Summary the Americas IIa
Exam
1 MAIN THEMES (19TH CENTURY AMERICA)
- Week 1: New Nations in an Age of Revolutions
- Week 2: American Frontiers: A Comparative Perspective
- Week 3: New American Women and Men
- Week 4: City and Country
Missing lecture notes
- Week 5: New Citizens
- Week 6: Reforming Americans
- Week 7: Slave life in the Americas
1.1 EXAM INFORMATION
- Digital exam
- 3 hours
- 2 parts
Section A (70%): choice of 10 questions, answering 7 (200 – 300
words), describing historical events (mention year or decade) and
describe primary sources in detail (use quotes).
Try to be detailed to show knowledge of the subject.
Section B (30%): choice of 2 – 3 essay questions, and basically just
write an essay in which to use clear arguments with good evidence. No
worrying about presentation and no need for a works cited list.
1.2 STUDY STRATEGIE
- Read notes from seminars + slides from lectures
- Read LEP chapters partially + read primary source texts partially
- Make a summary from week 1 to week 7
Main historical events of the periods (mention dates)
Texts analysis’s of primary sources (mention quotes)
1.3 LIBERTY, EQUALITY & POWER
- Relevant chapters in LEP: 7, 10, 8, 11, 12 & 9
- Relevant primary sources of weeks 1 - 7
,2 WEEK 1 – NEW NATIONS IN AN AGE OF
REVOLUTIONS
2.1 LECTURE
- A series of revolutions in the Atlantic world
Distinctive set of connections between different areas (Europe, West-
Africa, America)
Transformation of the western world
Events in one place triggering other events
Four Sets of Revolutions
- American Revolution (1764 – 1781)
Led to America’s independence from Great Britain
- French Revolution & Napoleonic era (1789 – 1815)
- Haitian Revolution (1791 – 1804)
A slave revolt in the French colony of Dominique, which led to Haiti’s
independence
- Latin American Revolutions (1810 – 1830)
Led to independence from Spanish empire
- Main question: How are the revolutions connected?
All led to a government by the people, who function as a foundation
“Age of democratic governments” (instead of monarchies)
Second question: Who is the “people”?
“Era/age of violence”
Rise of military men who come to power during this era of
revolutions
Revolutionary Generals
George Washington Napoleon Bonaparte
- Became the first - While France was
President, while the surrounded by enemies,
Declaration of Napoleon was able to
Independence did not rise up as new leader
favor a single leader after the Revolution
Toussaint L’Ouverture Simon Bolivar Antonio Lopez de Santa
Anna
- Leader of the - Venezuelan
Haitian military and - Mexican politician
Revolution political leader and general, who
“black in Latin fought for
Napoleon” Americas independence
independence
, - The United States (American) Revolution stuck and was the only one that
did not lead to further revolutions within the country
- In Latin America for example, revolutions went on far into the 20 th century
Fidel Castro Hugo Chavez Barack Obama
- Cuban - President of - Commander in
President, who Venezuela Chief of the
fought for - “21st century military
independence Simon - “21st century
from the US Bolivar” George
Washington”
States & Empires, ca. 1700
- Map with empires and colonies (of Britain, France)
- Pre-conditions for the Revolutions of the colonies (US, Haiti, Latin America)
- Mixture of populations and peoples
Led to internal conflicts
Colonial expansion & conflict in 18th century North America
- When the most powerful people (elite) in society feel threatened, they
react and make a broader appeal to the lower classes of people to join
their reaction, which in conclusion leads to a revolution
The standard process of revolution
- How the American Revolution started:
The British owned territory on the east coast, where society was based
on agriculture
The British bought up land from natives, and when they pushed further
they came into contact with the French in Canadian territory
This leads to minor conflicts between France and Britain, where Britain
came out of successfully despite France having the bigger population
and more powerful allies
Reasons: Britain had newer (better) strategies, France also had to
fight in India and focused more on that struggle
Claims & Possessions
- Most of French territory went to Britain, even Canadian territory
Some French populations however, still remained (Quebec, Montreal)
, British trade, 1750 – 1800
- Ships to India, West-Africa, America
- Are in a huge debt from the war with France, and decide that American
provinces have to pay for themselves
Stamp Act (1765)
“No representation without taxation”
Boston Massacre
Sailors etc. oppose British soldiers, more people join the fight and
several colonists get killed
Tea Parties (1773)
Destroying British tea trade, which financially hurts England
Declaration of Independence (1776)
All of the former events eventually lead to the Declaration
- The Revolution was not yet over > Revolutionary War (1775 – 1781)
The British continued the war in the Southern states, promising slaves
independence if they would revolt
Natives (Indians) also often sided with the British, they later received
punishment for this
The French Revolution (1789 – 1799)
- American Revolution ends, while the French Revolution begins
- Similarities:
Both revolutions start due to financial grounds in both countries (Britain
and France) having huge debts because of the Seven Year’s War (1754
– 1763) and try to raise money by calling upon society to pay for their
expenses, which then causes unrest and triggers political revolutions to
reform the government to restore internal and financial problems
“Patriotten” in Nederland (1780s)
Batavian Republic (1795 – 1806)
Before the Louisiana Purchase
- 1763: France turned “La Louisianne” over to Spain
- 1802: Spain returned “Louisianna” to France
- 1803: The US buy “Louisianna” back from France
Haitian Revolution (1791 – 1804)
- Different classes in society of French colony Saint-Domingue
Top classes in society relatively small, while lowest slave-class is huge
- ...
Latin American Independence
- Interconnected with French Revolution and Napoleon coming to power in
France, putting family members in charge in the Spanish government,
which the Latin American colonies did not accept (to be ruled by the
French), so they revolted
- ...
