Compare And Contrast The American And French Revolution

The American and the French Revolutions were started because both countries wanted to gain freedom from their oppressing governments. The Americans wanted to gain their independence from Britain, while the French wanted a new government in which the people had more say in their society. Though the reasons for the two Revolutions were similar, some of the outcomes were different, as well as some of the other aspects during and after the war. The American revolution began in 1775, because the colonists in the Americas wanted to gain their freedom from Great Britain. “Britain, like other imperial powers in the 18th century, used mercantilism and The Navigation Acts to regulate commerce in the British interest.” (History Reference Center).

The Boston tea party was when the American colonists were fed up with all the taxes on imports, and on tea so they boarded a ship at night and threw all the tea overboard, ruining it. In response to the Boston Tea Party the King imposed the Intolerable Acts. The Intolerable acts were a series of laws that the colonists had to follow, the act that incensed the colonists most was the Quartering Act. The Quartering Act was a law that said the colonists had to house British solders in their home. Because the colonists were so afraid of the soldiers they decided to do something about the new laws, and revolted. The French revolution started due to France’s involvement in foreign wars. Because France was involved in its own Seven years war, and it’s financial involvement in the American revolution, it was considered bankrupt by the late 1700s. Because of this bankruptcy, France had to raise the taxes. Since the Nobel and Clergymen were exempt from paying all taxes, the high taxes all fell on the poorest social class, the third estate. This outraged the commoners, since they were vast majority of the population, they decided to revolt starting the French Revolution. Both the American and French Revolutions started because the people who were taxed highly, and didn't have any say in their government wanted a change. They were started differently