American history is taught as events that directly happen on American soil or events involving America. However, events overseas affect America’s development and history greatly, by influencing it in different ways. The French Revolution of 1789 did not directly involve America, though it did leave an impression on American citizens and its leaders. Research for this exact topic was challenging to look for, first hand accounts and reflections were slim to none, however there are letters and direct acts in response to the French Revolution. In this analysis, the letter from Thomas Jefferson to John Jay and the Alien and Sedition Acts will be looked at to see how America reacted to the ‘drama’ overseas in France. The Letter from Thomas Jefferson …show more content…
Jefferson’s letter is an update to John Jay as to what is occurring in France, and the severity of it. Writing about the mob voting to seek arms against the Bastille, and the many threats made by the Royal family. The severity of this situation went as follows, “The ancient police of the city is abolished by the authority of the people”(Jefferson), stating the power of the citizens rioting against the royalty is overpowering the police force. This situation is all too familiar to Americans, being what they experienced while rebelling against Great Britain in 1776. The French revolution was important to Americans because they knew how it felt to rebel against the great power above them, their government. Jefferson ends his letter to John Jay stating the citizens that rioted and fought against the royalty in France are, “the brave and valiant citizens who have sealed with their blood the liberty of the nation”(Jefferson). The importance of this piece of history and why it should be studied within American history is to see the correlation the French Revolution has with the American …show more content…
The Alien and Sedition Acts is a formal “preparation for the anticipated revolution in France,” according to the summary of it in the National Archive. America was aware of the ongoing internal battle France was having with itself, and the federalist-run government decided to act fast in preparation for its outcome. The Sedition Acts are a set of 4 laws as followed, United States residency requirement set from 5 to 14 years, executive power to “deport” aliens, authorized their arrest and deportation during wartime, and finally the most drastic being a federal crime to print false or scandalous writings about the government. All summarized and translated information was found on the National Archives DocsTech website, which provided clear explanations for the acts. These four laws represent the fear the federalist American government felt in preparation for the French Revolution, seeing how French citizens were acting as the U.S. needed to maintain control. Limiting residency status and freedom of speech was completely against the ideals of the Democratic-Republicans, who were the only ones affected by these acts
Have you ever wondered what was the French Revolution? Or on the other hand was there a reason you needed to take in more about the interesting history, that is of France? Yet, the genuine inquiry would be, what caused the French Revolution? There is unquestionably more than one, reason that is. Some may state that France needed change. Others may state it is correct and just, that opportunity and extreme rights is something all are conceived with. Correspondingly, I wanna express some background
the Historical sphere, there is no unanimity regarding the impact of the French revolution on the status quo of western Europe. The argument lies that the revolution was insurgent and promoted ideas contrary to conventional belief, thus leaving an enduring impact stemming from nationalism and liberalism, on France and western Europe. In contrast, many individuals affirm the position that the changes yielded from the revolution was reversed by reactionary responses consequently discrediting the revolution's
Dallas Seals Miller Modern Civ During the french revolution many events shaped the country into the place it would become. Uprisings and battle for control would keep the country on its toes for many years before eventually it would stop. People were questioning everything and revelling against authority left and right. Blood would paint the streets before eventually it was quelled. Some of the most crucial events were the execution of Louis XVI, The Reign of Terror and the rise of Napoleon. One
individuals developing larger, more enforced (persistent?) demands for the rights of man and equality from the philosophes—hence resulting in the French Revolution. Through incidents like the storming of the Bastille in July of 1787 to an audience’s rage on a group of actors who were against depicting Charles IX badly in a play, the French Revolution was starting to show its roots of reform on both the expression of freedom and liberty. However, as more and more people fought for the rights of
During the French Revolution which lasted from 1789 until 1799, the French government experienced three different types of rule: the National Assembly, the National Convention, and the Directory. This ten year period in France saw tremendous change from the government trying to give the revolution a purpose for happening when the people of the country became angry. Five years after the end of the revolution, Napoleon Bonaparte declared himself as the emperor of France, and reigned as such for the
Revolutions are a part of our history, its seems as if no lower class is ever happy and no upper class powerful people are ever fair to anyone other than themselves. It becomes a vicious cycle that continues to repeat itself throughout history. A rebellion is an uprising against the powers in control, but a rebellion is not synonymous with a revolution it can only become a revolution. The French Revolution was harsh and bloody, it can be compared to and different from the Revolutions of America and
There have been many revolutions throughout history, such as The French Revolution where the unsatisfied wealthy commoners fought for equality and rights against the government. The ideas that the rebellious groups fought for came from an intellectual and philosophical movement during the 1700s called the Enlightenment. During the Enlightenment, the way a perfect government should function changed from an absolute monarch, to separated and equal governing powers, and that people must tolerate religious
described with regards to the French Revolution. These concepts are shown to have evolved over the course of the revolution, and this is proven by the documents chosen. Liberty and equality were emphasized as either major or minor ideas in the documents, and although some were only alluded to, it is evident that the ideas of liberty and equality changed during the years of the French Revolution. Also, some of the terms used connoted different things at the end of the Revolution than the original Revolutionaries
The French Revolution began in 1789,1 when France was divided by regions and religions. The one thing that the French people had in common was that they shared the belief that they should serve the king. The revolution changed this, and at the end of the revolution in 1799, the people saw each other as citizens rather than subjects of the king.2 France had been experiencing economic hardship, and the people became discontented because of food shortages. Ideas of reform spread after the Enlightenment
1. Why and how did the French Revolution take a radical turn entailing terror at home and war with European powers? The Constitutional Monarchy ended when Louis XVI in June 1791 attempted to take leave of his country. War was declared on Austria; for wanting Louis XVI and his queen to remain in power. Peasants beheaded King Louie XVI and Queen Marie Antoinette, at the end of 1792. The peasants continued to behead anyone that tried to start a revolution. Maximilien Robespierre’s group of radical
people of France overthrew the king of France Louis XVI and that is why the French had won the American Revolution. “The French Revolution had reached its pinnacle of violence, the French Revolution had been a point in time where you could re-create everything in a society, through political action. French Revolution had been an important event that had occurred in Western history. It had been an important revolution that upset the most. It had gotten rid of the Catholic church, Christianity
of the French Revolution. Today, the island of St. Helena remains an overseas territory of the United Kingdom. The house there where Napoleon spent his last days, however, was given to the French government. It is now a museum. For the lesson assessment, you will create an exhibit or pamphlet on the French Revolution that the museum would be proud to display. Step 1: Determine which events to highlight. Your pamphlet or exhibit should include the following features of the French Revolution: • at least
As hinted at towards the end of the last quote, one of the main driving factors for the Revolution and end of the ancien regime in France according to Behrens, were relations between French and Britain. Between 1689 and the Revolution, almost half of that time was spent in wars with Britain. He says that “they overburdened the economy and reduced the system of taxation to chaos…The recurrent partial bankruptcies
Before the French Revolution, France was going downhill with a poor economic state and a corrupt society. The third estate revolted against their government emerging the revolution. They created a motto of liberty, equality, and fraternity which they vigorously attempted to achieve. They emerged the National Assembly, protested against the king and queen, and eventually ended up doing the opposite of their motto. While trying to take two steps forward, they would end up taking a step backwards.
1. The French revolution started because of an ongoing “fiscal mismanagement contributed to a French society that was ripe for revolt” (Sparknotes). King Louis XVI was falling into a finical crisis, due to extravagant living. So, in panic, he called financial advisers. After a while, each of them was dismissed from their job. Louis XVI was growing desperate, so he called the Estates-General. This assembly was made to represent three Estates, “the First comprised of the clergy, the Second comprised