The American Revolution and the French Revolution were equally the most important results of the Enlightenment. The Enlightenment was a time period of people’s ideas of philosophy, politics, and society. The Enlightenment showed people that they did not need to follow the monarchy, and could have their own ideas and beliefs. It influenced the American Revolution, which changed the way people were ruled. The French Revolution was also was an important result of the Enlightenment. It helped save France from going bankrupt and helped equalize all citizens. The American and French Revolution were both built on ideas of the Enlightenment.
The Enlightenment was a time period from the late 1600s to the early 1800s. “Characteristics of the Enlightenment
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After the Seven Years War, Britain started to tax the colonists even more so they could pay the money that was used in the war because the war was fought on the colonist’s land. Eventually, the colonists had enough and wanted to rebel. Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence in 1776, trying to free themselves from England. “...the influence of John Locke’s ideas about natural rights. In addition, the Declaration of Independence said that people unhappy with their government had the right to change it” (HMH 843). These ideas were both created by Enlightenment thinkers, Rousseau and Locke. Thomas Jefferson had used Locke’s ideas while writing the Declaration of Independence and changed the words up to support the cause of the colonists. The American Revolution became very important because they were breaking apart from England, which is very powerful, and the colonists fighting back was very important for other countries that were not listening to the people of their country. After they beat England, they used Montesquieu’s idea of separating into branches so one each branch is limited by each other. This is how the Enlightenment influenced the American …show more content…
The French Revolution was caused by the Third Estate paying taxes and having fewer rights than the Second and First Estate. After helping the colonists in the Revolutionary War and the royal family spending too much money, France went into debt. This caused the Third Estate to start paying more taxes, which they revolted for. They created the National Assembly, which later created the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen. “The document proclaimed the Assembly’s commitment to replace the ancien régime with a system based on equal opportunity, freedom of speech, popular sovereignty and representative government” (www.history.com). These were all ideas from the Enlightenment, Locke gave the ideas of equal opportunity and freedom of speech, Rousseau gave the ideas of popular sovereignty and a representative government. The French Revolution did not turn out well, but the ideas they stood up for were all the same ideas French philosophers had in the Enlightenment, and colonists had used to help fight for their
Revolution is one word that summarizes complete change. To put the name of a country before the word revolution means complete change in that country's government. In some way, whether it be politically, economically, or socially, the government failed to appease the people. In France and Latin America they stopped at virtually nothing to gain their goal. Latin America literally bit the hand the fed them and France beheaded their own king. This was all done in the name of reformation and change because somehow their government severely let down their people.
...on, Enlightenment ideas permeated the politics, economics, and religion of the French Revolution and the American Revolution. While both show several similarities, they predominantly differ on most things. Politically, American conservatives respected the individual and property rights of a citizen, while French politics respected the individual rights, took property rights in some cases, and used terror to influence people. Economically, the American free market idea left the economy alone, while the French input socialist ideas such as price ceilings. Religiously, the America closely associated itself with religion in the revolution, while the French public mostly despised the church.
News spread throughout the rest of the world that England’s American colony had overthrown their British government with a war. A period called "The Enlightenment" sparked the American Revolution. During this time, philosophers and lawmakers focused on basic human rights and creating a balanced government. Ideas from the Declaration of Independence which came from these philosophers, inspired the people of France to develop a sense of natural rights in French government. Since their current government gave the people very little natural rights, they rebelled.
The American revolution was a reaction to unfavorable tax policies from the King of England. When the King of England began to infringe on the colonists’ liberties, leaders inspired by the enlightenment grouped together to defend the rights of the American colonies. As Thomas Jefferson writes in the Declaration of Independence, “History of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries ad usurpations,
The American Revolution began due to problems within the British economy. The most prevalent issue of the time was "taxation without representation". Unlike the leaders of America, the leaders of the French did not turn out to be as positive for the country. In fact, some of these leaders have caused much more harm than good.
The American Revolution was not only a battle between the British and the colonists; it was a historical movement that brought about new ways of thinking. The ideas of liberty and equality began to be seen as essential to the growth of the new nation. The separation of the American colonies from the British Empire occurred for a number of reasons. These reasons are illustrated in the Declaration of Independence. Although Thomas Jefferson wrote the document, it expressed the desire of the heart of each colonist to be free of British rule. British rule over the colonies became unbearable in the early months of 1776, making it clear to the colonists that it was time to either give in to British power or declare their independence. This idea of independence divided the colonies, but it was not long before a revolutionary committee met in Philadelphia and drew up the document that would change American history.
The American and French Revolutions took place between 1775 and 1789. Though they were closely related chronologically, the two revolutions were interrelated in several other important ways than just time itself.
The American Revolution and French Revolution were two long lasting uprisings that had great value to those battling for their rights and want they wanted to change. Yet there are a few distinctions details set them apart in a small way. The Americans wanted a change in their government, but the French wanted a huge change in everything including their government, religion, social structure (whereas American’s social system stayed the same) and economy. Other than the few differences they had, they two Revolutions were much alike, basically twin revolutions.
The French Revolution started during 1789, it allowed for the people to have a better government that actually protected the natural rights of the people. This toke a nearly a decade of rioting and violence for the Third Estate to have their way and get the rights they deserved. From all the causes like the famine of wheat, long debts because of wars, the heavy taxes, and their rights not being protected, some causes stood out more than the others. It is noted that these reasons had to play a major role in order for the French Revolution to occur. The three most important causes of the French revolution are the ideas that came from the Enlightenment, the Old Regime not being an efficient class system, and the heavy taxation.
The Enlightenment was a major influence of the French Revolution. The Enlightenment caused the revolution in three ways. First of all, the Enlightenment made people see how France was not a perfect society. It opened their eyes to the fact that France was helping other countries more. For example, the French government gave money to support the American Revolution while the people in their own country need money. Also, Voltaire who was an Enlightenment thinker caused uproar by the peasants upon his return to France when he announced that England was superior to France (Voltaire 7). Second, it made people skeptical about whether the government was there to fulfill their duty of protecting the people’s natural rights. The Enlightenment encouraged people to question divine right, the God-given authority rulers claimed to have (Enlightenment, Its Origins and the French Revolution 15). Finally, it made the third estate realize how the taxation was simply greed. It made their eyes open to the fact that...
The late 18th century and early 19th century was a prominent time period in which the French Revolution and Haitian revolution occurred. Both revolutions were connected to each other such that they shared similar causes and consequences. Together, France and Haiti were angered by the inequality and unfair privileges that continued to appear in their societies. At the same time, they were inspired and hopeful of bringing the Enlightenment ideas into reality. Although they were able to accomplish most of what they fought for, such as the abolition of slavery, they still took part in bloody revolutions. However, one of the greatest differences in their outcomes was that France emerged as a new, firm government as Haiti staggered with its new independence.
Finally, the biggest contrast between the American and French Revolution was the difference in the outcomes of the two. The American Revolution brought liberty and justice for all. It created the first Republic since Rome. The French rev...
The French also saw how the Americans overthrew an absolute monarch and obtained freedom (Krieger 484). The fourth underlying cause was the writings and teachings of several well known philosophers. Many people took up ideas from philosophers such as John Locke, who advocated freedom from oppression (Krieger 461). An immediate cause of the French Revolution was the rising price of bread. The grain harvest had been low the previous year, so the price of bread rose.
The Glorious revolution was a changing point in the course of history. It was the first revolution of its kind which led to many more like the American revolution. There were many similarities between the Glorious and American revolution, John Locke played a key role in both revolutions, and Locke’s ideas were mirrored in the Declaration of Independence.
The French and American Revolutions were both revolutionary then and still today. There are still lasting effects from both the French and American Revolutions. The French Revolution had lasting effects such as the birth of Nationalism and making a huge move away from Monarchism. To us Americans the lasting effects are obvious from the American Revolution. We still live in freedom with the same system of government set up by our early political leaders.