Big Picture Questions

  1. Do revolutions originate in oppression and injustice, in the weakening of political authorities, in new ideas, or in the activities of small groups of determined activists?

  2. “The influence of revolutions endured long after they ended and far beyond where they started.” To what extent does this chapter support or undermine this idea?

  3. Did the Atlantic revolutions fulfill or betray the goals of those who made them? Consider this question in both short- and long-term perspectives.

  4. Looking Back: To what extent did the Atlantic revolutions reflect the influence of early modern historical developments (1450–1750)?