Ariela's Connections

 

How did the Enlightenment influence the Age of Revolutions?

 

During the Age of Revolutions, the Enlightenment thinkers like Baron Montesquieu, John Locke, and Thomas Hobbes, influenced revolts in United States of America with the incorporation of the separation of powers, Brazil with the idea of having the right to revolt against the government, and in Argentina, Uruguay, and Paraguay with the idea of the limited monarchy. In the United States, the founding fathers had all studied the Enlightenment philosophers and after a lot of wars and commotion decided to follow their ideologies and in the Declaration of Independence stated Baron Montesquieu’s idea about the belief of the separation of powers as well as John Locke’s idea of right to revolution after a “long train of abuses” from the government to the people. Just like the United States, Brazil also followed John Locke’s ideology: "But if a long train of abuses, prevarications and artifices, all tending the same way, make the design visible to the people, and they cannot but feel, what they lie under, and whither they are going, 'tis not to be wondered, that they should then rouse themselves, and endeavour to put the rule into such hands, which may secure to them the ends for which government was at first enacted". (Second Treatise, Chapter 19). Before the Brazilian Revolution, there was abuse from the Portuguese government towards the Brazilian government after the royal family migrated to Brazil and changed the way of life in a negative way causing anger and tension within the colony. Another important revolution that was inspired by these thinkers was Río de la Plata which happened in Argentina, Uruguay, and Paraguay. José de San Martín and Simón Bolivar both traveled to Europe where they gained knowledge of Thomas Hobbes’ idea of an absolute monarchy and figured that it was the worst possible type of government and saw Napoleon’s idea of establishing his brother, Joseph as a sign of weakness and a opportunity to gain independence from Britain. In conclusion, the role of the Enlightenment thinkers was crucial during the Age of Revolution since it influenced many nations to revolt against their powers. 

 

2. How did the French Revolution cause other revolutions?

Between the years 1680-1820, the French Revolution influenced the revolts in Brazil because of the invasion in Portugal, Haiti with the influence of the Declaration of Rights and Men, and Argentina, Uruguay, and Paraguay with Napoleon’s incorporation of his brother, Joseph in charge of Spain. Napoleon’s invasion in Portugal caused the royal family to migrate to Brazil causing many  indifferences between the people and their way of government. The royal family imposed harsh taxes and established different rules causing anger in the colony. Once everything was settled in Portugal, the royal family left Brazil leaving Don Pedro in charge. After a few years of Don Pedro’s govern, the royal family asked him to return to Portugal. Don Pedro denied and with the inspiration from his wife, Maria Leopoldina: "Do not oppress the poor. Be charitable. Do not complain about what God has given you, but improve your habits. We must strive earnestly to be good” he decided to get independence from Portugal. Before that, in 1791, when the Declaration of Rights and Men was established in France, Toussaint L’Overture a black slave stood up for the rest of the slaves in Haiti and led a revolution against France. He demanded the incorporation of the Declaration of Rights Men to be placed in Haiti as well and their independence. During the revolution of Río de la Plata, after Napoleon had conquisted Spain and placed his brother, Joseph as the ruler of this nation, Argentina, Uruguay, and Paraguay and their revolutionary leaders, José de San Martín and Simón Bolivar, because they saw this as a sign of weakness from the Spanish and believed they would be better of without them. In conclusion, the French Revolution truly inspired the revolts held in Brazil, Haiti, and Río de la Plata with the influence of the invasions held in Portugal and Spain as well as the Declaration of Rights and Men. 

 

3. What role did inequality play in the Age of Revolutions?

 

During the Age of Revolution, inequality played a huge role in the American Revolution when the whites had more power, during the French Revolution and the division of privileges, and the Mexican Revolution with the Encomienda system. As the American Revolution was approaching, many Native American and African women, the lowest in the social structure, were abused by the white colonists who were in charge of them. Abuse towards the Native Americans and Africans also occurred when they were forced into slavery and brutally beaten to death. Social inequality was dominant in France during the French Revolution, once the Ancien Regime was establish. This Regime set a monarchy, a clergy, and an aristocracy. Also, privileges were determined by birth rather than from talent which prevented the peasants to ascend the social ladder to be able to thrive. In Mexico, encomienda systems where established and granted by the Spanish crown to those of wealth and higher social status. This allowed them to have the right to force the natives into very harsh labor, basically treating them as slaves. It is very clear that inequality played an extensive role during the Age of Revolution. The way minorities were treated eventually led to the revolutions in United States, Mexico, and France. 

 

 

4. Why did these revolutions take place, and why did so many of them take place during this period?

 

Between the years 1680-1720, revolutions where happening all around the world, all with the same purpose: to gain independence. The majority of these revolts happened because of the influence from the Enlightenment thinkers, other revolutions happening at the same time, and inequality. It is important to recognize John Locke, Thomas Hobbes, Baron Montesquieu as the most influential thinkers of all time. Their ideologies gave people guts and strength to revolt against the nations in hopes of gaining their independence, making the influence of the Enlightenment thinkers te most important. At this same time, Napoleon Bonaparte and his armies were trying to conquer parts of the world, his influence gave the countries fighting in the Río de la Plata Revolution, the bravery to gain independence from Spain because they saw the conquering of Spain as a sign of weakness. Also, inequality was truly important during this time, due to the amount of political, economic, and social instability in the United States, Mexico, people gained the confidence in revolting and gaining their freedom. Many causes led to the Age of Revolutions, all of them giving countries the confidence and the strength to gain independence. If it weren’t for the influence of the Enlightenment thinkers, other revolutions happening at the same time, and the inequality, it would have taken the countries an even longer time to revolt against the nations.