"The modern Western world, especially the United States, was founded on a cataclysmic system driven by slavery, white supremacy, and capitalism" 💜

The “Glorious Revolution” of 1688: Not So Glorious for Africans and the Indigenous

A Critical Analysis 

Introduction: This essay titled, “The “Glorious Revolution” of 1688: Not So Glorious for Africans and the Indigenous”, is taken from the book titled, Apocalypse of Settler Colonialism by eminent historian and scholar Gerald Horne. 

Horne argues that the rise of the modern Western world was not a story of progress and liberty but a global catastrophe built on the “three horsemen of the apocalypse” - slavery, white supremacy, and capitalism. The book focuses on the 17th century, a pivotal period during which England emerged as a dominant global power.

The Intertwined Origins of Western Dominance: Horne’s central thesis is that these three forces were not separate but were fundamentally connected and co-dependent from the very beginning. 

He shows how the expansion of capitalism through global trade and colonialism required a massive labor (sic) force, which was obtained through the brutal enslavement of Africans and the genocidal displacement and extermination of Indigenous peoples.

The Creation of “Whiteness”: A crucial part of Horne’s argument is that the concept of “whiteness” was not a pre-existing identity but was a social and political construct created during this period. Laws were passed to prevent interracial relationships and limit the rights of free Black people, solidifying a racial caste system. 

This shift from a society based on religious or national identity to one based on ‘race’ helped secure land for settlers and provide a labour force for the colonies. This cross-class alliance was a strategic tool to prevent them from siding with enslaved Africans and Indigenous peoples in uprisings, thereby securing the colonial project and its immense profits.

A “Counter-Revolution” that Secured Property Rights of the Merchant Class: Horne reframes pivotal events, like the English Civil War and the Glorious Revolution, not as steps toward modern democracy, but as a “counter-revolution” that secured the property rights of a rising merchant class. 

These merchants then used their newfound power to intensify the slave trade and the dispossession of land from Native Americans. The book challenges the traditional, celebratory narrative of Western history, arguing that it was a horrific “apocalypse” for the peoples whose lands were stolen and whose lives were commodified.

The Glorious Revolution and the Slave Trade: The Glorious Revolution of 1688, which deposed King James II and brought William III and Mary II to the throne, weakened the monarchy’s control over the Royal African Company. 

This was a campaign by the English merchant class to gain complete control of the transatlantic slave trade from the monarchy, which was only made possible by the brutal exploitation of enslaved Africans and the violent dispossession of Indigenous peoples. 

This deregulation led to a massive acceleration of the African slave trade, enriching private merchants and planters while simultaneously devastating Africa through impoverishment.

Expansion of Slavery and Colonial Instability: As the number of enslaved Africans increased, so did their resistance and the violence used against them. 

The author highlights examples from Barbados and Jamaica, where slave revolts and arson were common. Colonial authorities responded with increasingly harsh laws, brutal executions, and a deliberate strategy to create a racial hierarchy by bribing poor Europeans to monitor enslaved Africans.

Connection to American Secession: The author argues that the economic and social changes initiated by the Glorious Revolution laid the groundwork for the American Revolution in 1776. 

The merchants and planters who gained power in 1688 continued to challenge the authority of London, culminating in their revolt against Parliament, which was now the new center (sic) of power. The essay even describes the 1776 revolution as a ‘Royalist Revolution’ dominated by figures from Virginia, a state that embodied a mix of ‘feudalism, capitalism - and slavery’.

The Glorious Revolution – Its Role in Expanding the Institution of Slavery: The essay presents a provocative and critical reinterpretation of the Glorious Revolution, shifting the focus from its traditional narrative of democratic progress to its role in expanding and entrenching the institution of slavery. 

Gerald Horne asserts that the “modern” Western world, especially the United States, was founded on a cataclysmic system driven by slavery, white supremacy, and capitalism.

Conclusion: The book’s conclusion serves as a powerful call to action, suggesting that understanding these historical roots is essential for confronting the lingering issues of white supremacy and racial inequality today. 

Horne emphasizes that for true justice to be achieved, the people who were unmade by this system must be “compensated and made whole (somehow).”