How Did The French Revolution Influence The American Revolution

During the 18th and 19th centuries enlightenment principles and ideology were spreading throughout the Atlantic World and morals like freedom and revolution became increasingly popular. Even the poorest, illiterate, enslaved populations of European colonies began to adopt enlightened principles to the point of rebellion. No greater example of this change exists than the Haitian Revolution of 1791, which inspired an array of moves for independence throughout the Americas. The strength, strategy and ultimate success of the Haitian Revolution changed the Atlantic Worlds’ outlook on slave or indigenous (non-white) rebellions forever. The American colonies of Mexico and Venezuela both made attempts at independence from their mutual ruling country
In Venezuela a slave revolt in 1816 created mass paranoia among white settlers resulting in capable Prado republican commanders being executed due to the fear of rebellions similar to Haiti; effectively undermining the strength of the republican fighting force. Even though the fear of a rebellion was always present in Brazil due to it having the largest slave population in the western hemisphere, it was ultimately a scions of the Portuguese crown that declared Brazil independent and fought in support of this action against Portugal. In Brazil the issue was centered more around the Creole who remained loyal to the Portuguese crown and did not want independence which essentially undermined efforts towards it. Wealthy people’s fear of non-white rebellions was understandable given the mass attempts at social change around the Atlantic created several opportunities for reenactments of Haiti’s Independence among the poor, enslaved and indigenous populations in several colonies across the
Morelos was in support of only those born in Mexico maintaining political power “he wrote to his commanders, that they should consider as enemies of the nation, all the rich people, nobles and landowners, both creole and European”. Such drastic attacks on creole’s wealth and positions resulted in most of them deserting Morelos and returning to the Peninsulares to fight against such social reform. The pro-indio principles embraced by Hidalgo and Morelos and the creoles subsequent embrace of Spanish rule as result, show the direct negative effects of fear against non-white revolution. Mexico’s independence was gained through negotiation which declared Mexico independent on September 22, 1821, an independence that would not be formally recognized by Spain until