Western Expansion and Globalization

                The Atlantic revolutions were originated by the consistent injustice among social classes and the disadvantageous relationship between colonies and monarchies. Revolutions in North America, France, Haiti and Latin America occurred from 1725 to 1825 and they were born out of the Enlightenment ideas that human political and social structure could be created by humans and not by divine rights of kings, aristocratic privileges and authority of a single church. These revolutionary ideas brought liberty, equality, free trade, religious tolerance, republicanism, and human rationality for white men but not for women, slaves, or indigenous people. The ideas of liberty and equality were profoundly contradictory because only one selected group could have these rights but not others. Fortunately, thanks to the courage y tenacity of women and African descent people, later in time these revolutions promoted the abolition of slavery in Britain, Latin America, Russia, North America, and Brazil. Also, these revolutions led to the ideas of nation and nationalism identifying people with a language, culture, and customs. I enjoyed most reading about the feminist movement and I was surprised to learn that it began in France since 1791, and it reached many parts of the world including Mexico, Brazil, Japan, Russia, China, and Egypt. The outcome of the feminist movement achieved rights for women to receive high education, have professions in medicine and education, new divorce laws, and rights to vote.  

                Other revolutions such as those of industrialization brought great benefits for some people and great disadvantages for others. In Britain, the Industrial Revolution caused economic growth putting this nation ahead of others during the 1800’s. Upper and middle social classes received the economic benefits while the working class—majority of the population were impoverished. In the United States, the Industrial Revolution promoted capitalism benefiting owners of corporations and landowners. The working class, although the least favored, had access to new goods and formed unions which help to improve their working conditions. In Russia, working class formed massive strikes to express their discontent leading to a civil revolution. Latin American countries were also affected by the Industrial Revolution of Britain and United States. These countries became the supply of raw materials needed to produce goods, leaving their own economies unprotected. After a century of these revolutions, most Latin American countries continue being only suppliers; it will be fantastic to see governments investing export profits on manufacturing goods to generate work for their vast populations.

                During the second wave of European conquest, colonized people in Africa and Asia found ways to cope despite the exploitation and oppression of the colonial experience. Women in particular assumed almost full responsibility for domestic food production, even when their work load greatly increased. Some enterprising women found opportunities to grow economically. The countries of Africa developed an African identity and an African tradition unifying people. People felt proud on their culture and saw themselves as a nation. Although a minority had access to education, educated people helped their communities organizing reform societies such as cultures free of child marriage, caste, and discrimination against women. These experiences made people stronger and it proves once again that humans are capable of improvement and resilience.