Age of Revolutions and Romantic Imaginations

The age of revolutions and romantic imaginations started in the late 18th century and ended in the mid 19th century (1798 – 1837). It is the period where a generation across America and Europe discovered the beauty and terror of science. The American Revolution (between 1765 and 1783) and the spirit of “Liberty, Equality, and Fraternity” of the French Revolution (1787 – 1799) also made it an era of hope and change. The period overlaps with romanticism, also known as the Romantic era (1800 – 1850). It was an intellectual, musical, literary, and artistic movement that originated in Europe. 

The Age of Revolutions

The emergence of nation-states and the transition from absolutist monarchy to representative governments with written constitutions are hallmarks of the age of revolutions. Influenced by new enlightenment ideas, the American revolution is widely considered the emerging point of the age of revolution. Moreover, historians widely accept that it inspired the French Revolution, which rapidly spread across the rest of Europe via wars.

The Industrial Revolution (1760 – 1840)

The year 1760 marks the start of the industrial revolution, which ended somewhere between 1820 and 1840. The transition to new manufacturing methods was a major turning point in history that impacted almost every aspect of everyday life. 

The American Revolution (1765 – 1783)

The American Revolution led to the independence of thirteen British American colonies. The movement is known to be the first European colony to claim freedom and draft a U.S. Constitution, including original features with a federated representative democracy and a system of separation of powers and balances and checks. It also includes property rights, the definition of dales as three-fifths of a person for democratic purposes, the press and religious practice, the rights of free speech, due process rights, and an elected head of state. In other words, it was the rise of the USA. 

July Revolution or The French Revolution (1787 – 1799)

The French revolution was an era of radical political and social upheaval in France between 1787 and 1799. It profoundly affected the country and its history. It marks the decline of powerful churches and monarchies and the rise of nationalism and democracy. 

Haitian Revolution (1791 – 1803)

The Haitian revolution, a slave rebellion in the French colony of Saint Domingue, led to abolishing slavery and the foundation of the Republic of Haiti. It was the only slave revolt leading to a state foundation. Historians widely consider it the most successful slave rebellion ever – a defining movement in the histories of Europe and America. 

The movement started in August 1791 and ended in November 1803 when the French were defeated at the Battle of Vertières. Haiti became an independent nation in January 1804.  

Serbian Revolution (1804 – 1835)

The revolution included a national uprising and constitutional changes in Serbia. Between the years 1804 and 1835, the territory of Serbia evolved from an Ottoman province, a rebellion territory, a constitutional monarchy, and finally, the modern state of Serbian.

Latin American Wars of Independence (1808 – 1833)

In the early 19th century, these movements led to the separation of colonies from Portugal and Spain and created new countries. 

Greek War of Independence (1821 – 1832)

In the early 1800s, Greece was under the rule of the Ottoman Empire. However, conflicts started in 1821 with a series of revolts. The empire sent forces to suppress revolts. By 1826, forces from France, Great Britain, and Russia also entered the conflict to help Greeks drive the Turkish forces off. Greece was finally recognized as a free nation by the Turks in May 1832. 

Revolutions of 1820

It was a series of revolutionary uprisings in the outer European regions in Greece, Portugal, Spain, and Italy. 

Revolutions of 1830

A wave of revolution took place in Europe in 1830. It included two romantic nationalist revolutions:

• Belgian revolution in the Netherlands 

• July revolution in France. 

There were also revolutions in Switzerland, Portugal, Italy, and Congress Poland. 

Revolutions of 1848

The European revolutions of 1848, the Spring of Nations in many countries, were a series of political conflicts all across Europe. While it was the most sweeping revolutionary wave in European history, it was short-lived as reactionary forces seized control within a year.

Taiping Revolution (1850 – 1864)

The Taiping Rebellion was a revolution against the Qing dynasty, China, for religious convictions. The forces failed to overthrow the Qing dynasty and were crushed in 1864, costing the lives of over 20 million people. 

First War of Indian Independence (1857 – 1858)

The Indian rebellion of 1857, even though unsuccessful, was one of the major events against the rule of the British East India Company. It is variously known as the Indian Mutiny, Sepoy Mutiny, the Great Rebellion, the Indian Insurrection, the Revolt of 1857, and the First War of Independence.

Romanticism (1800 – 1850)

The age of revolutions – the industrial revolution, the age of enlightenment also partly led to the rise of romanticism, also known as the age of romantic imagination.

It was a literary, artistic, musical, and intellectual movement that started in Europe at the end of the 18th century. It peaked in most areas between 1800 to 1850. Historians have characterized its emphasis on individualism, emotion, and glorification of nature and past, a preference for medieval instead of classical. The movement had a complex and significant impact on politics, with romantic thinkers influencing nationalism, radicalism, liberalism, and conservatism.

Although the movement was started in Germany, who preferred emotion and intuition to Enlightenment rationalism, the ideologies of the french revolution are also considered proximate factors by historians since many early romantics were sympathetic to the revolution and cultural revolutionaries. 

Romanticism in Poland and the rest of Europe assigned a high value to the achievements of heroic artists and individualists whose examples would raise the society’s quality. 

In the late 19th century came Realism, which was the polar opposite of romanticism. The decline of it during this time was associated with various processes, including political and social changes.  

Conclusion

Nationalism, aligned with imperialism, led Europe to disaster in 1914. Many countries in the world which had been colonized by the European powers in the nineteenth century began to oppose imperial domination. The anti-imperial movements that developed everywhere were nationalist, in the sense that they all struggled to form independent nation-states, and were inspired by a sense of collective national unity, forged in confrontation with imperialism. European ideas of nationalism were nowhere replicated, for people everywhere developed their own specific variety of nationalism and gave rise to various revolutions.