The American and French Revolutions share many similarities, but both events have distinct differences. These revolutions were outgrowths of the Seven Years` War. These revolutions made major reforms with in the governments of both countries. Numerous people in both revolutions were influenced the ideas and principles of various Enlightenment writers. Although there are similarities between these events, the American Revolution focused primarily on independence while The French Revolution focused on significant reform of an unfair and unequal government.
The origins of both the American and French Revolutions can be traced back to The Seven Years’ War, a war between the powerful nations of France and Great Britain (Von Sivers 626). Between 1755- 1764, both countries “fought for the dominance of their respective seaborne empires in the world” (Von
This change transferred the power from the nobles and clergy to the rest of the French people. The National Assembly proclaimed the Declaration of Rights of Man and Citizen (“The French Revolution”). During the second phase of the revolution, the National Assembly also suspended the French monarchy, formed a republic, and created free elections and a republic constitution (Von Sivers 632) . These actions are major reforms for a country that had previously had an absolute monarch. An important difference between the French and American revolutions is that The U.S. formed and gained a more representative democratic government, but France had their republic government overthrown. By the end of the revolution in 1799, Napoleon Bonaparte overthrew the Directory, the national government of France at the time, and later crowned himself the emperor of France (Von Sivers
The enlightenment ideas affected politics for both the French and the American peoples through the form of government and individual rights. Thinkers such as Jean-Jacques Rousseau, believed in the individual right of man as a citizen of a sovereign nation. In 1789, Marquis de Lafayette used Rousseau and other free thinker’s ideas to draft his Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen to the National Constituent Assembly in France (http://www.pbs.org/marieantoinette/revolution/america_france.html). This established universal rights for individuals that always existed at all times. The document shows many similarities to American documents such as the declaration of Human Rights in the U.S. Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights in the Constitution. For instance, they all show a relationship through the declaration of individual rights such as free speech and freedom of religion. However, the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen focuses more on individualism while American documents focus more on a community “We the People” (http://www.pbs.org/marieantoin...
the French Revolution. Hunt, Lynn & Censer, Jack. University Park, Pennsylvania: The Pennsylvania State University Press (2001)
For starters, both revolutions were inspired by others. The French revolution was empowered by the American. 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.
A revolution is a forcible overthrow of a government or social order in favor of a new system. In 1775, America was ready for dramatic change, freedom, and a disconnection from Great Britain. Taxes, trade regulations, and overarching, power, made all colonists, aside from the loyalists, more than ready to detach from Great Britain’s rule. The American Revolution portrays many similarities and qualities of the French revolution, due to the inspiration of one to another. The similarities and qualities lie within their spiraling economies, selfish, money-worship-thirsty leaders, ideologies, and provocation.
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.
For one the monarchy was making decisions not in the favour of its people and inevitably leading French to its death. The wealthy didn’t have to pay taxes that were unfair and bringing down the middle class. 97% of French were middle class and were struggling to survive. In Europe the quality of life was determined on the status you held, and to get an upper class status you had to born into it. You couldn’t earn a higher status no matter how hard you tried. France was in debt at this time because of losing the wealth in the Seven years’ war this is the same circumstances as the American Revolution. In 1788 the French government went bankrupt. The lower class were getting annoyed with the upper class wasting money while the poor go hungry and are offcourse poor. The peasant was also hungry because all the harvest was wiped out by bad weather and all that was left was expensive food and very little of it. The French Revolution in a way was similar to the American Revolution because its was an argument that went out of control resulting in these historical events and there government going bankrupt.
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.
However, only the American Revolution was successful in establishing a new government. This is because the outcome of these revolutions ultimately depended on their leaders for success. Klooster writes, “Various officers in the Continental army openly declared themselves for Washington assuming royal powers, believing that the republican experiment would fail” (166). However, Washington turned this authority down believing in the government they had created. On the other hand, Napoleon made himself the undisputed leader of France as he rose to power. American revolutionary ideals and practices gave France the platform for a successful revolution, but ultimately the respective leaders of the revolutions determined their
Both the French and Haitian revolution were inspired by the American revolution. They use the ideas from the enlightenment against the power of the democracy. To continue both revolutions had an unfair social class systems. There was little to no rights during this time period. This is because of this large gap between high and low class. The lowest class in both revolutions was the majority in both populations. The main causes of the
The American and the French revolutions had many similarities and differences. One similarity being is that they both wanted to escape the rule of their King. Second, they both started by an uprising of people against unfair taxation by the monarchy. The French peasants were not represented by the Parliament. It was mainly composed of middle and upper class people. Now, the American colonists were not represented in England because of their lack of presence. Both wanted to set up a Republic, which provided liberty and justice to all classes of citizens. Just like France, the American colonists were composed up mainly middle and lower class citizens. The American Revolution started out by not wanting bloodshed and violence. France started out with violence and bloodshed. (American Revolution)
On August 26, 1789, the assembly issued the “Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen.” Through judicial matters, this document was written in order to secure due process and to create self-government among the French citizens. This document offered to the world and especially to the French citizens a summary of the morals and values of the Revolution, while in turn justifying the destruction of a government; especially in this case the French government, based upon autocracy of the ruler and advantage. The formation of a new government based upon the indisputable rights of the individuals of France through liberty and political uniformity.
During the late 18th century, both France and the British colonies in America experienced wars the opened the eyes of nations. The French Revolution and American Revolution drastically changed political thinking. In the French Revolution, monarchism was abandoned and political power was given to the people until the country became out of control, and a military dictatorship was necessary to regain control of France. In the American Revolution, a new nation was formed as the British colonies tore themselves away from the English monarchy. In the end, both France and the new United States of America moved away from absolute rule by a king or queen and wanted to put the political power in the hands of their people. However, there are many differences as well as similarities along the way to their political reformation.
This period of radical change and political and social upheaval saw France remove a lot of monarchist and Catholic frameworks, through practices of secularisation and democratisation. During the initial revolutionary years, radical laws such as the establishment of the national assembly, and the abolishment of the Church's land ownership, helped push France towards the revolutionary ideas of national and secular republicanism. The revolution also looked to radically readdress the role of the French individual, from subjects of the king to citizens of a nation, in an attempt to establish a new national individualised identity. This in many ways was France’s rejection of orthodox ideas of the Ancien Regime, and expression of a new identity. This spirit of revolution continued throughout modern French history.
The French Revolution, which occurred from 1789 to 1799, was a time where the monarchy was overthrown, a republic was formed, and limits were put on the church. The French Revolution ended with the rule of Napoleon Bonaparte in 1799. The French Revolution created France’s legislative assembly, which is still in place today. Many would argue that the Enlightment was a cause of the French Revolution, but the Enlightment was not one of the main drivers for the Revolution. The bad living conditions, France’s monarchy, and the involvement in the American Revolution and other wars caused the French Revolution.
middle of paper ... ... Soon after, the National Assembly created a liberal parliamentary system and rebelled against Monarch rule by passing the Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen. The National Assembly made governmental reforms forcing a Constitutional Monarchy in France. The Constitutional Monarchy was represented by electorates.