The Americas In The Revolutionary Era

by Marshall C. Eakin

This 24-lecture course is both grand drama and an absorbing intellectual exercise in comparative history. At the end of these lectures, you will have a detailed understanding of how our hemisphere took shape, and why. The scope of the work is as follows:

-Revolutions and Wars for Independence
-Origins of Revolution in the Atlantic World
-Colonial Empires on the Eve of Revolution
-The 'North' American Revolution Emerges
-From Lexington and Concord to Yorktown
-The Radicalism of the American Revolution
-Slave Rebellion in St. Domingue
-The Haitian Revolution
-Seeds of Rebellion in Spanish America
-Napoleon Invades Spain and Portugal
-Francisco de Miranda: The Precursor
-Simon Bolivar: The Liberator
-Liberating Northern South America
-San Martín and Argentine Independence
-Bernardo O'Higgins and Chile
-Liberating Peru
-Mexico: Race and Class Warfare
-Mexico: Empire and Chaos
-Brazil: A Royal Revolution
-Failed Movements in the Caribbean
-The British West Indies and Canada
-The Strange Case of Paraguay
-Revolutions Made and Unmade
-The Aftermath of Independence

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Audiobook

127 pages, Audible Audio

First published January 1, 2000

Reviews

[Jason Friedlander · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s not a perfect lecture series but I’m giving this 5 stars because it was clear, concise, and excelled at exactly what it sold itself to be— a broad and comprehensive introduction to the history of the Americas during the “age of revolution”. Although depth was often exchanged for breadth, I truly appreciated how much I was able to learn from this series of lectures, particularly about the decolonization narratives of the many nations in the Caribbean and South America. In no means did it make me an expert about any of these countries, but it deepened my interest in them all— just as all great introductory materials ought to do.

Great stuff and I can’t wait to explore the post-colonial histories of these regions even more.

[Jim · Rating 4 out of 5]

I very much enjoyed the content of these lectures, often opening my eyes to historical facts of which I had not been aware...particularly the role the Caribbean colonies/nations played in the establishment of the independent spirit of Britain's North American colonies. The lectures' organization, structure, style and pace was excellent, but Dr Eakin's presentation style sometimes lacked the enthusiasm I enjoy in lectures. The accounts of the struggles for independence in South America, pitting the likes of Bolivar, San Martin, Miranda and the ever-favorite O’Higgins against the Iberian Empires could easily have been presented in a more animated fashion. The exploits of San Martin's crossing of the Andes could be one of history's more famous military maneuvers, rivaling Hannibal's crossing of the Alps. (BTW, San Martin crossing apparently occurred in December...the 'dead of winter'...which is, of course summertime in the southern hemisphere). I particularly enjoyed the last few lectures in which Dr Eakin compared the America's Revolutions...placing the US and Haiti as the most revolutionary in style and novelty, and Mexico as perhaps the least successful (omitting Paraguay because of that country's unique situation). Canada, and some of the British-held colonies/nations serve as a counterpoint to revolution, showing more of a peaceful evolution away from crown-rule to self-rule that could be interpreted as continuing to this day. Overall, a very good course that serves well as a prerequisite for any examination of early US history...particularly events leading up to, and including, the North American Revolution. Recommended...when offered on sale, with an additional 50% discount (I love that part).

[Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great review of American history that includes all of the Americas. If given more time, further information concerning the role of the Latin American liberators involvement in the US war for independence, the British military involvement in South America, and the effect of the Monroe Doctrine would be beneficial to the course.

[Koit · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a solid overview of all of the American revolutions—and this is where I went astray—but it doesn’t really extend beyond this. For some reason, I should note, I took this to be only an overview of the revolutions other than that in the US, but the American Revolution and the war are also covered. I think it actually adds value in this case even though most people are likely to be far more familiar with this time and period compared to the other subjects.

The other subjects range from Haiti to Argentina, more or less exactly. This means that we get to take a look at Simon Bolivar, Toussaint Louverture, and Jose de San Martin go through their respective stories. Many other South American leaders feature, though only Francisco de Miranda is mentioned in any great detail beyond the ones mentioned above. Santa Anna is noted for some eccentricities, but there’s no good evaluation of that great man’s character.

Insofar as this course goes, it was enlightening—but never amusing. Mr Eakin’s style passed on the information it had to, but it rarely managed to reveal gems. The one (possible) exception was his description of the meeting between Bolivar and de San Martin, but I would wager most biographies will do a finer task. But, that is both the pro and the con of the format that this work takes—and as a part of ‘The Great Courses’ series, this serves its purpose well.

This review was originally posted on my blog.

[Don Heiman · Rating 5 out of 5]

In 2004 The Teaching Company released 24 lectures by Vanderbilt University Prof Marshall Eakin. The course is titled “The Americas in the Revolutionary War Era”. Eakin’s lectures discuss how 19 South American, United States, Canadian and Central American colonies along with the nation states of the West Indies, Mexico, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Cuba, and many independent Caribbean islands fought for freedom and self governance. During the late 1700’s to the middle 1800’s, these territories and colonial nation states were under the dominance of Britain, France Spain, and the Dutch. Prof Eakin’s Teaching Company presentations also feature famous South American liberators such as San Martin (Argentina), O’Higgins (Peru), Miranda (Venezuela), Bolivar (Northern South America), and Washington/Jefferson (United States). Prof Eakin explains how these leaders and their revolutionary fighters were motivated by religious institutions, Industrial Revolution economics, French Revolution events, and political value sets from the enlightenment period of European history. The 24 audio course lectures, guidebook, maps, and timelines are exceptional. (P)

[Dennis Murphy · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Americas In The Revolutionary Era by Marshall Eakin is a survey course on a transatlantic history of the revolutionary era of the American continent. His approach combines the revolutions of North and South America into a single cohesive framework, and stresses the interconnections between these two regions and with their metropoles. His take reminded me a little of a Latin American history course I took from Alejandro Raya back when I was a community college student, and I bought it. Not 100%, but at least 80%. Eakin engages in the occasional moralism, and there was a bizarre attempt to rehabilitate a Paraguayan Caudillo that reminded me a bit too much of the Kim family dictatorship in North Korea, but overall his does a very good job. I recommend the audio course to anyone interested in subjects like this.

90/100

[Fernando Hoces de la Guardia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This are the strangest 4 stars I have ever given. The execution of the lectures are not my favorite, as the author falls in the easy trap of emphasizing the "great men" of the era as oppose to the circumstances. To any book like this I would have given 2 or 3 stars, but the topic, a common examination of all the revolutions in the americas, is so novel to me and so interesting that I have no other option than to bumped up to 4 stars.

[John Harris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great overview of the major revolutuons in the Americans from 1770-1820. Very interesting comparisons and contrast of the different struggles and why they their own stories.Lao reflects on the future events in the Americas due to these differences and similarities .

[Steven · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well done, broad overview, of the Americas. I learned much about the founding of the countries, and also the different people, events, and environments that influenced what they became.

[Socrates · Rating 5 out of 5]

I recommend this to anyone who live in or close to the Americas. This is especially interesting if your family has long ties to the Americas as it explains how they most likely gained their freedom and escaped oppression and even possibly slavery.

It's very interesting to learn how ironic actions taken in history can be. The same people who "started" slavery are the one's who had to change in modern times to fix problems they caused.

The same one's also learned the hard way about many things as well, but it was necessary for the America's to be where they're at now.

It's nothing as what is commonly taught in the United States, how we and everyone else became independent. It was an effort put together not by "American" men, nor by a large group of people. It was no more than a few men who did not give up the cause to help everyone man, woman and child be free. Although not all of them lived to see the fruits of their pain, many are forever immortalized by having countries bare their names forever.

What I got from this: great scope and breadth of history concerning slavery, oppression and independence in the Americas.

Why I recommend: It's interesting to see how people discriminate not only against "African and indigenous" people, but also amongst themselves (peninsulars/mulatos/creyol).

[Robert Jerome · Rating 5 out of 5]

This course is obviously very broad in scope and limited in time which results in some fairly shallow reviews of individual regions. It does a great job of presenting the format and is a good example of what I think is the move from ethnocentric history toward a more international perspective in pedagogy. The history of this approach is explained and I appreciate that the professor makes a lot of reading recommendations along the way.

[Lori · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting within the limitations of 12 one hour lectures. South American history is relatively new to me. Since I have client now who collect my art South of the Border, I wanted to learn more about Brazil. I already knew a little about Simon Bolivar and wish there was more detail on him as he is very interesting character.

[Alexis · Rating 4 out of 5]

8: very interesting

[sardit · Rating 3 out of 5]

My first impression was that it is an inferior version of Mike Duncan’s Revolution podcast, if I’m quite honest. And while there’s some truth to that, inasmuch as they’re both very broad looks at the revolutions that created our world today, the fact this is limited to the Americas allows the overall patterns of the causes and results of revolution to look different enough to be worth the listen. And of course, the comparative shortness is both a strength and a weakness.