Independence & Nationalisms

Question 1

Why now?

Answer 1

Enlightenment thinking, creole nationalism, US independence war, french revolution, napoleonic wars

Question 2

Who was Toussaint L’Ouverture and what was his role in the Haitian revolution?

Answer 2

Leader of Haitian revolution (1794-1804)

Educated, strategic, 1801 constitution which abolished slavery….loyal to french republic

1803 capture by napoleon

1804 Haitian independence

Question 3

Important Haiti Dates

Answer 3

1791: fatiman and boukman revolts

1794: Toussaint L’Ouverture

1802: Napoleon intervention

1803: Toussaint imprisoned

1804: Haiti declares independence

Question 4

How did the Haitian revolution relate to the French revolution?

Answer 4

1. Ideological influence
2. Political opportunity (french upheaval)
3. Abolition of slavery (1794) in French colonies
4. exposes the limits of the french revolution - was inspired by and a radical extension….

Question 5

What was the role of the Mulattos? What does it tell us about the relation between blacks (maroons/free blacks), mulattos, and rich whites and small whites?

Answer 5

Mulattos = mixed african and european descent, many leagally free and wealthy/educated but still legally and socially discriminated

Many of them demanded political/civil rights…

Tension with petits blanc (poor/middle class) and grand blancs (wealthy)

Further racial divides between different classes….class and color tensions

Whites = preservation
Mulattos = divided
Free Blacks/maroons = revolution
Enslaved = abolition and true equality

Question 6

How does CLR James portray the enslaved population and their use of violence?

Answer 6

Deeply oppressed, but highly conscious, organised, purposeful

1. violence as political and revolutionary, legitimate
2. rejection of stereotypes and agency
3. collective sense of identity and purpose

4.revolution from below

Question 7

Brazilian independence?

Answer 7

1807 napoleon pushes portuagal to flee to Brazil - new seat of Portugese empire

1821 Monarchy returns to portugal

1822 Dom Pedro declares independence

top-down process led by royal and elite interests seeking to preserve social order and slavery while gaining political autonomy…

1888 abolition of slavery

1889 proclamation of the republic, conservative, military-backed republic…

Question 8

Mexican Independence?

Answer 8

mass revolt led by priests fail - 1821 alliance between creole elite and spanish colonial elite declare independence from spain

Mexican independence began as a popular, radical uprising but ended as a conservative, elite-led project. The new state preserved many colonial structures, including social and racial hierarchies, and struggled to achieve political stability in the years that followed.

Question 9

South American Independence?

Answer 9

1810-1830

Bolivar (North) Martin (South) Sucre (Bolivia)

1824 battle of ayachucho

Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Bolivia, Chile, Peru

sparked by local discontent, enlightenment ideals, napoleonic invasion of Spain…

1826 Independence…

Changing alliances of masses, failed unified LA, unequal access to land….

Question 10

Caudillismos?

Answer 10

Former military officers from independence wars, filled political vaccum of weak institutions and government

consequences: authoritarian/regionalism, patriarchal relations…
delay of stable, liberal democracies in 19th century LA