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Similarities between french and american revolutions
Similarities in the american and french revolution
Similarities in the american and french revolution
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From tea parties, boycotts, and the Declaration of Independence, to Reforms, Declaration of the Rights of Man, and Guillotines, The American and French Revolutions had some similarities as well as some differences. As many revolutions came by, not all had a major influence like how France and America were compared to. Although both had a huge impact, the French Revolution was more important than the American Revolution because of the difference in government and power. The differences that dealt with government and power had many effects and certain people had strong opinions on how things worked politically and economically.
To start off, The American Revolution was outshined in value by the French Revolution. This meant that it created the
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foundation for extensive and bloody revolutions that would be the norm in the upcoming centuries. The idea of “absolute equality, disrespect for private property, and an elevations of the ‘General Will’ over individual freedom came to characterize the revolutionary model” (Woodward, 1). To add on, The French had larger standing armies when taking over Europe, they intimidated the continuation of weaker nations. Many nations lived beneath the principles of the French Revolution because this occured at the time “that a civil law code became the norm of legal structures”(Woodward, 1). On the other side, The Americans alone lost their colonies with Great Britain. As America drifted away from Great Britain, this led them to their “Second British Empire” and explains why America was outshined by the French from what was shown by their actions. With that, many of the events from The French Revolution had overwhelming outcomes that the world still lives in to this day. For example, the French’s slogan of “Liberty, Equality, and Fraternity” still takes place in the west coast of the world in societies today. On the contrary to the significance, the French Revolution was not as revolutionary as it seemed but it still had a big impact.
Although feudalism WAS eradicated and a constitution was made, that time period was only from 1789-1791 and that was a very short amount of time for realistic reforms to happen. As a matter of fact, through the course of this, France was still going through a constitutional monarchy. “It was not a violent revolution by the courageous masses, but it was a democratic transition set in motion by the king himself” (Maliks, 1). As for this, King Louis XVI was trying to find ways to revive himself from the amount of debt he was in and brought change to the government to solve this obstacle of his. With that, it led the way to bring up a new constitution involving the slogan of “Liberty, Equality, and Fraternity”. It was indeed helpful and it may have seemed like a revolutionary action but in the end his power was passed on to his people after his work. “Burke inferred that power fell back into the ancient constitution of the feudal society that existed before the royal absolutism” (Maliks, 1). This explains that France both went through change but it was not revolutionary according to Maliks and Burke but then again France DID have an influence on their actions with their
leaders. On top of that, the other side also had the same effects. The American Revolution was not revolutionary compared to France. America’s revolution was more like a war for independence than what happened to France during the time of their revolution. “If the Americans continuously called their little war for home a revolution, it was arguably a sign of their inflated sense of their own self-importance” (Rahe, 1). The government and power of America was questionable because of the Founding Father’s actions in their leadership by involving many people, for instance, John Locke. Comparing to France, France had a large amount of changes while America’s founding fathers remained the same in their old ways with little to no changes. Looking at America’s government, it was very comparable to France’s government. France’s government dealt with nationalism, feudalism, an aristocracy, a constitutional monarchy, and the list could go on. With that, it stood out significantly while America’s government shows that “No political work was to be found in more colonial libraries than Locke’s Two Treatises of Government” (Rahe, 1). The majority of the revolution for America was for Locke as he was taking part for self-government. “It is in no way fortuitous that out of all of the modern revolutions that America can be the one to provide a standard for judgment in the political regimes and government within them.”(Rahe, 1) To conclude, The French Revolution was more significant than the American revolution because of their work and differences in government. This changed how power is used in the lives of the others. France’s government and revolution had a larger influence in the world than how America’s revolution went. Although both were arguably not revolutionary, France has a stronger amount of power with other countries and how they were handling their leaders. America on the other hand was low on power as well as working with their government. Again, both had strong effects on the world but France’s revolution had more of an intense impact on the world with their society and power.
There were many reasons and events that led to the American Revolution, but it really all boils down to England being selfish. They wanted to make as much money as they possibly could off the new colonies, feeling a sense of entitlement, as they had provided funds and supplies to the settlers to make the trip in the first place. The British Parliament enacted laws and taxes that affected the economies and the lives of those in the new colonies, but for the benefit of England. The new Americans were not given the same rights under the Parliament as the British people, nor did they have a say in what the Parliamentary decisions. At one point the colonist had enough and began to protest and fight back, leading them down the American Road to Revolution. The Americans no longer wanted to be under Britain’s thumb, and looking for solutions, and knowledge to change that. This led them to a series of actions that began the American Revolution.
While the French and the American revolutions share some similarities, they differ in most areas involving the revolution. Enlightenment ideas would help shape politics, economics, and religion in the revolutionary nations. Although both found the importance of individual rights, they took different paths in establishing and operating their respective governments. The economic standpoints of the French would be in contrary with the American economics which roughly associate with enlightenment thinkers such as Adam Smith. Religion would closely be associated with principles in the United States while the French sought to secularize their nation.
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.
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.
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.
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.
The American Revolution (1775-1783) was a war between England and the colonies which were settled earlier by the English. There were many factors and events that led to the American Revolution. The Revolution was mainly an economic rebellion that was fueled by taxation without representation following the French and Indian War. The English Parliament was more often than not considered cruel and unfair by the colonists. With conflicts over trade, taxes and government representation, the colonies were at a starting line of a revolution that would later transform into the basis of the United States of America.
The Enlightenment period in Europe was a shift in the way that society thought about power and liberty. The ideals of this period helped to inspire the revolutions of the 18th century. The American colonies desired liberty from foreign rule, the French wanted to increase the power of the people in their class structure, and the Haitians fought for representation for the millions of slaves on their island. While the ideas of the enlightenment were not fully employed in each of these revolutions, they brought the nations closer to a fully representative government, rather than one of absolute power.
The American Revolution has great importance on the way the United States views itself. Contrary to popular belief, Americans were not separate people subject to British tyranny. A large portion of American colonialists thought of themselves as British. There are many ideas and causes as to why the American Revolution began. Differing political traditions, both parties economic interest, trading interest of those involved in transatlantic commerce, Britain’s large debt that accumulated during the Seven Years War, mutual misunderstandings, and the Great Awakening are many of the reasons that the colonist began to revolt against England.
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)
Another aspect to keep in mind when comparing the French and American revolutions is provocation. Provocation includes such things as land war, class war, tyranny, and grievances. The American Revolution had many altercations with social classes and land. One reason the revolution began was because the British created the Proclamation of 1763, which stated that Americans couldn't move east of the Appalachian Mountains. Land was abundant in America, but the British were tired of battles amongst themselves and the Native Americans.
The American Revolution was a conflict that arose from growing tensions between Great Britain and the Thirteen North American colonies. It was a long bloody war and one of the most well-known, and because of that it has many interpretations, and these interpretations have made it a challenge to be able to come to a single understanding of the war. In this week’s readings, two different views on the same war are given. The American Yawp describes the American colonies point of view on the revolution while the History Lesson discusses how British wanted to control America but instead drove them to rebel and fight for their independence. The colonists saw the war for their independence as a revolution, but through British eyes, events and people were, not surprisingly, seen quite differently.
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.
This is because the American Revolution had influenced the French Revolution. The French Revolution is believed to have an even greater impact on Europe. Brad Mackey in his article “American Revolutionary Influences on the French Revolution” claims, “…the influence of the American Revolution on the French Revolution must include recognition that the French were interpreting the American Revolutionary ideological successes first…”. Mackey says this to explain how the French may have used America has an example when identifying their own problems. One way the American Revolution influenced The French Revolution as that it showed the Americas problem with the King of England and taxation was similar to the kings In France and the taxations of the French people. Mackey states, “the conflict between the people of America and the King of England over taxation and American representation in the British Parliament was, to the French, similar to the conflict over taxation between the Kings of France and the people of France who had been represented in the judiciary by the hereditary noble-dominated parliaments of France”. Perhaps the greatest influence on the French Revolution from the American Revolution was the similarity between them with monarchies having total control over them. In his article, Richard Mackey writes, “These conflicts in France had has as their primary source the disagreement between the monarchical government, which had claimed absolute power, and the parliamentary judiciary system which had been, since 1615, the only institution which had had the right to question that absolutism”. These are all examples of how the French had used America has a model in their revolution and also how the American Revolution had an impact in the French
The American Revolution began for many reasons, some are; long-term social, economic, and political changes in the British colonies, prior to 1750 provided the basis for and started a course to America becoming an independent nation under it's own control with its own government. Not a tyrant king thousands of miles away. A huge factor in the start of the revolution was the French and Indian War during the years of 1754 through 1763; this changed the age-old bond between the colonies and Britain, its mother. To top it off, a decade of conflicts between the British rule and the colonists, starting with the Stamp Act in 1765 that eventually led to the eruption of war in 1775, along with the drafting of The Declaration of Independence in 1776.