Chapter 16 Atlantic Revolution, Global Echoes 1750-1914 (pp. 781-797)

I learned that the Haitian Revolution was the beginning to a large change that would begin to occur around the world from 1775 till 1825. Both the North American and French Revolutions would inspire the Haitians to be successful in overthrowing the the French rule and would help shape Latin America independence struggles. The Atlantic Revolution was entirely different from one country to another. This form of revolution was caused by different circumstances, that expressed different social and political tensions, and had different outcomes. One of the outstanding revolutions was the North American Revolution that occurred from 1775-1787. As we all learn in school growing up, the American Revolution was the struggle for independence from the oppressive rule of the British. Our struggle here in America began with the Declaration of Independence in 1776, that would lead to a military victory by 1781 and then a federal constitution being created in 1787 that joined the thirteen separated colonies into one new nation. This was one major change of the Atlantic world and would lead to a change in history with a new nation arising. From gaining its independence, the American Revolution would be a conservative movement for it origination revolved around preserving the existing liberties of the previous thirteen colonies that had unified and saved the time from creating new liberties. Differences were seen between Englishmen in England compared to Englishmen that were in the North American colonies. There still excisted a small class of wealthy men which consisted of Adamses, Washingtons, Jeffersons, and Hancocks. This small class of wealthy men would all wear wigs, trying to imitate the style in Europe and stood out in the political life. With the banishment of the Native Americans, and the lack of people, and since there was no nobility like in Europe meant that social life was far more open. White women as well as excluded slaves were not given the same status under the law as were all free men. Due to these conditions there was less poverty, more economic opportunity, fewer social differences, and easier relationship between the classes unlike life in Europe. By the creation of the new U.S. Constitution that included the Bill of Rights, checks and balances, separation of church and state, and federalism were all efforts that put the ideas of the Enlightenment into practice. This document still exist to this very day, the ideas that were accepted still echoed in the following centuries and would lead to far more changes to help the nation move forward.