1.
The Enlightenment thinkers influenced declarations and revolutions from all over the world during the revolutionary age. John Locke influenced the Declaration of Independence, Rio de la Plata had a leader who believed in the Enlightenment, and philosophers inspired citizens of France in the French Revolution. Before the American Revolution, many important leaders studied the ideas of the Enlightenment. People were inspired by the writings and wanted to become independent. One important American leader, Thomas Jefferson studied John Locke and incorporated his ideas into the Declaration of Independence. San Martín, one of the leaders of the Rio de la Plata revolution, studied the Enlightenment philosophies in Europe. He was so moved by these ideas that he decided to bring them back to the colonies to start a revolution. Before the French revolution, philosophers such as Jean-Jacques Rousseau led the citizens of France to think critically of politics and equality. This caused the colonists to become upset with the government and revolt. In conclusion, the Enlightenment caused citizens to critically think about their government and their rights, and they brought those ideas into their declarations. This is important because without the Enlightenment, countries and citizens’ right would not be what they are today.
2.
The French Revolution caused other revolutions by establishing what colonists wanted from their leaders during the revolutionary age. In Haiti, the Declaration of Rights of Man and Citizen inspired the colonists, Brazilian development was influenced, and it gave people confidence and hope in the Mexican Revolution. The Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen said itself that all men are created equal, and the slaves and petit blancs were upset that they couldn’t have rights themselves, so they revolted. The revolution also had a massive impact on the development of human rights in Brazil, even though it was halfway around the world. The colonists of Mexico were given confidence and hope when they saw that the middle class in France revolted and won more equal rights compared to the higher class. They subsequently created their own declaration of rights. In conclusion, the French Revolution provided a reason for colonists to revolt against their colonial power. This is important because most ideas from the French Revolution were ahead of their time and these changes would have occurred much later had this groundbreaking revolution not occurred.
3.
Inequality played a substantial factor in the age of revolutions because if there was no inequality, then most colonies would not have had a reason to revolt. If France, New Granada, and Rio de la Plata hadn’t had inequality socially, politically, and economically, they most likely wouldn’t have revolted until many years later. In France, the poor were treated worse than noblemen. Politically, the Catholic Clergy ruled the country while the Aristocrats did all of the labor, and this created tension between the branches. Louis XVI spent almost all of France’s money, supporting the American Revolution, which made his citizens extremely upset. The Creoles in New Granada weren’t allowed to be in positions of power and were treated like slaves. They obviously became extremely upset by this because they were of European descent. That colony was ruled by a monarchy, which they didn’t like because the king would change his mind about laws all of the time. New Granada was ruled by strict mercantilism and heavy taxation during the Bourbon Reforms. Colonists in Rio de la Plata couldn’t move from social ranking to social ranking because the ranking was decided when you were born. Everybody except the Peninsulares suffered socially. (See picture below) This is the document that declared Argentina independent. This shows that they had many reasons, social, political, and economical, to break away from the government of Spain. The people were ruled by viceroyalties, which ruled over them with harsh Spanish rule. The merchants of Rio de la Plata had very strict rules, coming from mercantilism and the encomienda system. In conclusion, inequality gave colonists a reason to revolt. This matters because if every citizen was equal in everything, then the colonies would most likely still be colonies. (Rio de la Plata Revolution)
4.
The people chose to risk their life in the revolutionary age because they wanted freedom from something that was torturing them in many ways. The Haitian, American, and Rio de la Plata revolutions occurred because citizens were tortured politically and economically. The slaves in the French colony of Saint Domingue had almost no rights and the petit blancs didn’t have political equality with the white planters. They were oppressed by the rules of mercantilism, which meant that they couldn’t sell or buy with any other country except France. The American colonies also had to deal with mercantilism and ridiculous taxing policies, taxing even paper for documents. The British tightened their control over the colonies politically and passed unfair laws, such as the Proclamation and the Stamp Act. (See picture below)(American Revolution) This is the Stamp Act document. It shows that the British used the Stamp Act to pay for the French and Indian War. This meant that they couldn’t move any farther west than Eastern Ohio. Viceroyalties were set up in Rio de la Plata and oppressed the people by making them follow the unfair Spanish law. They were also ruled by mercantilism and the hacienda system in their economy. In conclusion, populations risk their lives for independence because they feel that freedom is worth fighting for. This matters because if people aren’t inspired, then they won’t revolt.
The Enlightenment thinkers influenced declarations and revolutions from all over the world during the revolutionary age. John Locke influenced the Declaration of Independence, Rio de la Plata had a leader who believed in the Enlightenment, and philosophers inspired citizens of France in the French Revolution. Before the American Revolution, many important leaders studied the ideas of the Enlightenment. People were inspired by the writings and wanted to become independent. One important American leader, Thomas Jefferson studied John Locke and incorporated his ideas into the Declaration of Independence. San Martín, one of the leaders of the Rio de la Plata revolution, studied the Enlightenment philosophies in Europe. He was so moved by these ideas that he decided to bring them back to the colonies to start a revolution. Before the French revolution, philosophers such as Jean-Jacques Rousseau led the citizens of France to think critically of politics and equality. This caused the colonists to become upset with the government and revolt. In conclusion, the Enlightenment caused citizens to critically think about their government and their rights, and they brought those ideas into their declarations. This is important because without the Enlightenment, countries and citizens’ right would not be what they are today.
2.
The French Revolution caused other revolutions by establishing what colonists wanted from their leaders during the revolutionary age. In Haiti, the Declaration of Rights of Man and Citizen inspired the colonists, Brazilian development was influenced, and it gave people confidence and hope in the Mexican Revolution. The Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen said itself that all men are created equal, and the slaves and petit blancs were upset that they couldn’t have rights themselves, so they revolted. The revolution also had a massive impact on the development of human rights in Brazil, even though it was halfway around the world. The colonists of Mexico were given confidence and hope when they saw that the middle class in France revolted and won more equal rights compared to the higher class. They subsequently created their own declaration of rights. In conclusion, the French Revolution provided a reason for colonists to revolt against their colonial power. This is important because most ideas from the French Revolution were ahead of their time and these changes would have occurred much later had this groundbreaking revolution not occurred.
3.
Inequality played a substantial factor in the age of revolutions because if there was no inequality, then most colonies would not have had a reason to revolt. If France, New Granada, and Rio de la Plata hadn’t had inequality socially, politically, and economically, they most likely wouldn’t have revolted until many years later. In France, the poor were treated worse than noblemen. Politically, the Catholic Clergy ruled the country while the Aristocrats did all of the labor, and this created tension between the branches. Louis XVI spent almost all of France’s money, supporting the American Revolution, which made his citizens extremely upset. The Creoles in New Granada weren’t allowed to be in positions of power and were treated like slaves. They obviously became extremely upset by this because they were of European descent. That colony was ruled by a monarchy, which they didn’t like because the king would change his mind about laws all of the time. New Granada was ruled by strict mercantilism and heavy taxation during the Bourbon Reforms. Colonists in Rio de la Plata couldn’t move from social ranking to social ranking because the ranking was decided when you were born. Everybody except the Peninsulares suffered socially. (See picture below) This is the document that declared Argentina independent. This shows that they had many reasons, social, political, and economical, to break away from the government of Spain. The people were ruled by viceroyalties, which ruled over them with harsh Spanish rule. The merchants of Rio de la Plata had very strict rules, coming from mercantilism and the encomienda system. In conclusion, inequality gave colonists a reason to revolt. This matters because if every citizen was equal in everything, then the colonies would most likely still be colonies. (Rio de la Plata Revolution)
4.
The people chose to risk their life in the revolutionary age because they wanted freedom from something that was torturing them in many ways. The Haitian, American, and Rio de la Plata revolutions occurred because citizens were tortured politically and economically. The slaves in the French colony of Saint Domingue had almost no rights and the petit blancs didn’t have political equality with the white planters. They were oppressed by the rules of mercantilism, which meant that they couldn’t sell or buy with any other country except France. The American colonies also had to deal with mercantilism and ridiculous taxing policies, taxing even paper for documents. The British tightened their control over the colonies politically and passed unfair laws, such as the Proclamation and the Stamp Act. (See picture below)(American Revolution) This is the Stamp Act document. It shows that the British used the Stamp Act to pay for the French and Indian War. This meant that they couldn’t move any farther west than Eastern Ohio. Viceroyalties were set up in Rio de la Plata and oppressed the people by making them follow the unfair Spanish law. They were also ruled by mercantilism and the hacienda system in their economy. In conclusion, populations risk their lives for independence because they feel that freedom is worth fighting for. This matters because if people aren’t inspired, then they won’t revolt.