constant labor of the working class. This led to growing labor protest, which was led by the working class and became violent at times. In the 1900s, Russia was considered an absolute monarchy, and dominated by a titled nobility. However, due to Russia’s defeat in the Crimean War, the state set out to improve Russia’s economic and industrial retrogression. During their Industrial Revolution they focused on foreign investment, railroads and heavy industry, as well as, concentrating their industries in few major cities. However, Russia working class only consisted of about 5% of the population. Further, in 1917, a Revolution broke out, which brought the most radical of the socialist groups to power. Apparently, only Russia’s industrialization lead to a violent social revolution in the world.
Hi William,
ReplyDeleteI really agree with your post about the different Atlantic Revolutions. The French Revolutiion and the Haitian Revolution both were interesting stories with some amazing results. The fact that the Haitians overcame race and class to overthrow their oppressors was an amazing tale with a good ending. It's an inspiration for many people in history who have been oppressed. Thank you for your post.