Political Revolutions in the 18th and 19th centuries – CAUSES Compared

Powdered Heads and Powder Kegs

Question of the DayThroughout history, what are the reasons why people have revolted violently against their own government?

Why didn’t German people revolt against Adolph Hitler in the 1930s-1940s?

• American Revolution – N American Colonists revolt against British control

• French Revolution – people living in France revolt against the French government

• Haitian Revolution Slaves (originally from Africa) revolt against their French owners and European control

• Latin American Revolutions series of revolts by Mesoamerican and S American colonists against Portuguese and Spanish rule (and French rule)

18th&19th century Atlantic Revolutions

SIMILARITIES in the CAUSES of 18th and 19th

century Atlantic REVOLUTIONS

1. The Enlightenment influenced revolutionaries and their governments.

emphasis on reason, natural rights, the individual, and social contract

2. Conflict between social and racial classes.

*except in the American Revolution

#5 or #14

FrenchSoci

al Class

es

3. ECONOMIC PROBLEMS Economic problems like

inflation, poor harvests, & increased taxation of the lower classes led to rebellion.

**Except Haiti

Revolutions inspired and/or caused other revolutions.

5. European wars either directly or indirectly led to

revolutions Conflicts

between Britain, France, and Spain.

Napoleon’s conquest of Europe