In the introduction of R.R. Palmer’s The Age of the Democratic Revolution: A Political
History of Europe and America, 1760-1800, he outlines the movements that changed the structures within Western Civilization, which he defines as being the United States, England, France, and several other European countries. Palmer not only fails to examine over half of the nations in the western world that he discusses, but in doing so he also implies that the uprisings in these countries do not fit into his picture of the age of revolutions. Whether this is due to a view of their cultures as less advanced and their people not worthy of discussion or simply due to their lack of prevalence in the academic world in his time, it is important to show that this …show more content…
In his discussion of the revolutions outlined in his writing, Palmer gives a list of components that must be present if an uprising is to begin. According to him, precursors to a revolution include a loss of confidence in existing authority figures, unreasonable laws, a feeling of distance from the government by those it governs, a loss of a sense of community, and jealousy or frustration between social classes (Palmer 21). In Wim Klooster’s book …show more content…
The Latin American colonies of Spain were heavily taxed, especially their native and mestizo populations, who were also treated as unimportant and were forced to labor in harsh conditions. This treatment caused uprisings that divided the social classes and created instability. Spain was then invaded by Napoleon in 1808, and the colonies were uncertain as to whether or not their government could still function. This doubt combined with the chaos generated by the lower classes caused the elites to support autonomous government in the colonies. In other words, they were no longer loyal to the Spanish crown. Though the characteristics are somewhat interrelated, Spain’s colonies clearly had
History of Europe and America, 1760-1800, he outlines the movements that changed the structures within Western Civilization, which he defines as being the United States, England, France, and several other European countries. Palmer not only fails to examine over half of the nations in the western world that he discusses, but in doing so he also implies that the uprisings in these countries do not fit into his picture of the age of revolutions. Whether this is due to a view of their cultures as less advanced and their people not worthy of discussion or simply due to their lack of prevalence in the academic world in his time, it is important to show that this …show more content…
In his discussion of the revolutions outlined in his writing, Palmer gives a list of components that must be present if an uprising is to begin. According to him, precursors to a revolution include a loss of confidence in existing authority figures, unreasonable laws, a feeling of distance from the government by those it governs, a loss of a sense of community, and jealousy or frustration between social classes (Palmer 21). In Wim Klooster’s book …show more content…
The Latin American colonies of Spain were heavily taxed, especially their native and mestizo populations, who were also treated as unimportant and were forced to labor in harsh conditions. This treatment caused uprisings that divided the social classes and created instability. Spain was then invaded by Napoleon in 1808, and the colonies were uncertain as to whether or not their government could still function. This doubt combined with the chaos generated by the lower classes caused the elites to support autonomous government in the colonies. In other words, they were no longer loyal to the Spanish crown. Though the characteristics are somewhat interrelated, Spain’s colonies clearly had