5.2 Nationalism and Revolutions from 1750-1900

Nationalism is a belief that people who share language, religion, customs, or territory form a common community and should have political self-rule. It grew in the late 1700s–1800s as Enlightenment ideas (natural rights, popular sovereignty) spread and as revolutions showed new models—especially the American and French Revolutions and documents like the Declaration of the Rights of Man. Economic changes from industrialization and rising literate publics helped people imagine national communities; leaders and governments sometimes used nationalism to unify states (Italian and German unifications under Garibaldi and Bismarck) or to push for independence (Latin America, Haiti, Propaganda Movement in the Philippines). Nationalism also challenged empires (Balkan nationalisms, Ottomanism) and fed reform and revolution. For the AP exam, be ready to explain causes and effects with specific examples, provide context, and connect ideas from the Enlightenment and revolutions (see the Topic 5.2 study guide: https://library.fiveable.me/ap-world-history/unit-5/nationalism-revolutions/study-guide/Xc9NDVNKTNBTD2nKVotF). For more review or 1,000+ practice questions, use the Unit 5 page (https://library.fiveable.me/ap-world-history/unit-5) and practice hub (https://library.fiveable.me/practice/ap-world-history).

The Haitian Revolution (c. 1791–1804) began as a massive slave uprising in the French colony of Saint-Domingue. Enslaved and free people of color, led by figures like Toussaint Louverture and later Jean-Jacques Dessalines, drew on Enlightenment and French Revolutionary ideas to challenge colonial rule and slavery. By 1804 Haiti declared independence—the first independent Black republic and the first nation to abolish slavery in the Americas. Why it matters: it transformed ideas about race, freedom, and sovereignty in the Atlantic world; it weakened European imperial authority in the region and inspired other independence movements in Latin America (CED keywords: Haitian Revolution, Toussaint Louverture). For AP World, treat it as a cause-and-effect case: link Enlightenment and revolutionary ideas to colonial rebellion and to long-term effects on slavery, colonial economies, and nationalist movements. For a focused review, see the Topic 5.2 study guide (https://library.fiveable.me/ap-world-history/unit-5/nationalism-revolutions/study-guide/Xc9NDVNKTNBTD2nKVotF) and try practice questions (https://library.fiveable.me/practice/ap-world-history).

Lots of revolutions happened 1750–1900 because several big forces collided. Enlightenment ideas about natural rights and popular sovereignty + the successful American Revolution spread a model and justification for overthrowing old regimes (CED: Declaration of Independence, Declaration of the Rights of Man). Economic and social strain from early industrialization, plus rising middle-class and working-class demands, created domestic pressure for political change. Nationalism reimagined communities around language, religion, and territory, so peoples in fragmented states pushed for unification (Germany, Italy) or independence (Latin America, Haiti). Weak or overstretched empires (Ottoman, Qing, Spanish) and colonial resentments among creoles and colonial subjects made rebellions more likely. On the AP exam you’ll be asked to explain causes/effects and use evidence (DBQ/LEQ skills), so practice linking ideas to specific examples (French, Haitian, Latin American, Meiji, Garibaldi/Bismarck). For a focused review see the Topic 5.2 study guide (https://library.fiveable.me/ap-world-history/unit-5/nationalism-revolutions/study-guide/Xc9NDVNKTNBTD2nKVotF) and try practice problems (https://library.fiveable.me/practice/ap-world-history).

The American Revolution inspired other rebellions mainly by showing that Enlightenment ideas (natural rights, popular sovereignty, republican government) could be turned into a successful republic and by circulating its documents and examples. The Declaration of Independence and the new U.S. constitution provided a model and vocabulary that reformers and independence leaders used—from French revolutionaries citing rights in the 1789 Declaration of the Rights of Man to Latin American leaders like Simón Bolívar (see his Letter from Jamaica) and enslaved people in Haiti who connected liberty ideas to their own struggle. News, print, veteran networks, and diplomats spread those ideas across the Atlantic. For AP purposes, link cause (Enlightenment ideas + colonial grievances) to effects (new republics, nationalist movements) in a DBQ/LEQ, and use specific documents/examples to support your claim. Review Topic 5.2 on Fiveable (https://library.fiveable.me/ap-world-history/unit-5/nationalism-revolutions/study-guide/Xc9NDVNKTNBTD2nKVotF) and practice questions (https://library.fiveable.me/practice/ap-world-history).

Short version: both were Enlightenment-inspired revolutions against old authority, but they differ in causes, course, and outcomes. The American Revolution (1775–1783) was a colonial independence movement: mainly elites protesting taxation and lack of representation, aimed to create a liberal republic (Declaration of Independence) while largely keeping existing social hierarchies. The French Revolution (1789–1799) began as fiscal crisis plus popular anger at monarchy and inequality; it became far more radical (Declaration of the Rights of Man), included mass mobilization, violent political purges, and experiments with republican and then authoritarian rule—plus major social upheaval. Effect on world: American Revolution modeled a stable constitutional republic; French Revolution spread nationalism and inspired more radical challenges to monarchy across Europe (and influenced Latin American leaders). For AP essays, compare causes, social base, political goals, and outcomes (use comparison as historical reasoning). For more review see the Topic 5.2 study guide (https://library.fiveable.me/ap-world-history/unit-5/nationalism-revolutions/study-guide/Xc9NDVNKTNBTD2nKVotF) and practice questions (https://library.fiveable.me/practice/ap-world-history).

Think of both unifications as people with a common language and culture wanting one country instead of many small states. Italy: after the Congress of Vienna (1815) the peninsula was split. Nationalists like Giuseppe Mazzini and fighters like Giuseppe Garibaldi pushed for unity. Count Camillo di Cavour (Piedmont-Sardinia) used diplomacy and limited wars (with French help) to unify many Italian states; Italy became a kingdom in 1861 and Rome joined in 1870. Germany: dozens of German states existed after 1815. Otto von Bismarck, Prussia’s chancellor, used “realpolitik” (practical diplomacy) and three wars—against Denmark, Austria, and France—to bring states together under Prussian leadership. The German Empire was proclaimed in 1871. Both cases show nationalism turning fragmented regions into nation-states, using a mix of popular movements, diplomacy, and state power—key ideas for AP (contextualization, causation). For a focused review, check the Topic 5.2 study guide (https://library.fiveable.me/ap-world-history/unit-5/nationalism-revolutions/study-guide/Xc9NDVNKTNBTD2nKVotF) and practice questions (https://library.fiveable.me/practice/ap-world-history).

Nationalism sparked revolutions because it gave people a shared identity (language, religion, customs, territory) that made existing monarchies, empires, or colonial rule feel illegitimate. When Enlightenment ideas about popular sovereignty and rights mixed with growing national consciousness, people began to demand states that matched those imagined communities. That combination explains why you get: republican independence in the Americas (inspired by the U.S. Declaration), the French Revolution’s challenge to monarchy, Haitian and Latin American independence, and 19th-century movements for unification (Italy, Germany) or liberation (Balkan nationalisms, Filipino Propaganda Movement). Nationalism could push for unification (German/Italian) or redraw borders and fuel anti-imperial revolts. For the AP exam, practice explaining causes and effects, provide specific examples, and contextualize using Enlightenment ideas and economic or social grievances—skills tested on short answers and essays. For a focused Topic 5.2 review use the Fiveable study guide (https://library.fiveable.me/ap-world-history/unit-5/nationalism-revolutions/study-guide/Xc9NDVNKTNBTD2nKVotF) and try practice problems (https://library.fiveable.me/practice/ap-world-history) to drill CED-aligned examples.

The Enlightenment pushed ideas that made people question monarchies and empires. Key concepts: natural rights (life, liberty, property), the social contract (government exists by consent), popular sovereignty (people hold political power), equality before the law, separation of powers/checks on rulers, and reason/secularism over tradition. Philosophers like Locke, Montesquieu, and Rousseau influenced documents used in revolutions—e.g., the American Declaration of Independence and France’s Declaration of the Rights of Man (CED keywords). Those ideas showed up in Atlantic revolts (Haiti, Latin America) and inspired leaders like Bolívar (Letter from Jamaica). On the AP exam, expect to connect Enlightenment concepts to causes of revolution in short answers, DBQs, and LEQs (uses of primary documents are common). For a quick review, check the Topic 5.2 study guide (https://library.fiveable.me/ap-world-history/unit-5/nationalism-revolutions/study-guide/Xc9NDVNKTNBTD2nKVotF) and practice questions (https://library.fiveable.me/practice/ap-world-history).

Start by reading the DBQ prompt and the seven documents during the 15-minute reading period. For revolutionary documents (like the Declaration of Independence), build a clear thesis that answers the prompt and establishes your line of reasoning—mention the documents’ ideas (Enlightenment rights, popular sovereignty) and connect to broader context (Enlightenment thought, Atlantic revolutions). Use at least four documents to support your argument and include one specific piece of outside evidence (e.g., Locke, the French Declaration of the Rights of Man, or Bolívar’s Letter from Jamaica). For two documents, explain sourcing (author’s POV, purpose, audience, or historical situation) and how that affects their message. Aim to show complexity—compare different revolutions’ goals or explain contradictions between rhetoric and practice. Put your thesis in the intro or conclusion, use documents to support claims (don’t just quote), and plan time: 15–20 minutes outline, 35–40 minutes write, 5–10 minutes revise. For more topic review, see the Topic 5.2 study guide (https://library.fiveable.me/ap-world-history/unit-5/nationalism-revolutions/study-guide/Xc9NDVNKTNBTD2nKVotF), unit overview (https://library.fiveable.me/ap-world-history/unit-5) and 1000+ practice questions (https://library.fiveable.me/practice/ap-world-history).

Colonial rebellions in the Americas grew from a mix of long-term grievances and new ideas. Economic and social inequalities—taxes, restricted trade, and rigid caste systems that favored Europeans—left colonial subjects frustrated. Creole elites resented political limits placed on them by distant monarchs, while enslaved and indigenous people faced brutal oppression and saw few legal paths to improvement. Enlightenment ideas about natural rights, popular sovereignty, and representative government (seen in the American Declaration of Independence and the French Declaration of the Rights of Man) gave critics a language for resistance. Successful examples like the U.S. Revolution and the Haitian Revolution (led by Toussaint Louverture) provided models and momentum. Wars in Europe and weakened imperial control also opened opportunities for independence movements (e.g., Bolívar’s Latin American campaigns). For AP exam work, link causes to effects and use specific examples and documents (CED Topic 5.2). For a focused review, see the Topic 5.2 study guide (https://library.fiveable.me/ap-world-history/unit-5/nationalism-revolutions/study-guide/Xc9NDVNKTNBTD2nKVotF) and practice questions (https://library.fiveable.me/practice/ap-world-history).

Short answer: both. Nationalism helped create new states by giving people a shared identity and a reason to push for independence or unification—think U.S., Haitian, and Latin American independence movements, plus German and Italian unification and the Meiji Restoration (CED examples). It linked language, religion, customs, and territory to the idea of a nation, so people challenged old empires and formed nation-states (CED Historical Developments). But it also caused problems: nationalists challenged borders (Balkan nationalisms), excluded minorities, and sparked conflicts when multiple groups claimed the same territory. For AP essays/DBQs, use specific examples to show both causes and effects—e.g., Bolívar’s independence ideas vs. later ethnic tensions in the Balkans (CED Illustrative Examples). For review, check the Topic 5.2 study guide (https://library.fiveable.me/ap-world-history/unit-5/nationalism-revolutions/study-guide/Xc9NDVNKTNBTD2nKVotF), the Unit 5 overview (https://library.fiveable.me/ap-world-history/unit-5), and practice questions (https://library.fiveable.me/practice/ap-world-history). Fiveable’s study guides and practice problems are useful for DBQ/LEQ prep.

Simón Bolívar’s "Letter from Jamaica" (1815) was a long primary-source letter Bolívar wrote while exiled in Jamaica explaining why Spanish America should seek independence, diagnosing regional problems, and outlining his vision for republican government and Latin American unity. It mixes Enlightenment ideas (natural rights, popular sovereignty) with practical analysis of Spanish colonial rule and local social divisions. Why it matters for AP World: the CED lists it as an example of revolutionary documents that show Enlightenment influence on independence movements (Topic 5.2). Use it as evidence for causes of Latin American independence, for nationalism/unity vs. regionalism, and for sourcing practice (POV, audience, purpose) on DBQs or short-answer questions. For review, see the Topic 5.2 study guide (https://library.fiveable.me/ap-world-history/unit-5/nationalism-revolutions/study-guide/Xc9NDVNKTNBTD2nKVotF) and try practice questions (https://library.fiveable.me/practice/ap-world-history).

The Declaration of the Rights of Man (1789) spread Enlightenment ideas—natural rights, popular sovereignty, equality before the law—that challenged monarchist authority and inspired other revolutions. Its language helped Haitian leaders (Toussaint Louverture) and Latin American thinkers (Bolívar’s Letter from Jamaica) justify independence and demand citizenship rights; it also fed 19th-century liberalism and nationalist movements in Europe that pushed for constitutions and unification (Italy, Germany). For AP essays, the Declaration is great primary-source evidence showing how revolutionary documents diffused ideas across regions (use it in DBQs/LEQs to support causation and continuity/change claims). Want a quick refresher on how this fits Topic 5.2? Check the Fiveable study guide (https://library.fiveable.me/ap-world-history/unit-5/nationalism-revolutions/study-guide/Xc9NDVNKTNBTD2nKVotF) and the Unit 5 overview (https://library.fiveable.me/ap-world-history/unit-5). Practice applying it to prompts with 1,000+ AP-style questions at (https://library.fiveable.me/practice/ap-world-history).

The Propaganda Movement (c. 1870s–1890s) was a primarily peaceful Filipino reform campaign by educated "ilustrados" (e.g., José Rizal, Graciano López Jaena, Marcelo H. del Pilar) who wanted political and social reforms from Spain: representation in the Spanish Cortes, secularization of the clergy, equality before the law, and an end to abusive colonial practices. They used newspapers and essays—most famously La Solidaridad and Rizal’s novels Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo—to spread nationalist ideas and expose injustices. Though the movement sought reform rather than immediate independence, it built Filipino national identity and helped inspire later revolutionary groups (like the Katipunan) and the 1896 uprising. For AP World, use it as an illustrative example of nationalist movements (Topic 5.2) showing how intellectual reform campaigns can lead to calls for liberation; good sources and practice questions are in the Fiveable study guide (https://library.fiveable.me/ap-world-history/unit-5/nationalism-revolutions/study-guide/Xc9NDVNKTNBTD2nKVotF). For extra practice see Fiveable’s practice problems (https://library.fiveable.me/practice/ap-world-history).

Nationalists wanted to unify fragmented regions like Germany and Italy because people shared language, culture, religion, and history and wanted political borders to reflect that identity. Unification promised clearer national borders, stronger centralized governments, bigger markets for industry, and more effective defense and diplomacy. Leaders like Giuseppe Garibaldi and Otto von Bismarck used popular feeling (and realpolitik in Bismarck’s case) to turn cultural commonality into a single state. Unification also challenged old monarchies and empires that ruled diverse peoples, linking the CED themes of nationalism, state-building, and challenges to imperial rule. For the AP exam, use these as cause-and-effect examples in short answers or essays (Topic 5.2)—cite Italian and German unification as specific evidence. Review the Topic 5.2 study guide (https://library.fiveable.me/ap-world-history/unit-5/nationalism-revolutions/study-guide/Xc9NDVNKTNBTD2nKVotF) and practice questions (https://library.fiveable.me/practice/ap-world-history) to sharpen DBQ/LEQ examples.