Independence and Racial Equality

     During the early 1800s, many Latin American Revolutions occurred. The reason for these revolutions was independence and racial equality. In Latin America, your race would determine how high or low you ranked on the social class ladder. These ranks determined who you could marry, what clothes you could wear, and other ridiculous regulations. In class we discussed these irrational laws and how human value shouldn't matter by a person's ethnic background, but instead the type of person they are and what they are able to accomplish. To learn more about these revolutions, our class broke up into groups and read articles explaining the key events that happened during the revolutions in Mexico, Brazil, and Gran Colombia. Then our groups collaborated with other groups of different topics to further expand and share our information.

Time Line of Mexican Key Revoltutions:

• In the early 19th century- Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla "father of Mexican indepence" launched a rebellion where him and his army came close to capturing the Mexican capital. He was later captured and executed. His followers were against royalists. 
• In 1820- liberals took power in Spain, and the new government promised change in the government. Mexican conservatives called for independence 
• In early 1821- the leader of the royalists forces, Agustín de Iturbide negotiated the plan of Iguala which states that Mexico would be established as an independent constitutional monarchy, postition of the Catholic Church would be maintained, and Mexicans of Spanish decent descent would be regarded as equal to Spaniards. 
• On August 24, 1821- Spanish Viceroy Juan de O'Donojú signed the Treaty of Córdoba , this approves a plan to make Mexico an independent constitutional monarchy 
• In 1822- Iturbide was proclaimed the emperor of Mexico bc no Bourbon monarch to rule had been found. Empire was short lived 
• In 1823- republican leaders Santa Anna and Guadalaupe Victoria deposed Iturbide and set up a republic, with Guadalupe Victoria as it's first president 

     In the jigsaw, we discovered two commonalities between the three routes to independence. One of those being the fact that all of the "enemies" of the Latin American countries were European. Another commonality is that all of these revolutions occurred during the early 1800s. A difference we discovered is that all of these revolutions happened in different places. These revolutions were all different from one another, but all faced a similar challenge, race. In Mexico, Miguel Hidalgo y Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla had to face the racist royalists who took land away from the Indians and mestizos. In Brazil, mine workers revolted because they had to do tireless jobs just because of their ethnic background. And finally, in Gran Colombia, a new political pamphlet addressed to citizens suggests a united effort to expel the Spaniards.

     Even in our world today, racist stereotypes and judgments are constantly being thought and disccused in society. In the past few months I've heard of many news stories that has race as an issue. One of those being when Food Network's Paula Deen discriminated against African American people. This caused controversy which lead with her getting kicked off the Food Network. Personally, I do think it is still important to consider the issue of race in our lives today, since it still is a problem that needs to be abolished. 

"The Haitian Revolution." The Haitian Revolution. Web. 26 Nov. 2014. <http://www.latinamericanstudies.org/haitian-revolution.htm>.

Toussaint Louverture DBQ

To be a great leader, one must be able to rise above the rest in order to pave the way to sucess. Toussaint Louverture is considered to be a great leader, but not all leaders are good ones. King Louis XVI, ruler of France from 1774-1792 is someone who shows qualities of a bad leader many times during his rain of power. He was known for his taking of international loans and the decision to raise tax prices to pay for his own personal financial needs. Instead of thinking about his people, he was only thinking about himself. This lead to poverty and starvation throughout the lower classes in France. It also lead to King Louis XVI execution in 1793 because of the upset civilians. Toussaint Louverture, a free slave had a huge role in Hatian independence that occurred in 1804. Louverture's legacy not only consisted of him being the ruler of Saint Domingue, but he was also a military commander who became the most powerful person on the island of Haiti. These traits all contributed to the abolition of slavery in Haiti, but being a liberator of slaves had the most impact on Haiti's independence and is what he should be most remembered for.

Louverture was a very influential and confident leader which are traits a successful liberator has. This is why his legacy is a successful one. Throughout the abolition of slavery in Saint Domingue, Louverture was on and off France's side. During 1792 the revolutionary government and France abolishes slavery in France and all its colonies including Haiti, because of this he and his troops stop the revolts and start to support France. This goes to show that the only intentions Louverture has are to end slavery in Haiti and potentially around the world. He doesn't care who's side he is on, even if it is France's, as long as slavery is no more. He also will go to extreme risks in order to maintain freedom. When the new conservative French government wants to reinstate slavery in French colonies, he writes a threat in the form of a letter warning France to preserve the abolition of slavery in Haiti. In the letter he explains how freemen can't go back to being a slave, and how these men would rather die than return to the hell-like slave life. Out of all the roles Louverture had, being a liberator of slaves is most likely what he would consider himself and think was the most important part of his legacy. If there was a way to abolish slavery he was the one to find that opening and make it happen.

Another important role Louverture had in addition to being a liberator of slaves was his position of power in Saint Domingue. In 1798 he not only defeats the British, but becomes ruler of Saint Domingue. As part of his role as ruler, he assembled and headed the commission that created a Constitution in 1801 for Saimt Domingue. It promised all inhabitants that slavery could not exist on the island and that slaves are entitled to share in the revenues. Citizens would still be doing work on plantations since the island is essentially agricultural and depends on these plantations as a part of the islands economy. Inhabitants would still be working on the same plantation as they were before but instead they were supposed to be treated better and each worker had a right to share in the plantations profits. This caused controversy since workers did not want to go back to work but instead would rather have no job than return to a similar life as I had before. In the Proclamation on 25 November in 1801, Louverture establishes more laws in regards to who and where workers are supposed to work, with this he's trying to control the population that is refusing to work. It states that if you refuse to work your plantation police will arrest you and bring you back to your plantation, also all accused of sedition would go before a court-martial. His people feel as though that he is being hypocritical since he was a huge part of the abolition of slavery, but the workers are feeling like they're being enslaved even though these are not his intentions. His role as a ruler of Saint Dominguegives a more balanced view on his legacy.

Louverture's actions Michelle have you as a military leader since he had to make difficult decisions in order to maintain order in Haiti. Workers were objecting to work since they were going back in the same conditions as they were before under the same landowner so they didn't think much would change even though the abolition of slavery was in action. A lot of former slaves and Moyse, Louverture's nephew thought he was "too close" with the white planter class and felt as though it was unfair to force free slaves to work on plantations again. Freemen got fed up with these laws making them work, that a rebellion occurred led by his nephew which resulted in many white plantation owners dead and also many of the rebels deaths as well. This also included the execution of his nephew. These deaths could've been avoided if Louverture would have listened to the unhealthy free slaves before it got out of hand. Even though it must have been difficult to kill his own nephew he did what he thought he had to do in order to be a successful military leader. Although he made some bad decisions as a military leader he also had many character traits that helped him gain his soldiers' confidence and respect. When Napoleon send troops to reinstate slavery in Haiti, Louverture burned down their own city so that the French army couldn't take it over and would have a more difficult time surviving. They arent able to take over city, if there's no city to take over. Before the French army got to Haiti, troops fled to the mountains. This way, by the time French troops got to them they would be worn out from their travel and Haiti would have the advantage. Louverture posses good war tactics and inspires his troops which leads them to success as a military commander.

Although Toussaint Louverture is remembered for many things. Most importantly he should be remembered for being an influential and courageous liberator of slaves who will go to all extremes to maintain freedom. Being the ruler of Saint Domingue definitely contributed to the abolition of slavery, since he was the most powerful man on the island and was able to fight for the rights and independence of the citizens in Haiti and have a large say in the way the island was run. Also by being a military commander he was able to defeat and threaten major powers like France who wanted to bring back slavery in its colonies. But being a liberator of slaves had the most impact on the abolition of slavery in which is why it is the most important part of his legacy.

Curator

     In class we are learning about the industrial revolution. In order to expand our knowledge on the topic we were split into groups and created posters about different topics during the time. After creating the posters and sharif the information we collected, I came to the realization that the Industrial revolution wasn't all good. There were many aspects that were extremely negative.
     Our group's poster taught about the importance of coal in England during the Industrial Revolution. We included many pictures within our poster that showed were coal was being used the most through out England. We also included how living conditions for the poor were terrible. Since England was over populated, there wasn't enough food as there were mouths to feed. Because of this there were many orphans that were bought and sold to work in the mills. One image we used showed the average full time nominal earning compared to the real earnings in Great Britain. It is very clear that people are barley making enough to support the cost of living, which is an obvious indication of poverty. To add to the bad living conditions, factories are using rivers and streams as fuming grounds which makes the cities and even worse then they are to survive in.
     Group A's exhibit explains how many new innovations and inventions occurred during this time period. Families were able to stay home and work while one person is sent to the mills that will bring home money for the family. Therefore the family at home may also be working and earning more to support themselves. To me, its very surprising that so many new inventions can come out of just a short time period.  Because of these inventions, cotton production was booming.
     Group B's exhibit shows the importance of steam engines during the Industrial Revolution. Although they use an extensive about of coal, railroads supply easy access for trading which in return strengthens the economy and is quicker than water transportation.
      Group D's exhibit shows the harsh treatment towards children during this time. They were forced to work in order to support their families. Even after the factory act of 1833 children were still dangerously working in mines. It surprises me how people thought it was morally just to send small children into mine caves that could potentially cripple them for the rest of their lives. Its sickening how children were forced against their will to do such terrible work.
     Group E's exhibit shows how the increase of cotton goes along with the increase of slavery People during this time were much more focused on rising cotton production being quicker and cheaper than they were with abolishing slavery. Since there were more factories and more machines to be worked, there were more slaves to do these jobs.

"Child Labor in the Cotton Mill." The Industrial Revolution and Colonization. Web. 5 Nov. 2014. <http://tirac.weebly.com/child-labor-in-the-cotton-mill.html>.