REACTIONS to the FRENCH REVOLUTION [AP Euro Review—Unit 5 Topic 5]

Summary

The French Revolution sparked intense global reactions, both conservative and radical. While Enlightenment thinkers initially supported the revolution's ideals, figures like Edmund Burke criticized its excesses, fearing chaos and the loss of established privileges. In the Caribbean, enslaved people in Saint-Domingue (now Haiti) rose up, inspired by the revolution's principles of liberty and equality. Despite initial French reluctance to extend these reforms, the rebellion led by Toussaint Louverture eventually resulted in Haiti's independence in 1804, making it the first post-colonial independent black republic.

Takeaways

• 😀 The French Revolution triggered strong reactions across Europe and the world, with a mix of conservative backlash and revolutionary fervor.
• 😀 Some Enlightenment thinkers initially supported the French Revolution, but many became critical as the revolution grew more radical, leading to mass executions during the Reign of Terror.
• 😀 Joseph de Maistre, a key conservative thinker, opposed the Enlightenment's ideas and advocated for the divine right of kings, arguing that the chaos of the revolution proved the dangers of Enlightenment thought.
• 😀 Edmund Burke, an English writer, criticized the French Revolution for its radical actions, predicting chaos if similar demands were made in Britain.
• 😀 The French Revolution's impact extended to the French Caribbean, particularly to the colony of Saint-Domingue, which was home to a large population of enslaved Africans.
• 😀 The enslaved Africans in Saint-Domingue, subjected to brutal conditions by plantation owners, saw the revolution's ideals of liberty, equality, and fraternity as a potential for their own freedom.
• 😀 Despite revolutionary promises, the National Assembly in France refused to extend rights to the enslaved, leading to a violent rebellion in 1791 by the slaves of Saint-Domingue.
• 😀 Spain and Britain took advantage of the chaos in Saint-Domingue by supporting the slave rebellion, further complicating the situation for France.
• 😀 The National Assembly eventually abolished slavery in its colonies, but by then, the enslaved had already taken matters into their own hands, led by the brilliant military strategist Toussaint Louverture.
• 😀 Louverture's leadership led to the eventual independence of Haiti in 1804 after his lieutenant, Jean-Jacques Dessalines, successfully defeated the French forces, marking the first successful slave rebellion and the establishment of Haiti as an independent nation.

Q & A

What were the two main reactions to the French Revolution across Europe and the world?

The two main reactions to the French Revolution were conservative opposition, particularly from intellectuals and monarchists, and a violent uprising in the French Caribbean, specifically in Saint-Domingue (now Haiti).

How did intellectuals like Thomas Jefferson react to the French Revolution as it became more radical?

Thomas Jefferson initially supported the French Revolution but later became concerned as it became more radical and violent, especially during the Reign of Terror, where mass executions occurred.

Who was Joseph de Maistre and what was his stance on the French Revolution?

Joseph de Maistre was a French philosopher who strongly opposed the Enlightenment ideals and advocated for monarchy and the divine right of kings. He viewed the chaos of the French Revolution as evidence of the dangers of Enlightenment thought.

What was Edmund Burke’s main criticism of the French Revolution in his work 'Reflections on the Revolution in France'?

Edmund Burke criticized the French Revolution for its radical approach to overturning established norms, warning that it would lead to chaos and violence. He defended hereditary privileges and feared that similar revolutionary ideas could destabilize Britain.

How did the French Revolution affect the French Caribbean colony of Saint-Domingue?

The French Revolution sparked hope among the enslaved population in Saint-Domingue, as they hoped the principles of liberty, equality, and fraternity would be extended to them. However, the National Assembly in France failed to grant the enslaved population their rights, leading to a massive rebellion.

What was the economic situation like in Saint-Domingue before the revolution?

Saint-Domingue was France's most profitable colony, relying heavily on the labor of enslaved Africans working on plantations that produced coffee and sugar. The plantation owners treated the enslaved people brutally, often working them to death and replacing them with new slaves.

What triggered the rebellion in Saint-Domingue in 1791?

The rebellion in Saint-Domingue was triggered by the refusal of the French National Assembly to extend the rights of liberty and equality to the enslaved population, despite the revolutionary cries from France. The enslaved people, inspired by the revolution, began organizing a rebellion.

How did Spain and Britain get involved in the Haitian Revolution?

Spain and Britain took advantage of the chaos caused by the slave rebellion in Saint-Domingue by supporting the rebels. Spain controlled part of the island and saw an opportunity to weaken France, while Britain blockaded the island and invaded, aiming to take control of French territories.

What role did Toussaint Louverture play in the Haitian Revolution?

Toussaint Louverture was a brilliant leader who initially fought for the Spanish against the French. He later switched sides, leading French forces to regain control of Saint-Domingue and eventually rising to power as a commander of the colony. His efforts helped secure French control before he was eventually betrayed by Napoleon.

How did the Haitian Revolution end and what impact did it have on the colony?

The Haitian Revolution culminated in the defeat of French forces by Jean-Jacques Dessalines, Toussaint Louverture's lieutenant. In 1804, Haiti declared its independence, becoming the first independent black republic and the first country to abolish slavery.