Revolutionary Ideals in Action: Comparing the American, French, and Haitian Revolutions

At the end of the eighteenth century, three revolutions occurred in the Western Hemisphere that shook the existing political order to its core and changed the way that governments function. Enlightenment ideas emboldened different groups of people to transform their governments, beginning with the American Revolution, which was followed by the French and Haitian Revolutions. What were these revolutionary ideals, and how did they inspire change? How well did the new governments that emerged from the ashes of the old reflect the ideals for which they fought? In this lesson, students will answer these questions by examining the context and outcomes of these revolutions.